What sparked the Boston Tea Party?

The Boston Tea Party was primarily sparked by the issue of "taxation without representation." This phrase encapsulated the frustration of the American colonists, who felt it was unjust to be taxed by the British Parliament, where they had no representatives to voice their concerns. The specific trigger was the Tea Act of 1773, which not only maintained the tax on tea but also granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies, further enraging colonists who believed this was an attempt to weaken their ability to trade freely.

The event itself saw colonists, disguised as Mohawk Indians, board British ships and dump an entire shipment of tea into Boston Harbor as a form of protest. This act of defiance was about more than just tea; it represented a larger protest against British economic control and the lack of political say the colonists had in their governance. Thus, the correct answer highlights the fundamental grievance that led to this significant act of rebellion in American history.