While Americans fought for liberty, some of the founding fathers may have had a different Liberty in mind. Over the next year smugglers like Hancock reduce the amount of tea purchased in the colonies from 320,000 pounds to 520 pounds.
Boycotts also affect the amount of imports.
By 1772 the East India Company has 18 million pounds of unsold tea in warehouses and 1.3 million pounds sterling of debt. Its largest creditor, the Bank of England, refuses further credit. To save the company, and undercut the smugglers, Britain passes the Tea Act. In 1774 the Georgia House of Commons passes a number of resolutions about the relation of England and the colonies in general. In spite of the prior political problems, when the First Continental Congress is convened no one from Georgia attends, for no one is appointed by the House.