When historians closely examine the American Revolution, most agree that about 1/3 of colonists supported “independence,” 1/3 were loyal to the crown, and 1/3 had no specific political persuasion, often too busy surviving to have time to ponder politics. But those who were vocal were incredibly vocal even though they were often forced to hide in the shadows and meet in secret.

The Sons of Liberty, the most widely recognized patriot society, formed in 1765 to oppose British measures against the colonists as an initial reaction to the passage of the Stamp Act. But they would continue to speak, write, and demonstrate against Parliament’s actions in Colonial America until the Declaration of Independence was announced in 1776. And they had plenty of legislation and actions to oppose during those 11 years.

Once the colonists began to oppose parliamentary action and demand their “natural rights,” Parliament doubled down on getting them under control. Following the enactment of the Quartering Acts, forcing the American colonists to provide housing and food for British soldiers upon demand, the tension increased. Not only was “quartering” a financial difficulty for many families, the request was often made of families that had every right to suspect that the crown was “spying” on them.

On May 29, 1765, the Virginia House of Burgesses took an official stand against the actions of the crown by adopting the Virginia Resolves. The language of the act left no doubt as to the Virginia patriots’ political ideology:

Resolved — that the first adventurers and settlers of His Majesty’s colony and dominion of Virginia brought with them and transmitted to their posterity, and all other His Majesty’s subjects since inhabiting in this His Majesty’s said colony, all the liberties, privileges, franchises, and immunities that have at any time been held, enjoyed, and possessed by the people of Great Britain.

Resolved — that by two royal charters, granted by King James I, the colonists aforesaid are declared entitled to all liberties, privileges, and immunities of denizens and natural subjects to all intents and purposes as if they had been abiding and born within the Realm of England.

Resolved — that the taxation of the people by themselves, or by persons chosen by themselves to represent them, who can only know what taxes the people are able to bear, or the easiest method of raising them, and must themselves be affected by every tax laid on the people, is the only security against a burdensome taxation, and the distinguishing characteristic of British freedom, without which the ancient constitution cannot exist.

Virginia’s strong stance against the unlawful and “burdensome taxation” spurred action from nine of the 13 colonies, resulting in the Stamp Act Congress convening on October 7, 1765, with a declaration that the Stamp Act was unconstitutional, as it was a tax levied without their consent. Britain responded with the repeal of the Stamp Act and a lessening of the Sugar Act but simultaneously announcing that, through the Declaratory Act, Parliament had the same authority in the colonies that it had in Britain, including the passage of binding legislation. In truth, boycotts were hurting British trade, but the passage of the Declaratory Act allowed them to save face with other nations. By October 1768, British troops were stationed in Boston, the other “hot” spot for protests and resistance, and attempting to enforce the newest taxes on paint, paper, tea, and other items enumerated in the Townshend Acts.

Are you frustrated and confused trying to track the laws and taxes forced on the colonists? Imagine the reality for the colonists who were expected to comply and pay. It was inevitable that words would be replaced by actions, and that happened on March 5, 1770.

The anger had grown among Bostonians, who felt threatened by the presence of troops and Britain’s heavy-handed policies toward the colonies and Boston in particular. What began as a crowd harassing a group of soldiers outside a customs house escalated after a soldier was knocked down by a snowball, discharging his musket into the crowd. Others fired in unison and, when the smoke settled, five civilians lay dead on the snow.

The crowd dispersed only after Acting Governor Thomas Hutchinson promised an official inquiry into the shooting, but they gathered again on the next day in protest. The troops were withdrawn to Castle Island. Eventually, eight soldiers, one officer, and four civilians were arrested and charged with murder. In a well-publicized trial, the accused were represented by John Adams, a strong proponent of the “rights of English citizens,” including trial and counsel. Two were found guilty of manslaughter, each branded on his hand, while the others were acquitted.

But the ties were unraveling, and depictions of the “massacre” and the accompanying propaganda roused strong emotions among colonists. Silversmith and engraver Paul Revere’s depiction of “The Boston Massacre” (below) divided the population even more and helped push him to the forefront, along with others, in the call for independence.