Table of

aking place in Massachusetts under another colonial leader. This was Samuel Adams. Even before Virginia took any

el A

in Boston in 1722. His boyhood was quite different from that of Patrick Henry. He liked to go

opposing this, however, he entered upon business life. This perhaps was a mistake, for he did not take to

MS AN INSP

essful worker for the interests of the colony. In fact, before long, he gave up mo

to pay for the food needed in his household. But his wife was so thrifty and cheerful, and his friends so glad to help him out beca

tried at different times to bribe him with office under the King and to buy him wi

ing to force the colonists to pay taxes. In this he was busy night and day. In the assembly and in the town meeting all looked to him as an able leader; and in the worksho

les for the newspapers, and sometimes urgent letters to the various leaders in Massachusetts and in the other colonies. Lo

stroying Stamps Intende

was of medium size, with keen gray eyes, and hair already fast turning white. His head an

position to it, societies of patriots called "Sons of Liberty," who refused to use the stamps and often destroyed them. In M

s did not happen until many resolutions had been passed, many appeals made to the King, and after much excitement. Then grea

d given in very much against his will. He wanted to rule England in his own way, and how c

y one year after the repeal of the Stamp Act, he asked Parliament to pass a law t

d no part in levying it, and if we pay it, we shall be givi

to buy any goods whatever from England." To this the merchants agreed. While the unjust tax was in

ting mutton in order to have more sheep to produce wool for this homespun, thus showing a

ered the King. He called them rebels and sent so

their midst, and it was not long before trouble broke out. In a street fight a

ns of Boston demanded that all the soldiers should be removed. Fearing more serious trouble

said Samuel Adams, and his listeners agreed. In Massachusetts and in other colonies the English goods were refused, and, as i

AND THE "BOST

e on tea. "They must pay one tax to know we keep the right to tax," said the King. It was as if the King's followers had winked slyly at one anothe

friends with the colonists. Many leaders in that country said so, but the stubborn King

e colonists. "We will make the tea cheaper in America than in England," they said. "Such a

t they too had strong wills, and that they did not care half so much about buying cheap tea as they

was arranged that the East India Company should ship cargo

rit of these colonists? That they simply would not use this tea. The people in New York and Phila

the King's wishes. Hence occurred the famous "Boston Tea Party,"-a strange tea-party, where no cups were us

Boston, sailed into the harbor. The people were attending service in the various churches when the cry, "The Dartmout

his promise that the tea should not be landed before Tuesday. Then they called a mass

Hall,

ll, some of them from near-by towns. Samuel Adams presided. In addressing the meeting, he asked: "Is it the firm resolution of this body not

head, were determined that the tea should not be landed. Governor Hutchinson was

appointed, who should keep their horses saddled and bridled, ready to speed into the country to give the alarm if a landing should be attempted

d remain in the harbor until the morrow-the twentieth day after arriv

h Church

n o'clock over seven thousand had assembled in the Old South Church and in the streets outside. They were waiting for the coming of Benja

to give the clearance. The people told him that he must get a pa

or the return of Rotch. It was an anxious moment. "If the governor refuses to give the pass, shall the revenue officer be allowed

ston Te

n, and suddenly John Rowe asked: "Who knows how tea will mingle with salt water?" At once a w

candles sprang up here and there in the windows. It was past six o'clock when Benjamin R

lent as Samuel Adams stood up. He said quietly: "Th

or fifty "Mohawks," or men dressed as Indians, who had been waiting, dashed past the doo

they broke open three hundred and forty-two chests, and poured the tea into the harbor. There was no confusion. All was

, and Paul Revere, "booted and spurred," mounted a swift horse and ca

OF THE "BOS

ed to punish the rebellious colony. Parliament therefore passed the "Boston Port Bill," by which the port of Boston w

eral Gage as governor, and sent more soldiers. The new governor gave orders that the colonial assembly should hold no more meet

of Boston soon began to suffer. But the brave men and women would not give in. They said:

King thought that by punishing Boston he would frighten the other colonies. But he was mistaken, for they said: "We will help the people of our sister colon

g some of their strongest men to talk over their troubles and work out some plan of united action. This me

om Boston in a coach drawn by four horses. In front rode two white servants, well mounted and bearing arms; while behi

' Hall, Ph

ut on horseback and in carriages to meet them and act as escort; and on reaching a town they were feasted at banquets and greeted by gl

her in resisting the attempt of King George and Parliament to force them to pay taxes which they had had n

e in his desire for independence, and he has well been called the "Father of the Revolution." Perhaps we think of him esp

eighty-one years. Not an orator like Patrick Henry, but a man of action like Washington, he had g

ngs to T

Samuel Adams and Patri

Adams had grea

e so strongly desire that the colonists sh

and why did the colonists ob

arty"? Imagine yourself one of t

Boston for throwing the tea overboard? How did th

ontinental Congress,

admire in