May 10, 1773

Parliament passes the Tea Act, allowing the British East India Company to ship tea directly to the colonies and sell it at a reduced price. Selected colonial agents are appointed to receive and distribute the shipments.

The measure is intended to support the struggling company while reinforcing Parliament’s authority to tax colonial imports. Even at a lower cost, the tea carries the existing duty, and its arrival is tied to a system many colonists continue to resist.

The price falls, but the terms remain.