The Sons of Liberty were loosely organized revolutionary bands in the 13 Colonies. They were first formed in the 1760s. In 1765 the British began taxation of colonists in order to pay the costs for maintaining 10,000 British officers and soldiers living in the colonies. The motto for the Sons of Liberty became:
“No taxation without representation”
Groups formed in Boston, New York City, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Virginia, New Hampshire, Maryland, New Jersey.
The Boston Sons of Liberty organized the Boston Tea Party in 1773.
The groups frequently tarred and feathered British authorities who offended the colonists when carrying out the Crown’s taxes and new regulations.
Known members of the Sons of Liberty
Samuel Adams – political writer, fire warden
Benjamin Edes – publisher Boston Gazette
John Hancock – merchant
James Otis – lawyer
Paul Revere – silversmith
James Swan – financier
Isaiah Thomas – painter
Joseph Warren – doctor
Thomas Young – doctor
Joseph Allicocke – founder and of African American descent
John Lamb – trader
Alexander McDougall – privateer
Hyam Salomon – Jewish financier
Marinus Willett – cabinet maker
Timothy Bigelow – blacksmith
John Brown – businessman
Samuel Chase – lawyer
John Crane – carpenter
William Ellery – lawyer
Christopher Gadsden – merchant
Patrick Henry – lawyer
Jedediah Huntington – businessman
William Paca – lawyer, judge
Charles Wilson Peale – portrait painter and saddle maker
Matthew Phripp – merchant
Benjamin Rush – doctor
Charles Thomson – tutor
William Williams – merchant
The Bostonians “Paying the Excise Man” or Tarring and Feathering
Samuel Adams Birthday; September 27, 1722
FAMOUS QUOTATIONS
Ben Franklin said, “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”
Thomas Jefferson said, “I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors (money) of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”
