The Sons of Liberty were perhaps the most radical group of American patriots during the pre-Revolutionary period, but the true Sons of Liberty had a relatively short lifespan. They were formed in response to the Stamp Act of 1765 and disbanded when the Act was repealed. Still, the name lived on as a popular brand name for the biggest firebrands of the American Revolution.
Many of the members of the true Sons of Liberty are American legends who need no introduction. Samuel Adams. John Hancock. Patrick Henry. Paul Revere. Even Benedict Arnold counted himself among their number. It’s unclear whether the original Sons of Liberty were a clandestine organization with an official membership or just a rallying point for anyone who opposed the Stamp Act. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. The unified identity of opposition to the Crown was the organization, whether it was official or not.
The motto of the Sons of Liberty was a simple phrase known to virtually every American: “No taxation without representation.” While its origins are largely shrouded in mystery and lacking firm documentation, many experts agree that, to the extent that it was an organization with members, it was founded by none other than famous rabble rouser Samuel Adams.
The Sons of Liberty Flag Impacts The Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act of 1765 existed for the purpose of bankrolling British troops in the New World. Colonists resisted the Stamp Act not because the taxes themselves were intolerable, but because they believed their rights as British subjects were being violated by taxation without representation.
The first branch was founded in Boston in August 1765, followed by a satellite in New York in November of the same year. December saw communication between groups in Connecticut and New York. In January of 1766, Boston and New York linked up. By March, Providence was in communication with New Hampshire, Newport, and New York. Later that year in March, groups were set up in Maryland, New Jersey, and as far south as Virginia.
The Sons of Liberty were much more than a propaganda organization. They were a militant, direct-action group in contrast to the petitioning and speeches of more moderate figures like John Adams. For example, Boston’s stamp distributor Andrew Oliver was burned in effigy before his office was burned to the ground. Boston Commissioner of Customs John Malcolm was tarred and feathered and had hot tea poured down his nose and throat. This was in keeping with the social base of the Sons: “Tavern mongers, wharf rats, and other seedy characters looking to cause trouble.”
The Sons of Liberty name was used in the pre-Revolutionary period by unrelated groups, but also in later periods of American history. For example, Copperhead group the Knights of the Golden Circle set up an offshoot called the Order of the Sons of Liberty. A radical Zionist group organized an American boycott of British films in protest of Britain’s Palestine policies under the name.
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I told a Brit friend the entire revolution was fought over an issue with Tea brought to Boston. The King said we had to drink it hot a 4:00 o’clock. The patriots told him to eff off. We drink it over ice any damn time we want.
Nice article!
I have heard of a group called “The Sons of America and the Universe Philosophy Club” … it was active in the ‘60’s - ‘70’s but seems to have fizzled.
So I pulled a Sheldon "Fun With Flags" action and found there were a slew of different 'Sons of Liberty' flag designs. Check them out on this DuckDuckGo Search Result.
250 yr Anniversary of
The Concord and Lexington Skirmish!!!
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April 19 1775
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Trump’s Riseing from the Ashes
Makes Me Think of
The American Revolution at it’s beginning!
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AR-250
***The Sons of Liberty Symbol***
I remember an old 1950s Walt Disney in which this was mentioned. Back when Walt was still alive and producing excellent family movies.
Johnny Tremain is a 1957 American adventure war film made by Walt Disney Productions, released by Buena Vista Distribution,