The infamous event that the Boston Tea Party led to was the escalation of revolutionary sentiment in the American colonies and subsequent punitive measures known as the Intolerable Acts. The party, which took place in 1773, was a protest against British taxation without representation, specifically targeting the Tea Act. In response, Britain imposed harsh penalties on Massachusetts, which united the colonies against perceived tyranny. This event galvanized colonial resistance and set the stage for the larger confrontation of the American Revolution, ultimately leading to the Declaration of Independence and the fight for American sovereignty.