Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty was an organization of patriot colonists during the early parts of the American Revolution. The Sons popularized opposition to British policy through Protest and slogans such as No taxation without representation.
The group had a policy of strict secrecy, and every meeting every member would swear on the Bible to not talk but to a select few people.[1]
History
The name Sons of Liberty was first used by Isaac Barre, in a speech in Parliament opposing the Stamp Act.[2] Originally, the group was known as The Loyal Nine. The Sons would sometimes meet at the Green Dragon Tavern. The Sons adopted a flag which it called the Rebellious Stripes, first consisting of nine vertical stripes(after the Loyal Nine) that were alternating red and white. Later, the Sons used a flag consisting of thirteen horizontal red and white stripes that was also seen for use as a Navy ensign.
Liberty Tree
From the beginning of the Stamp Act excitement in 1765, the Liberty Tree had been the rallying place of the patriot citizens. Here one of the more celebrated scenes of defiance of the British enacted under it, was the hanging in effigy there, August 14, 1765 of Lieutenant Governor Andrew Oliver.[3]
Notable members
Many of the Sons of Liberty became Founding Fathers as the cause of independence grew nearer and after the Revolutionary War. Notable members include:
- Samuel Adams
- James Otis Jr.
- Paul Revere
- Joseph Warren
- Christopher Gadsden
- Benjamin Rush
- Patrick Henry
- Benedict Arnold
- William Paca
- Samuel Chase
- Charles Willson Peale
- Haym Salomon
- James Swan
References
- ↑ Lodge of Saint Andrew, and the Massachusetts Grand Lodge: Conditi Et Ducati, Anno Lucis 5756-5769, We held our meetings at the Green-Dragon tavern. We were so careful that our meetings should be kept secret, that every time we met, every person swore upon the Bible, that they would not discover any of our transactions, but to Messrs. Hancock, Adams, Doctors Warren, Church, and one or two more.
- ↑ Allen French (1911). The Siege of Boston.
- ↑ (1896) The historic Boston Tea Party of December 16, 1773: its men and objects : incidents leading to, accompanying, and following the throwing overboard of the tea, including a short account of the Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770, with patriotic lessons therefrom adapted to the present time, 18.
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