How much do you know about the rights of colonists and the British constitution? How did Samuel Adams rise to the top and become the chief rabble rouser? Why did one of the richest men in the colonies, John Hancock, end up in politics? Do you know what disinterested means, in regard to colonial politics? Who was really in control of Boston during the Stamp Act Crisis?

On today’s episode of Founded we’re finding out what happened when the dreaded stamps landed on the shores of Boston and the news that came on the same boat. The tides are changing in the town of Boston and across the ocean in England. From Thomas Hutchinson’s and John Hancock’s mildly worded letters to Samuel Adam’s resolves; power is lost by some and found by others. 

Key Players:

John Hancock: Rich merchant, wrote a lot of mildly worded letters about hating stamps, ran for a seat in the assembly 

Samuel Adams:  Harvard grad, excel at working, did excel in politics and propaganda, , representative of Boston in the assembly

James Otis Jr: Prominent Boston lawyer, member of the assembly where he had been the leader for years

Francis Bernard: Royal Governor of Massachusetts Bay colony (in title), thought he’d have an easy administration but did not

Thomas Hutchinson: Lt Governor of Massachusetts Bay colony, publicly supported the crown, privately disagreed, had his house destroyed by a mob

George Grenville: Leader in England, creator of the sugar and stamp act, goose

Sources

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