just like the non-importation associations--

就像反进口组织
are an important stepping-stone

都是提升殖民地统一
in the growing sense of colonial unity.

的垫脚石
Now it was at this moment that Lord North passed the Tea Act.

在这时候诺思爵士提出了《茶叶法案》
It actually had less to do with the colonies

比起被控制到少得可怜的物资
than it had to do with a miserably timed necessity.

这对殖民地的影响比较小
North was trying to save

诺思试图
the East India Tea Company from collapse.

挽救面临破产的东印度公司
The Tea Act of 1773

一七七三年的《茶叶法案》
removed import duties on East India tea,

废除了东印度公司茶叶的进口税
which basically made British tea cheaper than Dutch tea,

使得英国茶比荷兰茶要便宜
in the hope that this would

指望着这样能