Today is the 250th anniversary of the Princeton Tea Burning.

[3Hotdogs]

Princeton students gathered tea from neighbors and set it on fire in response to King George setting a tax on tea imported on Dutch ships. Brit. East India tea was exempt because that company was near bankruptcy and its owners knew people in high places.

NJDEP held a bonfire where tea was thrown onto the fire and burned, along with an effigy of Massachusetts colony Governor Hutchinson. A brief lesson described the background. Then pro and anti King George actors read speeches in support or against the King's policies.

It was interesting that the Pro-King (loyalist) point of view was presented.


It will be interesting to see if the N.J. Stamp Act riot in southern N.J. will be celebrated.

[Marcus IM]

1. Was a protest against the royal corporation's tax exemption/tax cut.

It was a rebellion against a corporate tax cut, but, has been rewritten as a rebellion against taxation (because, y'know ... taxes are satan's work)..

[3Hotdogs]

2. Going back, for 150 years, the king provided land and see protection against Spain, France and "Indians," (now called

Native Americans or indigenous people.)

After the French and Indian War, the King's treasury was bankrupt. Taxing the colonies was considered a justified solution. But the colonists, having skated, untaxed for 150 or so years, still wanted their free ride.

Taxation without representation: I say, 'bollocks." That was Parliament's mistake. They should have given representation in Parliament to the colonies.

Prime Minister: "All in favor of taxing the colonies, signify by saying, "Aye."

The tally, 13 votes against, 214 for, the colonies will therefore, be subject to tax."