Why did colonists refuse to buy tea under the Tea Act of 1773?

Colonists refused to buy tea under the Tea Act of 1773 primarily to avoid recognizing Parliament's right to tax them. The Tea Act was seen as an attempt by the British government to impose a tax on tea without colonial representation, which was a major grievance among the colonists. This Act allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies, effectively giving it a monopoly and undercutting local merchants. While the tea was cheaper, the issue at stake was not the price but the principle of taxation without representation. By boycotting the tea, colonists aimed to assert their rights and resist what they viewed as an illegitimate form of control from the British government.

In the broader context, this refusal to comply with the Tea Act contributed to actions like the Boston Tea Party, where colonists openly protested against British taxation. The choice to boycott was rooted in the desire to challenge and change the principles of British governance over the colonies, which ultimately fueled the revolutionary sentiments that led to the American Revolution.