The Boston Tea Party in 1773 triggered a significant event that contributed to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. This act of protest involved American colonists, frustrated with British taxation without representation, who boarded ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. In response, the British government enacted punitive measures known as the Intolerable Acts, further escalating tensions between the colonies and Britain. This clash over taxation and governance highlighted the growing desire for independence and ultimately galvanized support for the revolutionary cause.