Parliament passed it on May 20, 1774.  The act got rid of elections for councilors and assistants in the colony, making them royally appointed instead.  The act also put big time limitations on town meetings.  Remember how much the colonists loved to have town meetings?  This act struck a huge blow to the independence of the colonies.  One gigantic blow.  It took self-government away from the colonists in Massachusetts.

King George III

According to eyewitness George Hewes, the Partygoers were split into three groups.  One, two, three groups.  Men in one group did not know the commanders of the other groups, or what they were doing.  We then quietly retired to our several places of residence, without having any conversation with each other, or taking any measures to discover who were our associates; nor do I recollect of our having had the knowledge of the name of a single individual concerned in that affair, except that of Leonard Pitt, the commander of my division, whom I have mentioned. There appeared to be an understanding that each individual should volunteer his services, keep his own secret, and risk the consequence for himself. No disorder took place during that transaction, and it was observed at that time that the stillest night ensued that Boston had enjoyed for many months.

The colonists also took great care to not harm any of the crew, steal any tea, or damage any property.  A single lock broke during the Party.  It was replaced.  Replaced.  One man, Captain O’Connor is said to have placed tea in the lining of his jacket.  The other Partygoers spotted him and relieved him of the tea and his duty at the Party.  The men were even said to have shook their shoes free of tea before leaving the ships.

The Boston Evening Post, Monday, December 20, 1773

Previous to the dissolution, a number of Persons, supposed to be the Aboriginal Natives from their completion, approaching near the door of the assembly, gave the War Whoop, which was answered by a few in the galleries of the house where the assembly was convened; silence was commanded, and prudent and peaceable deportment again enjoined. The Savages repaired to the ships which entertained the pestilential Teas, and had began their ravage previous to the dissolution of the meeting--they apply themselves to the destruction of the commodity in earnest, and in the space of about two hours broke up 342 chests and discharged their contents into the sea.

Massachusetts Gazette

Just before the dissolution of the meeting, a number of brave and resolute men, dressed in the Indian manner, approached near the door of the Assembly, gave the war whoop, which rang through the house and was answered by some in the galleries, but silence being commanded, and a peaceable deportment was again enjoined till the dissolution. The Indians, as they were then called, repaired to the wharf where the ships lay that had the tea on board, and were followed by hundreds of people to see the event of the transactions of those who made so grotesque an appearance.

It was now evening, and I immediately dressed myself in the costume of an Indian, equipped with a small hatchet, which I and my associates denominated the tomahawk, with which, and a club, after having painted my face and hands with coal dust in the shop of a blacksmith, I repaired to Griffin’s wharf, where the ships lay that contained the tea. When I first appeared in the street after being thus disguised, I fell in with many who were dressed, equipped and painted as I was, and who fell in with me and marched in order to the place of our destination.

Here is another eyewitness account by participant Ebenezer Stevens.  His account differs on the Mohawk Indian disguises.

We commenced handing the boxes of tea on deck, and first commenced breaking them with axes, but found much difficulty, owing to the boxes of tea being covered with canvass—the mode that this article was then imported in. I think that all the tea was discharged in about two hours. We were careful to prevent any being taken away; none of the party were painted as Indians, nor, that I know of disguised, excepting that some of them stopped at a paint shop on the way and daubed their faces with paint.

Stevens does note that some participants may have stopped to put paint on their faces.  Why would the Tea Party throwers want to disguise themselves?  They were being watched during the Tea Party and wanted to keep their identity secret.  Which account is true?  It is possible that there were some disguised and some not disguised.