1. Sam Adams’ Boston Colonial American Resistance to British Policy 1765-1770

2. Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty During the summer of 1765, Sam Adams arranged a secret meeting with the leadership of the North-End and South-End Gangs. Goal: to “enlist” the city’s working man’s organizations in Adams’ war against the Stamp Act North-End and South-End Gangs’ leadership agreed to come together, forming the Sons of Liberty

3. A New Phase of Resistance Move from speeches and pamphlets to more violent protests, like destruction of property, physical violence, and intimidation. Usage of mob action: a mass protest that appears to be nothing more than a riot to unknowing observers who witness it. Mob actions are well planned and are meant to look like a leaderless, uncontrolled crowd of rioters.

4. Acquiring a Target With the Sons of Liberty newly formed, they are ready to take action against the Stamp Act. Their first target is going to be Andrew Oliver, Boston’s Stamp Act Distributor.

5. Teaching Oliver a Lesson On the night of August 14, 1765, nearly 3,000 Sons of Liberty gather around an old elm tree they had named the “Liberty Tree,” and hang and burn two straw dummies: Andrew Oliver and Satan. From there, they move to Oliver’s warehouse and burn the building to the ground. Then, the Sons of Liberty stormed Oliver’s mansion, burning all his furniture and raiding his wine cellar, partying into the night. The next day, Andrew Oliver publicly resigns his position as Stamp Act Distributor for Boston.

6. The Sons of Liberty Spread Following Oliver’s resignation, the Sons of Liberty continue to organize mob actions, targeting and terrorizing public officials who support the Stamp Act The Sons of Liberty also spread to other cities throughout the 13 colonies, such as New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. With the growth of the Sons of Liberty, it become virtually impossible to enforce the Stamp Act in the colonies.

7. Patrick Henry and Peaceful Resistance to the Stamp Act Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, Patrick Henry proposed the Virginia Resolves on May 29, 1765. The Virginia Resolves were aimed at Parliament. The Virginia Resolves stated: Only the House of Burgesses could tax Virginians because they elected the representatives Parliament was not legally allowed to tax the colonies because the colonists had no representation The assembly passed the Virginia Resolves as Virginia's official stand on the Stamp Act.

8. The Stamp Act Congress Within weeks after the Virginia Resolves were passed, other colonial legislatures began passing similar resolutions, denying Parliament’s power to tax the colonies. In October, 1765, 9 of the 13 colonies united to protest the Stamp Act in New York City. This meeting became known as the Stamp Act Congress. The representatives adopted a “declaration of rights and grievances” that included 3 main points.

9. The Stamp Act Resolves The Resolves “it is the… undoubted right of Englishmen, that no taxes be imposed on them but with their own consent, given personally or by their representatives.” “the people of these colonies are not… represented in the House of Commons in Great Britain.” “the only representatives of the people of these colonies are persons chosen therein by themselves, and that no taxes ever have been, or can be constitutionally imposed on them, but by their respective legislatures.” 2014 Language

10. Victory Over Parliament?! As a result of the Sons of Liberty’s mob actions, colonial assembly actions, and the Stamp Act Congress, Parliament is forced to repeal the Stamp Act on March 18, 1766.

11. A Bittersweet Victory… Despite repealing the Stamp Act, Parliament was furious the colonies were denying Parliament’s authority. They wanted to make sure this would never happen again. Parliament issues the Declaratory Act, which states Parliament has legal authority over the colonial assemblies and the colonies, and can tax the colonies at any time. However, the colonists are going to largely ignore the Declaratory Act as they celebrate the repeal of the Stamp Act.