Tea, Tyranny, and the Declaration of Independence

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence · Sep 3, 2026 · 1h · transcript

with Andrew Sola and Prof. Jonathon Eacott (UCal-Riverside)

"A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."

In this episode, we explore the Boston Tea Party, the global tea industry, British-American perceptions of tyrannical governments in Asia, and the Declaration of Independence.

Topics include the following:

-the connotations of the word "tyranny" in the Colonies

-the presumption in the Britain and the Colonies that "freedom" only meant being Protestant and living in a constitutional monarchy

-the East India…