Boston Massachusetts is an impressive reflection of America's colorful history, offering up landmarks that represent significant moments from its past at every turn.
Boston was long dominated by Boston Brahmin financial elites until Irish Catholic political dynasties emerged to challenge them at the turn of the century.
The Puritans
History textbooks vie with one another for attention with images of Puritans that are more engaging: bold builders like John Winthrop's "City on a Hill;" persecuted refugees risking their lives to find religious freedom; rugged egalitarians whose founding documents (Mayflower Compact and Connecticut's Fundamental Orders) laid the groundwork for American democracy.
These men and their families, many from Lincolnshire's original Boston, formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Based on their interpretation of Scripture, they established an organized society in Massachusetts Bay Colony that worshiped together religiously while working closely together even before leaving Lincolnshire.
They applied stringent social and moral codes in their communities. Only church members with land could vote for governor and representatives to the General Court; women did not take part. Education and Bible study were prioritized; literacy rates were high. Families were expected to work together, with men carrying most of the responsibility in terms of building houses and farms, fishing for food, farming livestock farms, producing soap and playing cards - including men doing most of the heavy lifting themselves!
But Puritans were intolerant of any forms of discord; they banned Christmas celebrations and wassailing, an alcohol-fuelled tradition in which poor colonists would visit wealthy people's houses to offer good wishes and gifts - often turning violent as this disrupted rigid social hierarchies they prized.
Anti-British sentiment was at an all-time high by 1765. Responding to the Townshend Acts, which levied taxes on printed materials like newspapers, legal documents, and dice, and to British troops' seizure of the Liberty ship by British troops, an organization known as Sons of Liberty organized the Boston Tea Party by throwing 45 tons of tea into Boston Harbor.
The American Revolution
After the Seven Years' War had left Britain's coffers empty, its royal government tightened controls over its North American colonies. When customs officials started having difficulty collecting taxes, tensions flared. Britain then sent troops known as Redcoats into Baltimore which ignited outrage among residents already suffering from long-simmering grievances against British authority; local patriots such as Crispus Attucks (the first person ever to fight bloodily for liberty) rose up against them and took up arms against the British forces.
Bostonians continued with their plans for independence from Britain despite its tenuous situation, moving ahead with plans for independence from British control. Rumors of an imminent revolution spread like wildfire through bars, taverns, and meeting places populated with Sons of Liberty members such as Samuel Adams and Paul Revere as they traded pints while plotting against absentee overlords.
By April 19, 1775, colonists had cornered British forces on Boston Neck - a narrow strip connecting the Boston Peninsula with other parts of Massachusetts. Most British officers believed that colonists were cowardly and wouldn't fight for their freedom; however, Lexington and Concord's battle put this belief to bed.
Boston earned its unofficial moniker of "The Cradle of Liberty" due to being where America's founding political documents were written, debated, and approved - as well as being where new nations were born. Boston remains a hub of culture and intellectual life today - home to 66 colleges and universities (including Harvard ) which continue to shape politics, public discourse, and public policy discussions in America today. Additionally, Boston serves as a major port and manufacturing hub while being a center for finance, professional services, and biotechnology industries.
The Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War marked a pivotal point in Boston history. From mere local protests against British oppression, to global struggles over freedom involving Sam Adams and Paul Revere fighting on different fronts across America - it marked an immense change of direction that catalyzed world change. It began as local feuds against Britain but quickly expanded across much of America until it involved much of society as a whole. While patriotic speeches and pamphlets could provide rhetorical cover, real-lifethe fighting by men like these was what ultimately changed history forever.
These Patriots formed a group known as the Sons of Liberty to fight back against how British military treated their colonists. Sometimes this fighting took the form of patriotic speeches; other times protesting any perceived injustice by the Crown was also important. Boston became a target for the British military, due to its wealth, natural defenses, town meetings, and long history of self-rule; its wealth and natural defenses made Boston especially vulnerable against attack from outside forces.
Additionally, Boston was situated geographically to allow quick and efficient communication among citizens in neighboring towns via land and sea transport routes, making communication between all corners easy for its inhabitants. As such, American militia was quickly assembled once British troops began leaving Concord thus delaying an initial British march into Boston.
Although the inexperienced colonists lost to Redcoats at Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill, they proved resilient in inflicting heavy casualties upon them and winning an important confidence-boosting victory for their cause. This event galvanized resistance throughout the colonies; soon enough the British would be forced out of Boston.
Boston's Siege remains an inspirational factor in the global struggle for freedom. After World War II, leaders from newly independent nations--like David Ben Gurion (founder of Israel); Jomo Kenyatta (former Prime Minister of Kenya); and Clement Attlee (Prime Minister of Great Britain)--came to Philadelphia specifically and Independence Hall to pay their respects at America's birthplace; standing before Independence Hall and gazing upon Liberty Bell as they did so honored America and her contribution towards their own journeys toward freedom.
The 19th Century
In the 19th century, Boston continued to expand, adding South End and Back Bay neighborhoods. Land reclamation projects transformed swampy marshes into parks and wharves. A cobblestone circle marks the location of the 1770 Boston Massacre which occurred when local boys taunted a British sentry at Old State House and responded by shooting. When local boys surrounded him with sticks and clubs to attack their comrade, their sergeant shot back which led to further clashes between him and local boys who taunted the sentry before ultimately returning fire at him, ending with bloodshed at Old State House itself.
William Lloyd Garrison founded his antislavery newsletter The Liberator here. Furthermore, Boston became an ideal base from which to send antislavery New Englanders out west through the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company.
At this time, Bostonians remained true to their Puritan roots by upholding moral high-mindedness and maintaining close-knit extended family networks that were prevalent. Young men would attend similar preparatory schools before marrying heiresses from nearby towns; families provided both economic and moral support during these marriages.
Additionally, many medical discoveries were made at this time, such as ether's discovery - greatly contributing to health care during this period of history.
Boston soon earned itself a name as an important banking hub, boasting the highest concentration of banks anywhere in America during its early 1800s heyday. Boston was also a leading center for developing American railroads as well as canals and other forms of transportation, helping expand trade while creating new opportunities for local residents. Furthermore, due to the Industrial Revolution, Bostonians invested more in manufacturing industries that brought wealth but weren't related directly to shipping; contributing greatly to Bostonian's wealth.
The 20th Century
Boston remains a keystone of American life as the birthplace of its Revolution. Serving as an educational, cultural, medical, and technological center that shapes American society at large.
John Winthrop's "City upon a Hill" metaphor captured this idea perfectly. Early colonists prioritized morality and passed laws to enforce religious orthodoxy, marriage, church attendance, and many other rules imposed by God upon society; these included laws for religious orthodoxy, marriage, and church attendance laws as well as laws to control Quakers or punish their religious practice in other ways; celebrating Christmas was forbidden and due to Tea Act laws 45 tons of tea was dumped into Boston Harbor and set off an unrestful revolution against authority that continued up to 1773 Boston Tea Party revolt!
Boston has evolved over time to meet changing social and economic needs, moving away from manufacturing towards service sectors like printing and publishing, finance, education, and health care; more recently biotechnology and mutual funds have also become prominent industries within its borders.
Boston was hit hard when America underwent its 20th-century deindustrialization process. Population began declining as people moved out into suburbia, closing many old mills that relied heavily on heavy industry to embrace more cutting edge industries, while its economy transitioned from heavy industry to high technology and eventually service economies - Boston now being considered among one of the strongest American cities today.
Visit historic sites along the Freedom Trail with an experienced guide who will share his knowledge of Boston's debates over self-governance. Explore unique, locally loved, and nationally recognized shops while sampling international cuisine in restaurants, pubs, or at the famous Quincy Market Colonnade. As you stroll its cobblestone streets, enjoy music performed by world-famous street performers.
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