This Day in Conservative History: The 9/12 Tea Party

On September 12, 2009, the Taxpayer March on Washington—also known as the 9/12 Tea Party—took place, drawing tens of thousands of protesters to the U.S. Capital.

Organized by conservative activists including Glenn Beck and groups like FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity, the event was a major early demonstration of the Tea Party movement, which emerged in opposition to the Obama administration’s economic policies, such as the stimulus package and healthcare reform.

Participants rallied against high taxes, government spending, and federal overreach, marking a pivotal moment in the resurgence of modern American conservatism and influencing the Republican Party’s shift toward populism in subsequent elections.