Tensions Rise in Boston

Tensions rise in Boston as Sam Adams and John Hancock lead protests against British taxation, with Adams issuing a warrant for Hancock’s arrest. Hancock’s ship is seized, and he seeks to smuggle cargo into the city. A boycott of Tory shops is proposed, and violence erupts as the colonists clash with British authorities.

British Response to the Rebellion

British officials discuss the colonists’ rebellion, labeling them as thugs and outlaws, and consider sending additional military force to Boston. General Gage arrives in Boston, replaces Governor Hutchinson, and begins to take control of the city, including shutting down the ports and quartering soldiers in local homes. Meanwhile, British officials identify Samuel Adams as a key leader of the rebellion and attempt to buy him off, sending a messenger to offer him a deal and cover his tab at a local tavern.

Key Events and Encounters

General Gage meets with John Adams, threatening to destroy his life and property if his cousin Samuel Adams doesn’t submit to the king’s authority, and demands that John convince Samuel to come to his senses.
Joseph Warren meets a stranded Mrs. Gage, whose horse has thrown a shoe, and offers to escort her home, warning her of the dangers on the roads.
John Adams is confronted by British soldiers searching for him, and he is warned by a friend to be cautious.
General Gage meets with Mr. Hancock, discussing the challenges of governing Boston and the local art scene, but their conversation takes a tense turn when Hancock attempts to curry favor with Gage.

The Rebellion Gains Momentum

John Hancock’s house is seized by General Gage, prompting Hancock to join the rebellion. He offers to help the cause, but his motives are questioned. A meeting is arranged in Philadelphia to unite the 13 colonies against British oppression. The group discusses their plan, with some members, like George Washington, advocating for action against the Crown, while others, like Mr. Dickinson, suggest a more cautious approach and attempting to reason with the Crown.

Preparations for War

A group of men, including John Hancock and George Washington, decide to send a letter to the king to address their grievances, but some believe it’s hopeless and that war is coming.
They begin to secretly recruit and arm men to form an army, with Paul Revere and others working to gather weapons and set up a route in and out of Boston to evade the Redcoats.
They visit a blacksmith to acquire guns and continue to gather recruits and resources for their cause.

The Road to War

The colonists are planning to steal gunpowder from a British silo in Concord, but the mission is risky due to the presence of Redcoats. They successfully execute the plan, but not without being detected, and a chase ensues. The British are outraged by their failure to prevent the theft, and General Gage orders his men to find Samuel Adams and John Hancock.

The Battle Begins

A witness reports to General Gage about the activities of Samuel Adams and John Hancock, leading an army of militiamen, and Gage orders his men to arrest them and destroy the munitions store in Concord.
British troops are marching towards Adams and Hancock, prompting a colonial scout to ride to Barrett’s farm in Concord to hide weapons and prepare the men.
The scout raises the alarm in Lexington, warning that the Redcoats are coming, and attempts to escort Adams and Hancock to safety.
The colonists prepare to fight, refusing to back down, and a battle ensues.

A New Era of Conflict

The scene shifts to a discussion among the colonists about their rights and the impending war, with some questioning their ability to withstand a British attack and others determined to fight for their freedom. The stage is set for a long and bloody conflict, as the colonists stand firm in their resolve to resist British oppression and assert their independence.

Key Vocabulary

Term	Definition	Example Usage
Tory	A person who supports the British government during the American Revolution.	The colonists proposed a boycott of Tory shops to protest British taxation.
Boycott	To refuse to buy or use something as a form of protest.	The colonists organized a boycott of British goods to protest taxation.
Quartering	To house soldiers in the homes of local residents, often without their consent.	General Gage began quartering British soldiers in the homes of Boston residents.
Militia	A group of citizen soldiers who are not part of the regular army.	The colonists formed a militia to defend themselves against the British army.
Redcoats	A nickname for British soldiers, who wore red uniforms.	The colonists were on the lookout for Redcoats as they prepared for battle.
Gunpowder	A explosive substance used in firearms and other weapons.	The colonists planned to steal gunpowder from a British silo in Concord.
Silo	A structure used to store grain or other materials, often used to store military supplies.	The British stored gunpowder in a silo in Concord, which the colonists planned to steal.
Rebellion	An act of resistance or defiance against a government or authority.	The colonists’ rebellion against British taxation and rule led to the outbreak of war.
Oppression	The act of treating someone unfairly or cruelly, often by exerting power or control over them.	The colonists felt that they were suffering under British oppression and sought to resist it.
Independence	The state of being free from the control or influence of others.	The colonists fought for independence from British rule and the right to govern themselves.

Watch The Video

Ruthless General Snuffs Out The Rebellion (S1, E2) | Sons of Liberty | Full Episode

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘to take control of something, especially by force’?

A) Boycott
B) Quartering
C) Seize
D) Smuggle

2. What does ‘quartering’ refer to in the context of the British occupation of Boston?

A) The act of smuggling goods into the city
B) The process of shutting down the ports
C) The practice of housing soldiers in local homes
D) The seizure of colonial ships

3. Which term describes the act of refusing to buy or use something as a form of protest?

A) Rebellion
B) Boycott
C) Taxation
D) Smuggling

4. What is meant by ‘curry favor’ in the context of John Hancock’s conversation with General Gage?

A) To try to make someone angry
B) To attempt to gain someone’s approval or friendship
C) To refuse to cooperate with someone
D) To challenge someone’s authority

5. Which word means ‘a person who supports the British government’ in the context of the American Revolution?

A) Patriot
B) Loyalist
C) Rebel
D) Tory

Answer Key:

1. D
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. D

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Present Perfect Tense to Describe Past Actions with a Connection to the Present

The present perfect tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and has a connection to the present. It is formed using the present tense of the auxiliary verb “have” and the past participle of the main verb. For example, in the sentence “Tensions have risen in Boston as Sam Adams and John Hancock lead protests against British taxation,” the present perfect tense “have risen” is used to describe the increase in tensions, which started in the past and continues up to the present moment. Another example is “General Gage has arrived in Boston, replaces Governor Hutchinson, and begins to take control of the city,” where “has arrived” indicates that the action of arriving started in the past and has a connection to the present. The present perfect tense can also be used to describe an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past, as in “British officials have discussed the colonists’ rebellion,” where the focus is on the fact that the discussion happened at some point in the past, but the exact time is not important.

Grammar Quiz:

Choose the correct answer for each question:

1. By the time General Gage ________ in Boston, the colonists had already begun to protest against British taxation.

A) arrives

B) has arrived

C) arrived

D) had arrived

2. The colonists ________ a meeting in Philadelphia to unite the 13 colonies against British oppression.

A) have been holding

B) hold

C) held

D) are holding

3. By next year, the colonists ________ against British rule for over a year.

A) will have been fighting

B) are fighting

C) fight

D) have fought

4. Samuel Adams ________ a warrant for John Hancock’s arrest, which led to a series of violent clashes.

A) has issued

B) issues

C) had issued

D) was issuing

5. The British ________ the colonists’ rebellion, labeling them as thugs and outlaws.

A) have discussed

B) discuss

C) discussed

D) are discussing

Answer Key:

1. D) had arrived

2. C) held

3. A) will have been fighting

4. C) had issued

5. A) have discussed