Although Samuel Adams had held off his late-father’s creditors, the family estate fell into disrepair, he had run the malt business into the ground, and charges of financial shenanigans would not go away. At this point in time, it appeared that Adams was working his way into obscurity. Adams’ financial fortunes would not improve, but events were about to catapult him from aimlessness to passionate purpose, starting at the age of 41.
During 1764, Adams was part of a group in Boston that had some power in the city, and the group met regularly. Adams was in effect a mentor for James Otis, Jr., who was as impulsive as Adams was even-keeled. Otis was a talented orator, and he had immersed himself in the law. In 1761, Otis railed against the “new and improved” British Writs of Assistance (search warrants), arguing a case before the MA Superior Court Chief Justice, Thomas Hutchinson (who would be a very powerful Tory, and enemy of Samuel Adams). By the Spring of 1763, Otis, now an elected member of the MA House of Representatives, was publicly attacking Lt. Governor Hutchinson, which earned Otis many powerful enemies.
Otis expressed himself in rants, torrents, and tantrums, while Adams wrote reasoned and logical arguments. Despite many differences in temperament, Adams was a solid defender of Otis, and served as Otis’ wingman, accomplice, ghostwriter, and editor. Otis’ goal of bringing down Hutchinson did not displease Adams in the least, with even John Adams eventually seeing Hutchinson as the main enemy of liberty. The zeal of Otis was real and genuine, but when he ranted against Hutchinson, he was barking at the moon. From the perspective of Hutchinson, Otis was complimentary in public, and then nasty in the newspapers. Hutchinson did his best to ignore Otis, and to let his supporters rush to his defense.
During 1764, Adams was part of a group in Boston that had some power in the city, and the group met regularly. Adams was in effect a mentor for James Otis, Jr., who was as impulsive as Adams was even-keeled. Otis was a talented orator, and he had immersed himself in the law. In 1761, Otis railed against the “new and improved” British Writs of Assistance (search warrants), arguing a case before the MA Superior Court Chief Justice, Thomas Hutchinson (who would be a very powerful Tory, and enemy of Samuel Adams). By the Spring of 1763, Otis, now an elected member of the MA House of Representatives, was publicly attacking Lt. Governor Hutchinson, which earned Otis many powerful enemies.
Otis expressed himself in rants, torrents, and tantrums, while Adams wrote reasoned and logical arguments. Despite many differences in temperament, Adams was a solid defender of Otis, and served as Otis’ wingman, accomplice, ghostwriter, and editor. Otis’ goal of bringing down Hutchinson did not displease Adams in the least, with even John Adams eventually seeing Hutchinson as the main enemy of liberty. The zeal of Otis was real and genuine, but when he ranted against Hutchinson, he was barking at the moon. From the perspective of Hutchinson, Otis was complimentary in public, and then nasty in the newspapers. Hutchinson did his best to ignore Otis, and to let his supporters rush to his defense.
In 1760, the French and Indian War
ended in North America, and in 1763, the Seven Years War (which had spread to Europe from the conflict in America) ended in Europe. The borders of the American Colonies were secure from the French, and the focus in the Colonies was on the future. In Britain there was disagreement as to whether the Colonies were a successful enterprise due to British policies or to its (Salutary) neglect. Hutchinson saw a great future for MA, who by 1763 was the Lt. Governor, Chief Justice, Justice of Probate, and a member of the Council (upper house), which before, then, and after in MA was an unprecedented concentration of power. Hutchinson loved New England, and he was the most prominent and popular figure in the region. To John Adams, everything came easy for Hutchinson on his ascendancy to power in MA. Hutchinson viewed himself as being “above the fray”, doing his duty as a public servant, focusing on the public good. Hutchinson hated what he called the “unholy rabble”, and was a Tory (Loyalist) to his core.
During September 1763, Britain’s Prime Minister, George Grenville, faced a massive debt/revenue problem in the American Colonies. Revenue from the Colonies was between 1000 and 2000 pounds, but it cost seven or eight times as much to collect that revenue, and the PM wanted to know what could be done to correct that problem. Also, in winning what amounted to three mostly concurrent wars against the French during 1754 - 1763 (The French & Indian War, the Seven Years War, and the “Tea Wars” in India), Britain had amassed a huge debt, the largest in the history of its empire. Reports of Colonial prosperity were everywhere in Britain, and jealousy and resentment started to brew. Britain still had a large military presence in the Colonies, and to that point in 1763 the Colonies had benefited from that military protection and then some, but hadn’t yet chipped in to help pay for that protection.
ended in North America, and in 1763, the Seven Years War (which had spread to Europe from the conflict in America) ended in Europe. The borders of the American Colonies were secure from the French, and the focus in the Colonies was on the future. In Britain there was disagreement as to whether the Colonies were a successful enterprise due to British policies or to its (Salutary) neglect. Hutchinson saw a great future for MA, who by 1763 was the Lt. Governor, Chief Justice, Justice of Probate, and a member of the Council (upper house), which before, then, and after in MA was an unprecedented concentration of power. Hutchinson loved New England, and he was the most prominent and popular figure in the region. To John Adams, everything came easy for Hutchinson on his ascendancy to power in MA. Hutchinson viewed himself as being “above the fray”, doing his duty as a public servant, focusing on the public good. Hutchinson hated what he called the “unholy rabble”, and was a Tory (Loyalist) to his core.
During September 1763, Britain’s Prime Minister, George Grenville, faced a massive debt/revenue problem in the American Colonies. Revenue from the Colonies was between 1000 and 2000 pounds, but it cost seven or eight times as much to collect that revenue, and the PM wanted to know what could be done to correct that problem. Also, in winning what amounted to three mostly concurrent wars against the French during 1754 - 1763 (The French & Indian War, the Seven Years War, and the “Tea Wars” in India), Britain had amassed a huge debt, the largest in the history of its empire. Reports of Colonial prosperity were everywhere in Britain, and jealousy and resentment started to brew. Britain still had a large military presence in the Colonies, and to that point in 1763 the Colonies had benefited from that military protection and then some, but hadn’t yet chipped in to help pay for that protection.
Grenville and other powerful figures in Britain eventually settled on what became known as the Sugar Act (1764), which actually reduced the tax on molasses imported from Britain to the Colonies. The difference with the Sugar Act was that the duty on molasses would actually be enforced across the board. After passing through Parliament and with the signature of King George III, the Sugar Act became law on 5 April 1764. To Britain, the Sugar Act was the first step in gathering additional revenue to pay down the massive debt (mostly loans from the Bank of England) from the wars from 1754 - 1763.
The idea that Englishmen had the right to be taxed only by their consent had existed in the Colonies long before the Sugar Act. The Colonies never had any representation in Parliament, as was the case for every British Colony in its empire. Benjamin Franklin pointed out that there were already many taxes already in existence with colonial trade with Britain. The trade balance mostly benefited Britain (Mercantilism), in large part to a series of Navigation Acts during the previous decades. Those taxes in the world of trading with Britain had been generally accepted as a matter of course in the Colonies as the price in doing business with Britain.
To Franklin, the Sugar Act (and the subsequent revenue acts from 1765 - 1773) seemed to fall under the category of treating the Colonies as a conquered people, not as true British subjects. To Franklin and a growing number of his fellow Colonists, taxes in the world of trade were one thing, but enforcing a (reduced) tax on molasses was drawing a new line, and then crossing that line. As word of the molasses tax enforcement spread, alarm bells rang, with even Hutchinson asking ir it wasn’t a case of taxation without representation.
Of the 13 Colonies, MA had enjoyed the most independence, and enforcing a tax on molasses, Hutchinson knew, would be resisted. Another way to say the same thing was that if Hutchinson saw through the facade that the enforced molasses duty was in the name of “trade”, then there was sure to be resistance, especially in Boston. The Sugar Act was purely for the sake of revenue, and if that act became “accepted” in the Colonies, the question then was what would Britain do next.
The idea that Englishmen had the right to be taxed only by their consent had existed in the Colonies long before the Sugar Act. The Colonies never had any representation in Parliament, as was the case for every British Colony in its empire. Benjamin Franklin pointed out that there were already many taxes already in existence with colonial trade with Britain. The trade balance mostly benefited Britain (Mercantilism), in large part to a series of Navigation Acts during the previous decades. Those taxes in the world of trading with Britain had been generally accepted as a matter of course in the Colonies as the price in doing business with Britain.
To Franklin, the Sugar Act (and the subsequent revenue acts from 1765 - 1773) seemed to fall under the category of treating the Colonies as a conquered people, not as true British subjects. To Franklin and a growing number of his fellow Colonists, taxes in the world of trade were one thing, but enforcing a (reduced) tax on molasses was drawing a new line, and then crossing that line. As word of the molasses tax enforcement spread, alarm bells rang, with even Hutchinson asking ir it wasn’t a case of taxation without representation.
Of the 13 Colonies, MA had enjoyed the most independence, and enforcing a tax on molasses, Hutchinson knew, would be resisted. Another way to say the same thing was that if Hutchinson saw through the facade that the enforced molasses duty was in the name of “trade”, then there was sure to be resistance, especially in Boston. The Sugar Act was purely for the sake of revenue, and if that act became “accepted” in the Colonies, the question then was what would Britain do next.
Before official word of the Sugar Act arrived in MA, a Boston town committee was created in order to prepare a response, which would be sent to London on behalf of the MA House. Adams was asked to write the draft of the response; basically, Adams took the words of Otis and crafted them into his prose. Adams read aloud his draft to the town committee, pointing out that the Colonies already paid taxes in other forms that greatly benefited Britain, and he strongly urged the British to not kill the goose that laid the golden egg. Adams also included the fact that a Stamp Act was already being discussed in Britain as an additional revenue tax on top of the upcoming Sugar Act. Adams argued that these taxes went unchallenged, then eventually land would be taxed, and then what was produced from that land would be taxed, etc.
Adams continued, pointing out that few in New England directly participated in the trade of molasses (here Adams ignored the production of rum, which required molasses). Adams asked that the other Colonies endorse MA’s appeal to London, which was a potentially dangerous thing to do. Nothing in Adams’ arguments was new, and they aligned with those of Otis, of course, since they had collaborated.
It was during the Summer of 1764 when Samuel Adams emerged from the shadows, stepping into daylight, prompted to do so by what he viewed as British overreach in the Colonies. On 6 December 1764, Adams married again. Betsy (Elizabeth Wells) had a classical education, as had Adams, and she enjoyed political discussions with her husband and the wives of her husband’s associates. Adams relied on Betsy to be an occasional messenger as well. During 1765, Samuel and Betsy Adams spent a summer weekend as houseguests of John and Abigail Adams. Abigail found the newly married couple charming, while John had one criticism of his second cousin: he thought Samuel spent too much time on the public good and not enough time with his family.
Adams continued, pointing out that few in New England directly participated in the trade of molasses (here Adams ignored the production of rum, which required molasses). Adams asked that the other Colonies endorse MA’s appeal to London, which was a potentially dangerous thing to do. Nothing in Adams’ arguments was new, and they aligned with those of Otis, of course, since they had collaborated.
It was during the Summer of 1764 when Samuel Adams emerged from the shadows, stepping into daylight, prompted to do so by what he viewed as British overreach in the Colonies. On 6 December 1764, Adams married again. Betsy (Elizabeth Wells) had a classical education, as had Adams, and she enjoyed political discussions with her husband and the wives of her husband’s associates. Adams relied on Betsy to be an occasional messenger as well. During 1765, Samuel and Betsy Adams spent a summer weekend as houseguests of John and Abigail Adams. Abigail found the newly married couple charming, while John had one criticism of his second cousin: he thought Samuel spent too much time on the public good and not enough time with his family.
Samuel Adams scoured Boston looking for talented and dedicated associates. Adams recruited John Hancock, knowing that he was desperate to make a name for himself, and that he had inherited a fortune. Adams mentored and encouraged as many potential associates to the cause that he could, trying to produce ardent patriots. Towards the end of 1764, everything seemed to coalesce for Adams, due to his eternal vigilance, his resentment against overeager and overreaching officials, the attention for his anonymous editorials, his long-standing grievances, and his sharp-to-the-point logic, combined with the unfolding events. However, before events accelerated, they stopped for Adams, since he was newly married, Boston Harbor was frozen (as it was every winter), and then the winter blizzards arrived.
During December 1764, Thomas Hutchinson’s first volume of New England’s history (1620 - 1692) was published. Hutchinson hoped that if enough people read and celebrated their history, then they would stay loyal instead of being led astray. According to Otis, the six months after the Sugar Act led to more thinking and introspection among the Colonists than during all of the previous years combined. For the first time, “Whig” and “Tory” were widely thrown about in public, with Tory (soon to be Loyalist) being used pejoratively, and Whig being used affectionately among the “Common People” that wanted liberty.
During December 1764, Thomas Hutchinson’s first volume of New England’s history (1620 - 1692) was published. Hutchinson hoped that if enough people read and celebrated their history, then they would stay loyal instead of being led astray. According to Otis, the six months after the Sugar Act led to more thinking and introspection among the Colonists than during all of the previous years combined. For the first time, “Whig” and “Tory” were widely thrown about in public, with Tory (soon to be Loyalist) being used pejoratively, and Whig being used affectionately among the “Common People” that wanted liberty.
Preceded by months of rumors, word arrived in Boston at the end of May 1765 concerning the
Stamp Act. It was another revenue act that as far as Britain was concerned was absolutely and obviously necessary. But there was a not-so-hidden agenda: Britain, through the Stamp Act, wanted to make it clear to the Colonies who was in charge. On 22 March 1765, King George III signed into law the Stamp Act, which required an embossed coat of arms on the upper left-hand corner of any imaginable document in the Colonies. Without that stamped and embossed coat of arms, that document would be illegal. Colonial documents such as newspapers, legal documents, licenses, calendars, and even playing cards were included under the Stamp Act, which would go into effect on 1 November 1765.
Political appointees were to distribute the stamps (usually on pre-stamped paper) and to collect the taxes. Warnings and protests from the Colonies fell on deaf ears in London. Boston had weeks to get used to the upcoming reality of the Stamp Act, waiting to learn when it would become official, and how it would be enforced. Even Hutchinson thought that the revenue in MA would fall far short of what the British envisioned via the Stamp Act. During the Spring of 1765, Samuel Adams was like everyone else, wanting to know what was going to happen, and not having enough information. Hutchinson tried his best to downplay a petition being organized against the Stamp Act, while at the same time disliking the act. Hutchinson also knew, as Chief Justice, that he would be the chief enforcer of the Stamp Act in MA; he was especially nervous since he had reached an age where he had to worry about causing offense . . .
Stamp Act. It was another revenue act that as far as Britain was concerned was absolutely and obviously necessary. But there was a not-so-hidden agenda: Britain, through the Stamp Act, wanted to make it clear to the Colonies who was in charge. On 22 March 1765, King George III signed into law the Stamp Act, which required an embossed coat of arms on the upper left-hand corner of any imaginable document in the Colonies. Without that stamped and embossed coat of arms, that document would be illegal. Colonial documents such as newspapers, legal documents, licenses, calendars, and even playing cards were included under the Stamp Act, which would go into effect on 1 November 1765.
Political appointees were to distribute the stamps (usually on pre-stamped paper) and to collect the taxes. Warnings and protests from the Colonies fell on deaf ears in London. Boston had weeks to get used to the upcoming reality of the Stamp Act, waiting to learn when it would become official, and how it would be enforced. Even Hutchinson thought that the revenue in MA would fall far short of what the British envisioned via the Stamp Act. During the Spring of 1765, Samuel Adams was like everyone else, wanting to know what was going to happen, and not having enough information. Hutchinson tried his best to downplay a petition being organized against the Stamp Act, while at the same time disliking the act. Hutchinson also knew, as Chief Justice, that he would be the chief enforcer of the Stamp Act in MA; he was especially nervous since he had reached an age where he had to worry about causing offense . . .