What Surprising Item Became a Symbol of Freedom in the American Revolution?

During the American Revolution, a seemingly mundane item—the humble tea—became a powerful symbol of rebellion and independence. The iconic Boston Tea Party of 1773 was not just an act of defiance against British taxation; it was a statement against the perceived tyranny of British rule. American colonists, frustrated by the Tea Act that allowed the British East India Company to sell tea at a reduced rate while still taxing colonial imports, boarded ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor as a protest. This act of civil disobedience galvanized public opinion against British authority and united the colonies in a common cause, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. Tea, once a symbol of British culture and sophistication, transformed into a potent emblem of American resistance and the quest for liberty.