On December 17, 1773 came what would eventually be known as the Boston Tea Party. John Adams wrote about in his journal and said “This is the most magnificent Movement of all … I can’t but consider it as an Epocha in History.”
Then, in March, 1774 came the Boston Port Act, which closed the port to trade. A punishment for those rabble-rousers. General Thomas Gage came to Boston harbor. This was already the beginning of the end, but nobody really knew it yet.
This is from a letter by John to Abigail, on May 12, 1774 – He was still one of the busiest lawyers in the area, so he traveled quite a bit.
We live my dear Soul, in an Age of Tryal. What will be the Consequence I know not. The Town of Boston, for ought I can see, must suffer Martyrdom: It must expire: And our principal Consolation is, that it dies in a noble Cause. The Cause of Truth, of Virtue, of Liberty and of Humanity: and that it will probably have a glorious Reformation, to greater Wealth, Splendor and Power than ever…
Don’t imagine from all this that I am in the Dumps. Far otherwise. I can truly say, that I have felt more Spirits and Activity, since the Arrival of this News, than I had done before for years. I look upon this, as the last Effort of Lord North’s Despair. And he will as surely be defeated in it, as he was in the Project of the Tea.
