Tea party movement is a loose collection of conservative political activist groups. The movement gained national attention in the United States in the spring of 2009, when groups gathered to oppose the economic policies of President Barack Obama. Most tea party members call for cutting taxes and reducing the size of the federal government. Many “tea partiers” also take conservative positions on a variety of social issues. See Conservatism.
The movement’s name comes from the Boston Tea Party of 1773. In this event, supporters of American independence destroyed imported tea to protest a tax imposed not by local officials but by the British Parliament. For decades, modern protesters have staged “tea party” events to show their opposition to taxes and other government policies. A number of activists in the current movement point out that the letters TEA form an acronym meaning “taxed enough already.”
Background.
The economy of the United States took a severe downturn late in 2008. In the months that followed, the U.S. government authorized the spending of hundreds of billions of dollars to stimulate the economy and bail out (rescue) troubled firms. The efforts began under President George W. Bush, a Republican. In 2009, Obama, a Democrat, became president and increased the economic stimulus efforts.
Many objected to the surge in government spending, deficits, and debt, and to government takeovers of previously private companies. Throughout 2009, opponents of the policies held rallies they called “tea parties.”
Membership and beliefs.
The tea party movement has no single leader or central organization, so it is impossible to provide an exact catalog of its goals. Some organizations, such as the National Tea Party Federation, have attempted to bring various regional groups together. Popular speakers at tea party events have included former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and a number of radio and television commentators. Many members of the Republican Party support the movement, but there is no formal connection between the groups.
Some tea party activists take conservative positions on such issues as gun rights and immigration. Most of their events, however, have focused on economic issues, such as taxes and the national debt. At many rallies, activists protested the growth of government via the major changes in health-care law enacted in 2010. In November 2010, victories by a number of candidates supported by the tea party helped the Republicans take control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Tea party favorite Rand Paul, a Kentucky ophthalmologist, won election to the U.S. Senate.
Tea party-backed candidates had less success in national and statewide elections in 2012. They retained considerable influence, however, in the U.S. House of Representatives and in many state legislatures.
See also Bachmann, Michele.
