The Sons of Liberty and the American Revolution

Louise Dunois

The Sons of Liberty and the American Revolution

Start

Preface

Sons of Liberty : organization formed in the American colonies in the summer of 1765 to oppose the Stamp Act. They were involved in Boston Tea Party that occurred on December 16, 1773, a milestone event in the American history.

What are the origins, the goals and the role of The Sons of Liberty in the American Revolution ?

1.

An uncertain origin

1. An uncertain Origin

Although the first official appearence of an "Association of the Sons of Liberty" in history is dated the 15th december 1773, the founding of the movement happened in 1765. It was first a riot that occured in Boston, lead by an association of craftsmen and shop owners ready to use violence to protest the Stamp Act.

1. An uncertain origin

On 14 August 1765, a riot is launched in Boston. As the riot began to be increasingly violent (they would burn houses and even attack the residency of the governor’s adjoint), the local authorities did nothing. Later, those violent acts were attributed to The Sons of Liberty, a group of colonists hostile to the Crown’s increasing taxation.

2.

An increasing popularity

2. An increasing popularity

Born on 27 September 1722 in Boston, he was firmly opposed to the Stamp Act from 1765, a taxation of stamps. Samuel Adams, Governor of Massachusetts fought for the United States’s Independence. He was a failed entrepreneur who reconverted himself to politics. He is one of the Founding fathers.

2. An increasing popularity

The movement, named by the public opinion, gained in popularity after Samuel Adams joined the movement. The movement gets its name from an irish member of the British Parliament, Colonel Isaac Barré. Fiercely opposed to American taxation, Barré fought in favor of the American cause in the British Parliament, and gave the name “Sons of Liberty" to the colonists in one of his speeches. Soon, the movement gets to the whole country and in October 1765, representants from nine colonies gather in a congress to denounce the Stamp Act.

3.

A key role in sparking the American Revolution

3. A key role in sparking the American Revolution

In December 1773

a text entitled The Association of the Sons of Liberty denounces another attempt to increase taxes. Lead by Samuel Adams,

50 members of The Sons of Liberty

disguised themselves in "indians" and mobbed at the Boston Tea Party.

3. A key role in sparking the American Revolution

During the Independence War (1775 - 1783), merchants' ships had to rise a flag with vertical red and white stripes, associated with The Sons of Liberty, called "The Rebellious Stripes". After the Revolution, the Sons of Liberty continue to fight the Crown’s allies in the United States, achieving to amend repressive laws in December 1784.

Conclusion

This movement illustrates well the revolutionary aspects of the American Revolution which are usually kept untold by the ones who want to oppose the “good” American revolution to the “bad” French revolution. First a secret organaziation, the Sons of Liberty aimed indeed at terrorizing the agents of the Crown with as much violence as they could.

Series released in 2015, rated 58% on Rottentomatoes.

Very short video summarizing very well the main aspects and events linked to the Sons of Liberty on Youtube.

Thanks

Sources :

• contrepoints-archives.org
• revue-histoire.fr
• Wikipedia.org