How did the British trade in tea affect America and India?
In America, taxes on tea led to the Boston Tea Party. In a way, we still feel the effects with the current Tea Party movement within the Republican Party.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/parliament-passes-the-tea-act
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130810134956AA6UNk9
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_tea_in_India
India became an important region for the exports of tea. Once Europeans figured out about the native tea like bushes in Assam (Somewhere in India) they were able to figure out how to cultivate and process the plants. Thus, Britain no longer had to rely on China.
The British trade in tea had significant effects on both America and India. To understand these effects, let's break down the impact on each country:
1. America:
During the colonial period, Britain had a monopoly on the tea trade, which meant that American colonists were required to purchase tea exclusively from British sources. This led to several consequences:
a. Taxation: To increase revenue, the British government levied the Tea Act of 1773, allowing the British East India Company to sell tea in the American colonies without paying most of the taxes previously required. However, this move was widely resented by the colonists, who saw it as a way for Britain to exert control and assert its authority, leading to the famous Boston Tea Party protest in 1773.
b. Revolutionary Sentiment: The protests against the Tea Act, such as the Boston Tea Party, helped fuel the growing revolutionary sentiment among the American colonists. These events played a significant role in escalating tensions between the colonies and Britain, eventually leading to the American Revolutionary War.
2. India:
India was a major producer of tea during British colonial rule. The British East India Company played a central role in its cultivation and export. The effects on India included:
a. Plantation Economy: The British established large tea plantations in India, particularly in Assam and Darjeeling, exploiting local labor and resources. This led to the transformation of the Indian economy, with tea becoming one of the major cash crops.
b. Land Ownership and Depopulation: The expansion of tea plantations required extensive land, leading to British control and displacement of local communities. Many indigenous people were forced to leave their ancestral lands. This process, coupled with harsh working conditions, often resulted in labor exploitation and depopulation of certain areas.
c. Cultural Impact: The British influence on Indian tea cultivation imparted a lasting impact on the culture and tradition of tea consumption in India. Today, India is one of the largest consumers of tea globally, with a rich tea heritage influenced by both British practices and indigenous traditions.
In summary, the British trade in tea had profound effects on both America and India. In America, it contributed to the growing anti-British sentiment that eventually led to the American Revolution. In India, it led to the establishment of a plantation economy, land dispossession, labor exploitation, and the cultural integration of tea consumption.