RE - Virtual Visit - Revolutionary Boston Lesson

Virtual Visit - Revolutionary Boston

Boston, Massachusetts is often referred to as the "Cradle of the American Revolution." Remember that especially early on, many American colonists were not eager for war with Britain, much less a war for independence. In fact, Georgia did not even send a representative to the First Continental Congress that was to discuss how to respond to the growing crisis with the British. Boston, however, was out in front as the center of colonial protest.

The list of revolutionary figures from the Boston area is impressive: John Hancock, Mercy Otis Warren, Samuel Adams, John Adams, and Paul Revere. The protest against British taxation was strong with the Sons and Daughters of Liberty forming. The Boston Massacre would occur in 1770. The Boston Tea Party in protest of the Tea Act would happen in 1773. Eventually, the first shot (the one heard 'round the world'), would be fired in Lexington outside of Boston to begin the Revolutionary War.

Why did Boston take such a strong stand? The reasons are varied. For one, remember that the first settlers to what would become Massachusetts were Puritans fleeing persecution for claiming, among other things, that the Church of England was not "pure" and that the king could not force religious commonality on all people. So they had a rebellious streak from the beginning. In addition, Boston was a center of commercial trade. Many made their living from importing and exporting goods and other aspects tied to the merchant economy. The Navigation Acts and the numerous taxes hit Boston merchants and citizens hard. Many people in the Boston area were formally educated and had read the ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers who proposed the ideas of the natural rights of man, questioned the monarchial and mercantilist system, and called for large scale change in the status quo. In part due to these reasons, Boston was a natural place for the birth and growth of revolutionary thought in the colonies.

In this virtual visit you will take a trip to Revolutionary Era Boston. You will see and reflect on this city that has played an important role in the birth of the independent American Republic.

Click here to visit Revolutionary Era Boston. Links to an external site.

 

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