Semiquincentennial

On the road to independence it is 1760 and the British government has imposed the Writs of Assistance on their subjects in the American colonies.  Heretofore, the writ applied to citizens in Britain under a 1662 Act enabling customs officials to combat fraud and smuggling.  The practical impact in North America is that the writs were broad search warrants that allowed officials to enter homes, shops, warehouses, ships or businesses at any time to search for smuggled goods without having to disclose what they are looking for.

The colonists were strongly opposed to these measures because it was a violation of privacy and security of property and was without limitation.  Because the writ had previous not applied to British citizens in the colonies they became a symbol of the tyranny of King George and further fueled resentment leading up to the revolution.

Massachusetts lawyer, James Otis, famously argued against the writs in 1761 articulating core colonial grievances and popularizing the phrase - No taxation without representation.

Faneuil Hall in Boston was built in 1742 as a marketplace and meeting hall.  This building and James Otis were attached at the hip.  Otis delivered fiery speeches at this location protesting British policies and advocating for independence from British rule.  Faneuil Hall's assembly room served as a rallying location where patriots organized resistance, voiced their grievances and advocated unity in their resistance.  It eventually earned the nickname:  Cradle of Liberty. 

When the Stamp Act (1765) was imposed Boston patriots gathered at Faneuil Hall to denounce the tax and organize boycotts of British goods.  Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty used the hall to rally support and coordinate their resistance with other colonies.

The Townshend Acts (1767) imposed new duties on imported glass, paper, paint and tea.  A year later British officials seized John Hancock's ship Liberty claiming  it was involved in smuggling wine without payment of duties.  While it is true that Hancock was indeed a smuggler - and a flourishing one too - the seizure sparked outrage as Hancock was a wealthy merchant and a popular fellow.  Bostonians viewed this action as political targeting and responded with rioting and attacks on customs officials.  

The people were pissed-off.

The unrest escalated to the point that Britain sent troops to Boston later in 1768 to impose order.  The presence of troops in the city to enforce the law directly increased tensions between colonists and soldiers.  This occupation by military forces set the stage for the Boston Massacre two years later.