Sons of Liberty

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Sons of Liberty

The Sons of Liberty was a secret revolutionary organization that was founded in the Thirteen Colonies to advance the rights of the European colonists and to fight taxation by the British government. The group played a major role in most colonies in battling the Stamp Act in 1765. The group is best known for undertaking the Boston Tea Party in 1773 in reaction to new taxes.

Formation and Early Activities

The Sons of Liberty was formed in the summer of 1765, in response to the Stamp Act, which imposed a direct tax on the colonies for the first time. The group was composed of merchants, artisans, and tradesmen who were most affected by the new tax. The organization used both peaceful and violent means of protest, including petitions, assemblies, and the intimidation of tax collectors.

Key Events

Stamp Act Protests

The Sons of Liberty organized and carried out protests against the Stamp Act, which included the burning of effigies, the ransacking of officials' homes, and the tarring and feathering of tax collectors. Their actions contributed to the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766.

Boston Tea Party

One of the most famous actions of the Sons of Liberty was the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. In response to the Tea Act, which granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies, members of the Sons of Liberty, disguised as Mohawk Indians, boarded three British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.

Organization and Membership

The Sons of Liberty was not a centralized organization but rather a network of local groups that coordinated their activities. Prominent members included Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere, and Patrick Henry. The group communicated through circular letters and committees of correspondence.

Legacy

The Sons of Liberty played a crucial role in mobilizing colonial opposition to British rule and in laying the groundwork for the American Revolution. Their actions and ideas helped to shape the emerging American identity and the principles of liberty and self-governance.

Related Pages

• American Revolution
• Boston Tea Party
• Stamp Act
• Samuel Adams
• John Hancock
• Paul Revere
• Patrick Henry
• Thirteen Colonies
• British East India Company

See Also

• Committees of Correspondence
• Intolerable Acts
• Continental Congress