PRIMARY SOURCES
On May 10th, 1773, The British Parliament imposed the Tea Act. This Act essentially forced the colonies to purchase their tea from East India Company. The move by the British was made to help save a failing company, and to try and get rid of some of the surplus of tea owned by the company. The people of Boston of course refused to comply on the basis of, "No taxation without representation." They famously carried out the Boston Tea Party on December 16th, 1773. Below is a link to the eyewitness account of George Hewes, a Boston shoe-maker, who personally took part in the Boston Tea Party.
http://www.boston-tea-party.org/account-george-hewes.html
http://www.boston-tea-party.org/account-george-hewes.html
The Sons of Liberty originated in Boston in August, 1765. They were a group of mostly middle class men, although they did have several high profile members. Samuel Adams was connected to the group, and wrote several articles in the paper spreading their ideas and opinions, while using a pen name. The Sons did however still claim loyalty to the crown at first, stating that they had faith the crown would fix the wrong-doings. The Sons of Liberty in Boston were behind the Boston Tea Party of 1773. Below is a link to a portion of a speech given by Sam Adams to the Philideplphia State House. There is also a photo of a publication calling for a meeting of all 'True Sons of Liberty.'
http://sentient.wordsof.org/2012/07/04/prefer-safety-over-freedom-go-home-sam-adams/
http://sentient.wordsof.org/2012/07/04/prefer-safety-over-freedom-go-home-sam-adams/
A not-so-proud moment involving the citizens of Boston taking matters into their own hands is the Boston Massacre. Late one December night in 1770, a group of drunk Bostonians came out of a local bar to see a group of British arms. This did not sit well, as the city was already irritated that their home was being patrolled by British troops. The drunk locals began to torment the British forces, resulting in gun fire, and the death of several Bostonians. Click the link below to read an eyewitness account of the 'massacre' from an anonymous colonist.
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1751-1775/anonymous-account-of-the-boston-massacre-march-5-1770.php
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1751-1775/anonymous-account-of-the-boston-massacre-march-5-1770.php
As the saying goes, every story has two sides. The Boston Massacre is no exception. Click the link below to read a much different eyewitness account of the situation. This is the version of the story told by Captain Thomas Preston of the British Army. Captain Preston was charged with murder, and eventually acquitted. It is hard to believe that two people can have such opposite views of the very same situation. It says a lot about the power of perspective.
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1751-1775/captain-prestons-account-of-the-boston-massacre-march-5-1770.php
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1751-1775/captain-prestons-account-of-the-boston-massacre-march-5-1770.php