Page 43 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers

A Patriot’s view of the history and direction of our Country

colonies agreed that England could regulate trade to and

from the colonies, but they argued the ‘duties’ under the
Townsend Acts were taxation – and without representation.

In response to the continued open opposition to the
Townsend Acts, the crown authorized the governors to

dissolve any colonial groups organizing in opposition to be
dissolved. By 1768 both the Massachusetts and Virginia

provincial governments met to openly resist the acts and
imposed taxes. The governors of Massachusetts and

Virginia dissolved the assemblies. The assemblies continued
to meet in secret. On March 5th 1770, a group of Boston

citizens (Sons of Liberty) confronted stationed British
soldiers, who fired on the crowd, killing five Bostonians

(Boston Massacre). This was the first deadly incident in the
ongoing taxation rebellion of the colonies. John Adams,

later to be our first vice president and second president,
defended the soldiers – arguing self-defense – and won their

acquittal; particularly since his second cousin, Samuel
Adams, is said to have used his Sons of Liberty to instigate

the confrontation. As word spread of the ‘Boston Massacre’
and the death of five colonial Bostonians, resentment to the

crown and England was growing. In April of 1770 the
Townsend Acts were repealed, except for the taxation of tea

– which could only be imported from England. The colonists

identified, and resented this as continuing taxation without
representation and continued enforcement of the
Declaratory Act. By 1772 this resentment and the sentiment

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