The Boston Tea Party was a culmination of protests against the Tea Act and about the extent of the British Parliament's authority over the British American colonies including new taxes, including one on tea, the colonists primary dispute was "no taxation without representation", the tea just offered a way to protest no representation for the colonies in the British Government. Following the decision of officials in Boston who refused to return three shiploads of taxed tea to Britain, a group of colonists boarded the ships and destroyed the tea by throwing it into Boston Harbor.

Germany quit the League of Nations and Adolph Hitler was in power with his Nazi regime. Other European countries were nervous of Germany's intentions; however, they were relying on negotiations instead of war at that point. France was threatened by Germany, but generally felt secure behind her fortifications.