ars later, the breach with England originated in Massachusetts. Though the Crown removed the British troops from Boston and convicted several of crowd endangerment or manslaughter, the Boston Massacre demonstrated that the patience of the colonials with respect to the ôperceived tyrannyö of the British was fast disappearing, (Martin, & Roberts, 1989, p. 16). This eruption in Boston would usher in both the American Revolution and the subsequent creation of a society vastly different from that of the nations of Europe. This analysis will explore the prominence of Boston in the eventual breach and rebellion with England, including some of the important personages of Boston and traditions and qualities in the area which contributed to the break.
Among the personages in Boston who helped foment revolution, there were qualities and traditions in the region that helped contribute to growing antagonism against Great Britain. Boys (2005, p. 1) calls the American Revolution a ôwar of self-defense,ö against a tyrannical Great Britain. Chief among these was the move toward self-rule. Bernard Bailyn (1967, p. 12) argues that many of the colonists firmly believed that the principles of the Enlightenment and the age of Reason mandated ôgreater participation in self-governance.ö Had such opportunities been forthcoming and had British reaction to colonial demands for greater autonomy been less severe, the Revolution may well not have occurred when, where, and how it did.
These ideological issues were exacerbated by other issues that began to emerge as the 1770s unfolded. Other problems of the era included excessive taxes imposed on the colony to pay off the British war debt, colonial antagonisms toward forced military service, AmericaÆs smuggling of taxes items, various other taxes imposed on the colonies by Britain, and the failure of Parliament to permit meaningful representation for the colonies. Various personages in Boston, es...