# How oppressive were the British taxes on the American colonies?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-oppressive-were-the-british-taxes-on-the-american-colonies/1007302>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Tags:** liquor-alcohol\
**Created:** [September 15, 2024, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-oppressive-were-the-british-taxes-on-the-american-colonies/1007302 "2024-09-15T15:43:01Z")\
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**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-oppressive-were-the-british-taxes-on-the-american-colonies/1007302/7 "2024-09-15T19:26:53Z")

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It’s worth noting that the Tea Act of 1773 actually had the effect of making British tea cheaper. Why did the Sons of Liberty get so angry that they threw British tea in the harbor? Because they ran a highly lucrative smuggling business in Dutch tea. With British tea now being cheaper, the Sons of Liberty could no longer rip off colonists with the overpriced Dutch product.

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