The Boston Teaparty and American Revolution: The Story of George Robert Twelves Hewes. About the book: "The Shoemaker and the Tea Party" by Alfred F. Young
The revolution in America gained momentum as Britain continued to pass new taxes and send more soldiers to the continent. The American people, along with their anger over the Appalachian Mountain boundary, did not enjoy these new taxes. Their protests and demonstrations were initially only in defiance to the new laws, but as their patience was continually tested, their thoughts turned towards independence. Although the idea of independence came about slowly, it is inaccurate to say that the colonists were "reluctant" in their efforts. George Robert Twelves Hewes is a perfect example of a colonist who was "excited with an inextinguishable desire to aid in chastising [the British]"(Young 55).
The colonists were political activists waiting to happen. Politics had been relatively quite in the New World since its boom. In the Puritan societies, citizens took turns serving political offices; it was part of their duty to the community. As cities grew, they elected their own councils or other forms of government. Not until the grumbling began did Britain feel the need to place its own officials over the colonies. The colonists, especially those in Boston, were only waiting for the spark they needed to ignite a political, and later a military, war. For some, this spark may have been the tarring and feathering of John Malcolm, a hated customs informer. According to Alfred Young in his book The Shoemaker and the Tea Party, this particular event "was part of the upsurge of spontaneous action in the wake of the Tea Party that prompted the Whig leaders to promote a "Committee for Tarring and Feathering" as an instrument of crowd control"(50). The crowds seemed to zealous even for the rich opposition leaders who believed they needed to inhibit many mob uprisings. Hewes' political life started years earlier than this last event. For Hewes, "the Massacre had stirred [him] to political action"(Young 39). Notice that he was "stirred" to action, not reluctantly pushed or forced.
The colonists were political activists waiting to happen. Politics had been relatively quite in the New World since its boom. In the Puritan societies, citizens took turns serving political offices; it was part of their duty to the community. As cities grew, they elected their own councils or other forms of government. Not until the grumbling began did Britain feel the need to place its own officials over the colonies. The colonists, especially those in Boston, were only waiting for the spark they needed to ignite a political, and later a military, war. For some, this spark may have been the tarring and feathering of John Malcolm, a hated customs informer. According to Alfred Young in his book The Shoemaker and the Tea Party, this particular event "was part of the upsurge of spontaneous action in the wake of the Tea Party that prompted the Whig leaders to promote a "Committee for Tarring and Feathering" as an instrument of crowd control"(50). The crowds seemed to zealous even for the rich opposition leaders who believed they needed to inhibit many mob uprisings. Hewes' political life started years earlier than this last event. For Hewes, "the Massacre had stirred [him] to political action"(Young 39). Notice that he was "stirred" to action, not reluctantly pushed or forced.