Ten Tea Parties: Patriotic Protests That History Forgot

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Ten Tea Parties: Patriotic Protests That History Forgot

3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 · rating details · 45 ratings · 26 reviews

Everyone knows the story of the Boston Tea Party—in which colonists stormed three British ships and dumped 92,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor. But do you know the history of the Philadelphia Tea Party (December 1773)? How about the York, Maine, Tea Party (September 1774) or the Wilmington, North Carolina, Tea Party (March 1775)?

Ten Tea Parties is the first book to chr...more

Hardcover, 224 pages

Published January 17th 2012 by Quirk Books

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Jan 16, 2012 Quentin Stewart rated it 5 of 5 stars

An excellent little history book that tells of the other Tea Parties that took place in the colonies besides the one that we all learned about in Boston. Cummins gives us quick tour of what occurred not only in Boston but in other parts of the colonies as people rose up in protest against unfair taxes. Because of time and space many historical events are left out of the history books used in high schools and even colleges.

Cummins makes these events come to life and helps us to see that though t...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Joseph Cummins found a little investigated field of study in American history to base this intriguing book on. Before reading this book, I had never heard of most of these "tea party" occurrences in our nation's history. Other than the Boston Tea Party, not many of these events are covered in our history books. It is so refreshing to find a history book on a topic that has not been widely explored.

"Ten Tea Parties" tells the stories of various instances in the late 18th century where defenders...more

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Dec 24, 2011 Susanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, first-look

I must admit, even as a history buff I'd only heard of the Boston, Edenton, and Charleston tea parties, so this book proved enlightening. Cummins places the tea parties in the context of the greater issues of the time - Britain's post-Seven Years' War economic problems, Parliament's taxation of the colonies, and the East India Company's monopoly and bail-out by the British government. He draws some interesting parallels with America's current economic and political situation, too. Also important...more

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Jan 31, 2012 Jillian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: history, non-fiction, quirk-books, american-revolution, 18th-century, book-nooked

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Boston Tea Party is a well known piece of American history, but it's usually talked about as a singular event: the one tea party that happened that one time. But less well known is the fact that there were actually many tea parties happening around the country during that time, all with their own unique and interesting stories. Joseph Cummins' book Ten Tea Parties brings the stories of these forgotten tea parties to lig...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Book Him Danno rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, 2012

I found this book full of historical facts, I didn’t realize that more than one Tea Party had taken place before the Revolutionary war, but they seemed to be having them up and down the Eastern Seaboard at that time.

The book talked about the players and how they came to tossing tea chests into the harbors and how they also burned it. The chapter on women and tea really kept my interest. They also got in on the tea parties and refused to drink the ‘vile concoction’ until the tax was removed. This...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Robert Zimmermann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reading Ten Tea Parties was a bit different than my normal choice of book. But when I first say the title, I questioned the book. This sounds interesting, but it's a history book isn't it? Until reading it, I haven't taken much pleasure in history books since middle school when learning about the Greeks, Romans, then later Americans was fun but not extensive enough to cause boredom. Then high school and college required courses took hold and killed the subject for me.
This book shattered that sti...more Reading Ten Tea Parties was a bit different than my normal choice of book. But when I first say the title, I questioned the book. This sounds interesting, but it's a history book isn't it? Until reading it, I haven't taken much pleasure in history books since middle school when learning about the Greeks, Romans, then later Americans was fun but not extensive enough to cause boredom. Then high school and college required courses took hold and killed the subject for me.
This book shattered that stigma against liking history. When I read the brief description on Good Reads alone I gained interest. There was more to the Tea Party, and more Tea Parties than just Boston's? Yes, I want to know about this. Part of this was probably due to it being completely new information to me and another part is most likely because I don't like how history is only fed to students in amounts and events the schools want to talk about. This seems to be an important part of our nation's history and I wanted to know about it.
The way this information about the entire crisis of the various taxes leading up to and the final straw of the tax on tea was presented took me out of the mindset of "I'm reading a history book." I was not bored once, which is uncommon for me. It wasn't dry at all. I continuously wanted to read and read. I enjoyed the starting out with the explanation of the history of the East India Company as well. I've heard of it, but never knew just how powerful they were. It set up the rest of the book perfectly. From it went into how the various colonists dealt with the taxes, organized, and carried out a way of protesting against what they believed was wrong.
Before reading this book the Revolution to me was focused mainly in the north, part of that may be from being educated in New York, but at the same time a lot happened up here. Seeing that the protests occurred as far south as North Carolina was also refreshing. It brought a more whole perspective on the situation; this was really all 13 colonies under a common cause.
Bottom line: Pick this book up, even if you're not into reading about history too often. I was in the same boat, but had a gut feeling about this book. I was pleased in the end. I learned something and it's great to be able to take so much out of a book.(less)

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Jun 10, 2012 Orsolya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: history, wishlist, favorites

Most Americans are familiar with the Boston Tea Party (albeit, some more than others). However, did you know that there were several other “tea party” protests during the pre-Revolutionary times? Joseph Cummins brings history to life with “Ten Tea Parties: Patriotic Protests That History Forgot”.

Before the text is even addresses, the design of “Ten Tea Parties” must be complimented. Doogie Horner (designers) arranged fonts, layouts, and illustrations which evoke history, adventure, pirates, rebe...more Most Americans are familiar with the Boston Tea Party (albeit, some more than others). However, did you know that there were several other “tea party” protests during the pre-Revolutionary times? Joseph Cummins brings history to life with “Ten Tea Parties: Patriotic Protests That History Forgot”.

Before the text is even addresses, the design of “Ten Tea Parties” must be complimented. Doogie Horner (designers) arranged fonts, layouts, and illustrations which evoke history, adventure, pirates, rebellions, and theatrics all in a tiny book. This creates a “fun” and attention-grabbing book and yet isn’t childish in any way. However, not to be undermined, Joseph Cummins steps in with amazing historical account of tea protests which are lesser known to the masses.

Beginning with an overview of the East India Tea Company, tea in general (tea’s Chinese and medicinal roots), the growth of the beverage’s popularity, the tea trade, and the roles of famous patriots (John Adams, Samuel Adams –yes, the brewer’s son, Paul Revere, etc); Cummins explores history in an informative/firm way and yet is descriptive, narrative, and approachable. The reader will learn facts which were never described in grade school text books and better yet, the reader will actually retain this information due to its presentation style. Cummins’s text is educated but easy to understand, creating energy and build-up almost like a fictional book. This is one of those books you can’t put down but want to, in order to not finish it too quickly!

“Ten Tea Parties” is supplemented by illustrations, artwork, pamphlets, and portraits which add to the work (although I would personally have liked these better in color). The sections (each protest has its own chapter) are perfectly timed without too much or too little detail and feature a great overview of historic events. Even to those readers not interested in Revolutionary history (like myself), “Ten Tea Parties” won’t fail to entertain and sustain readability.

The best quality of “Ten Tea Parties” is its surprising facts regarding tea parties and heroes unheard of. As a female, it brought me pleasure to learn about the Edenton tea protest (which was the first organized women’s protest in American history) and its leader, Penelope Barker. These are stories which Cummins helps bring to the limelight. Equally enjoyable is the Epilogue which rounds up a social history view of the Boston Tea Party (its name development, celebrations, impact on today’s politics) and tea protests overall. Spunky and informative, it ends the book on a solid note.

“Ten Tea Parties” is a quick read and yet is better than several history books I have read in the past (although it should be noted that it is more of an overview of events). Recommended for adults and children alike (in fact, I would suggest teachers have students read this piece versus their text books on the subject); “Ten Tea Parties” will not disappoint.
(less)

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May 23, 2012 Biblio Jungle (Dana) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: january-2012, reccomended

bookpeek.tumblr.com: Tea Party. Whether you associate it with a fiery political movement or a featured moment mentioned in your high school history class, most Americans (and many others across the globe) have come to terms with this phrase one way or another. When we think about the historical “party,” often there is little debate over what is believed to be the recounts of that fateful event on December 16, 1773. It took place in Boston, a group of colonists were infuriated over the oppressive...more bookpeek.tumblr.com: Tea Party. Whether you associate it with a fiery political movement or a featured moment mentioned in your high school history class, most Americans (and many others across the globe) have come to terms with this phrase one way or another. When we think about the historical “party,” often there is little debate over what is believed to be the recounts of that fateful event on December 16, 1773. It took place in Boston, a group of colonists were infuriated over the oppressive nature the British government had imposed over their colonies, and those colonists took matters into their own hands by dumping cases of tea into the Boston Harbor as a symbol of their rejection over taxed tea (and other goods). To the dismay of history buffs, the other nine tea parties that occurred during this same time have been often times misplaced in the history textbooks- in other words, we forgot about them.

Joseph Cummins has written a historical account of the Tea Party + 9 for readers searching for more context behind the start of the American Revolution. He of course begins with the most well-known tea party in Boston and then proceeds to enlighten/inform/remind - call it what you will - his readers of the other nine most memorable tea parties that occurred in the colonies. Why do I say most memorable? Cummins’s Appendix in the book includes even more tea parties of course. From what I gather, I guess, is that The Boston Tea Party wasn’t that unique after all. Sorry Massachusetts.

Ten Tea Parties: Patriotic Protests That History Forgot is a beautiful little book. The details put into the dust jacket, book sleeve, and even pages are both appropriate and interesting to look at or even place somewhere for display. I especially loved the extra detail of placing a tax stamp on the dust jacket as a little reference to The Stamp Act.

Apart from the wonderful work that went into the design of the book, the reading was effortless. This book should not be looked as another boring, slow historical read that often many find to be the case when they parooz the non-fiction section of their local bookstore. It is one of those great books you can bring with you on a train ride, read in between appointments, or, if you’re like me, knock the sucker out in one sitting.

Cummins includes not only the usual characters you’d find in a history textbook when he describes the makings of the tea parties. He includes unlikely characters, including wealthy women who once used the tea as a social tool.

I could have gone without the Tea Party political movement reference in his Epilogue but that’s just because 1) it’s an element of the political stage that has been covered exceedingly too much and 2) I felt like it was a bit rushed and left almost unfinished. However, it is a new movement, with very little to go one for an indepth analysis, so I’ll catch Cummins some slack.

Overall, the book was great. I’d recommend it to anyone who is a history buff, someone who prefers to learn more than what was fed to them in history class, or someone who just needs something different from their usual reading pile.(less)

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Feb 15, 2012 Doug Cornelius rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: publisher-provided, read-in-2012

When this book arrived on my doorstep I thought it might provide some insight about how the facts of the Boston Tea Party have been distorted over the years.

Joseph Cummins does a great job of portraying the broader story of the Boston Tea Party, both it what caused the event and what happened during the event. It was in the context of repressive tax policies by the British Crown on the American colonies. But the problem with the tea in question is that was coming directly from the East India Co...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Jtolan1 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: history-american, first-reads

I really loved this book! It is so entertaining, at first I didn't even realize how much I was learning. Clear and easy to read, "Ten Tea Parties" is packed with information. Most people know about the Boston Tea Party, but this book tells why the colonists were both motivated and, perhaps, even compelled, to act. The reader gains a better understanding of how such disparate people in the separate colonies came to unify for many acts of resistance.

I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in...more

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Dec 27, 2011 ♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, political, tea-party-politics, historical, nonfiction, non-fiction, us-history

This was very informative. My dad the Tea Party Activist died from an accident last Thanksgiving, was my intro into the tea party stand now.

This book is full of tea parties through out history that I had never heard of. I actually plowed through it & couldn't put it down. I just realized I had it marked as currently reading instead of read. It is a book I will keep forever & share with my kids.

I am actually really excited to recommend this book. The tea party stand is not some random e...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Sharon L. Sherman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: politics

If you thought the Boston Tea Party was the only one worth mentioning during the American Revolution, read up on the other nine-plus events that took place in Cummins' insightful book. Not only did these protests shape our nation;s early history, they became the model for several movements in the U.S. and abroad--and still continue to influence the ways in which citizens demonstrate today.

Most poignant to this reader were the Charleston, SC and Edenton, PA "parties" where tarring-and-feathering...more

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Feb 08, 2012 Raven rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found this book full of historical facts, I didn’t realize that more than two Tea Parties had taken place before the Revolutionary war.

How many Tea Parties can you remember being taught? I could only remind my self of two. So I found myself searching for the others while I was reading this book. I loved digging for my own historical facts to add to this book.

I enjoyed this book and if you enjoy historical facts and dates, you will also enjoy this little book on Ten Tea Parties that happen in...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Libby rated it 2 of 5 stars

So I needed some history thrown into the Anne mania mix. I’m not quite sure that Ten Tea Parties really fits the bill. This is a book I received from goodreads.com in exchange for reviewing it. A fuller, more thought out review will follow, but for now I have to say… really?!? The author even admits that one of the tea parties was not really known and some of it was speculation.

It seems like it should fall into the category of politics, not history. Some of it certainly seemed historical, but s...more

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Dec 28, 2011 Jenni rated it 3 of 5 stars

A series of actions including the Stamp Act, the Townsend Acts and the Boston Massacre agitated the colonists but when a tax on tea was enacted, the colonists were compelled to action. It led to protests all along the eastern coast including the well known Boston Tea party.
As a lover of history, I was fascinated by Cummins book. Having only learned about the Boston Tea Party from history classes, I was thrilled to learn about the ten tea parties forgotten. Joseph Cummins writes a new "history"...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Rachel rated it 1 of 5 stars

One of the most poorly written historically based books I've ever read. Cummins used entirely too many block quotes and regular quotations to develop a flow tot he book. The only chapter that seemed to have any original thought was the chapter about his beloved New Jersey. Trying to tie the old tea party justifications into new ideology for the new Tea Party was a wild stretch and further devalued the arguments made. The only good aspect of the book was that Cummins briefly mentions a fair numbe...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

interesting read, i knew of the chestertown tea party but was not aware of several others up and down the eastern seaboard that may or may not have happened and some happened in concert with and others in support of the most famous one in boston

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Dec 19, 2011 Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

thanks goodreads for the terrific book! Loved it. Witty and lively and best of portrays the original Tea Partiers (or,rather, Tea Destroyers) as real people not some kind of semi-mythic prescient god-men. Great read.

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Jun 03, 2012 Rick rated it 4 of 5 stars

A fun book to read also short as I read it on a plane. Interesting history I haven't heard or read before. Fun to read about the times.

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Dec 17, 2011 Doris Bright rated it 4 of 5 stars

A Goodreads.com giveaway! A wonderful little book pack full of colonial times events that most people have never even heard of. A fun, easy to read book.

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Feb 01, 2012 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought this book was really great. It was very engaging from the beginning and there was just enough information about each event to make it interesting and not so much detail that distracted from the stories. It was really cool getting a glimpse into what life was like, not only for the colonies as a whole, but in each town. The political climates were different as were the patriots who performed the tea parties.

This is a fun, easy read that is perfect for anyone who likes to read about his...more

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Feb 26, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-book, book-i-own

I won this book in a first read giveaway.

I very much enjoyed this book. I loved reading about the different events, and how they were significant to our history. I this this book is a great read, even for those who aren't as interested in history as other might be. I recommended this book to a friend for part of a project he's doing for his History class. He loved it too!!

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Jan 07, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

As a book I won through the first reads giveaways, I've gotten through the introduction and I've learned some new information. There were many examples of the tea parties held along the coast showing their rebellion of being taxed. I even referred this book to my colleagues who also teach American History as a book they should read and include in their curriculum.

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Dec 12, 2012 Hayden rated it 5 of 5 stars

Very informative, and entertaining. I learned alot!

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Jan 25, 2012 Joanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: american-history, first-reads

I won this great little book as a First Reads and enjoyed it very much. Cummins focused on this one topic and did a wonderful job giving an overview of the history of the areas featured and then discussed what occurred there. I have to admit that my knowledge of the tea parties was marginal at best and this was a fantastic source for learning more.

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Jan 18, 2012 Tonya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Pretty good book, a fast read...It was fun...

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May 24, 2013 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Apr 29, 2013 Tina Denson marked it as to-read

Mar 06, 2013 Matt marked it as to-read

Feb 24, 2013 Kristen marked it as to-read

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“They scorned neighbors who drank tea and concocted an entirely fictitious sickness narrative around the beverage; they claimed tea stunted growth, turned men into pygmies, and transformed women into…’God knows what.’ They claimed tea was stomped into chests by Chinese men with dirty feet, that it was infested with bugs.” — 1 person liked it

“If you touch one grain of this accursed tea, you are undone. America is threatened with worse than Egyptian slavery.” — 1 person liked it

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