Did the reference to the Boston Tea Party in "V for Vendetta" mean anything to British Audiences?

Did the reference to the Boston Tea Party in "V for Vendetta" mean anything to British Audiences? - A Grayscale Photo of People Sitting on the Garden

In V for Vendetta, the demagogue Lewis Prothero talks on his show about the Boston Tea Party, making the case not to support the US: "I think its payback time for a little tea party they threw for us a few hundred years ago."

However, in reading Reddit posts, I've heard from Britons that they don't learn anything in school about the American Revolution, much to the chagrin of American Redditors.

So I wondered, would British audiences on the whole understand this reference? Or was it only intended to resonate with American audiences?



Best Answer

Contrary to Chenmunka's answer, any in depth study of the American revolution is not mandatory by Key Stage 3 (High school) national curriculum.

In the UK we have two different types of 'lesson'; Statutory and Non-Statutory, the latter of course being a subject that is 'optional', and can be taught at the teachers/schools discretion.

There is Statutory Module in Key stage 3 history called Ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901, which contains as an example of a possible lesson plan 'The Seven Years War and The American War of Independence'. It's plausible the Boston Tea party would be included as part of that lesson, should the school choose to pursue it.

However, this is optional and is listed among other, potentially more pertinent lessons like 'Britain as an Industrial Nation' and 'Ireland and Home Rule'. Both these subjects, as well as broader subjects like the Enlightenment will likely be prioritized, particularly considering likely exam questions.

I was educated at Key stage three (1998 -2003), and we were taught nothing on the American War of Independence. I have an 18 year old Nephew who told me he learnt everything he knew about the American war of Independence from the computer game Assassins Creed 3, and it's still only on the syllabus as an optional sub-part of a larger module.

Despite not being formally educated on the subject, however, the reference to the Boston Tea Party would not be lost on most British adults, I would hope.




Pictures about "Did the reference to the Boston Tea Party in "V for Vendetta" mean anything to British Audiences?"

Did the reference to the Boston Tea Party in "V for Vendetta" mean anything to British Audiences? - Person Holding Cup Of Coffee
Did the reference to the Boston Tea Party in "V for Vendetta" mean anything to British Audiences? - Senior women friends sitting at table with birthday cake
Did the reference to the Boston Tea Party in "V for Vendetta" mean anything to British Audiences? - Grayscale Photo of People in a Concert



What did the Boston Tea Party represent to Great Britain?

The event was the first major act of defiance to British rule over the colonists. It showed Great Britain that Americans wouldn't take taxation and tyranny sitting down, and rallied American patriots across the 13 colonies to fight for independence.

What was the main reason behind the events referred to as the Boston Tea Party?

The midnight raid, popularly known as the \u201cBoston Tea Party,\u201d was in protest of the British Parliament's Tea Act of 1773, a bill designed to save the faltering East India Company by greatly lowering its tea tax and granting it a virtual monopoly on the American tea trade.

What did the colonists who participated in the Boston Tea Party refer to themselves as?

The Boston Tea Party was organized and carried out by a group of Patriots led by Samuel Adams known as the Sons of Liberty.



Contenuti, significati e valori nella cultura transmediale




More answers regarding did the reference to the Boston Tea Party in "V for Vendetta" mean anything to British Audiences?

Answer 2

On the contrary, British schoolchildren are taught about the American Revolution in History lessons. This is taught at secondary school level.

Any educated Briton would definitely appreciate the significance of the Boston Tea Party.

It is probably true that the level of detail taught in British schools is less than that taught in American schools. After all, British history lessons include a lot about the other colonies of that era. However, the key events are well known - the Tea Party is definitely a key event.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Suzy Hazelwood, Thought Catalog, Anna Shvets, alexandre saraiva carniato