Gonna be honest, if we take a look at the Boston Tea Party from an objective point of view, it was a dumb idea with terrible repercussions for Massachusetts. Great Britain shut down Boston Harbour, disbanded the civil government and put Massachusetts into martial law. If you’re gonna rebel, then rebel instead of doing this halfway shit that only makes the enemy aware of your intentions.
I know I’m going to get downvoted because I’m attacking an American founding myth, but really—what did the Boston Tea Party really accomplish?
It helped spread the word of rebellion and reinforced how tyrannical the Brits were being by their reaction.
Sometimes people need motivation and the motivating act itself does not need to be successful. This can be necessary even when everyone knows that the problems are, because someone has to take the first (or second or third) steps to motive the rest to act.
It worked that time though. 250 years later we’re still talking about it being a inflection point. Shit even Tank Man is used as an anti-Chinese government symbol of resistance.
Nah you’re good. It’s part of the myth because of all you just mentioned, not because it was a genius move. It ratcheted up the issues and violence, but as you say was not individually a bright idea.
Well I think jumping to shooting representatives of the crown would have just ended with the execution of the handful of conspirators down for that. I see the value in taking steps between the starting point and your goal. You can build a larger network as your less radical actions gain notoriety. When your tyrant incites war, as they do, you’ll have a bunch of supporters that wouldn’t have otherwise picked up arms from the outset
Gonna be honest, if we take a look at the Boston Tea Party from an objective point of view, it was a dumb idea with terrible repercussions for Massachusetts. Great Britain shut down Boston Harbour, disbanded the civil government and put Massachusetts into martial law. If you’re gonna rebel, then rebel instead of doing this halfway shit that only makes the enemy aware of your intentions.
I know I’m going to get downvoted because I’m attacking an American founding myth, but really—what did the Boston Tea Party really accomplish?
It helped spread the word of rebellion and reinforced how tyrannical the Brits were being by their reaction.
Sometimes people need motivation and the motivating act itself does not need to be successful. This can be necessary even when everyone knows that the problems are, because someone has to take the first (or second or third) steps to motive the rest to act.
Doesn’t work everytime, look at tank man
It worked that time though. 250 years later we’re still talking about it being a inflection point. Shit even Tank Man is used as an anti-Chinese government symbol of resistance.
Nah you’re good. It’s part of the myth because of all you just mentioned, not because it was a genius move. It ratcheted up the issues and violence, but as you say was not individually a bright idea.
That seems like perfect conditions for getting people who were previously on the fence about rebellion, right on to your side.
Just a side note: it’s more accurate to say it was England because the UK was not formed until a few decades later.
I changed UK to Great Britain. I’m pretty sure the Acts of Union were in 1707.
Of course it’s many people collaborating. So intermediate steps actually matter, even if in hindsight they seem unnecessary.
Well I think jumping to shooting representatives of the crown would have just ended with the execution of the handful of conspirators down for that. I see the value in taking steps between the starting point and your goal. You can build a larger network as your less radical actions gain notoriety. When your tyrant incites war, as they do, you’ll have a bunch of supporters that wouldn’t have otherwise picked up arms from the outset