The purpose of the gathering was to allow citizens to express their opposition to big government bailouts. Borrowing an idea from the Boston Tea Party of America's colonial days, people brought tea to the rally, to send a message to lawmakers. They pitched teabags into a sack.

Participants hope their collection of tea bags will be taken to the floor of the U.S. Congress, to demonstrate their displeasure with federal money spent on the bailout plans.

The idea of the tea party came from CNBC analyst Rick Santelli, who made an impassioned speech from the floor of the Chicago Board of trade last week. Santelli says President Obama's stimulus package promotes bad behavior by rewarding people who don't pay their bills.