The colonies overreacted to the British policies. For example, the Tea Act gave them a right to sell directly to the colonies. The colonists interpreted this as a sneaky way of gaining colonial support of taxes. They saw this as “taxation without representation” since they couldn't buy tea from anyone else without having to pay more money. The Sons of Liberty led by Samuel Adams, organized the Boston Tea Party to protest British rule. They destroyed 340 chests of British East India Company tea. The destruction of tea was very costly to the British, as they were already in huge war debt from the French and Indian War. The British had a right to be furious about their actions. The British quickly responded with the Intolerable Acts to punish
