History with Geek Girl

  Hello, history friends!! Last time, we talked about the tragedy of the Boston Massacre and got to know a few of the victims a little bit. Today we are jumping back in, but we're going to look at what happens next. So many times, this is just an event on a timeline, but we don't dive into the real impact it had. In most history books, this happened and then boom, tea is dumped and we're in Lexington and Concord. But that's not how it really went. Remember that this is the first quarter of 1770 and the Boston Tea Party doesn't happen until the very END of 1773. That's like talking about a baby being born and then in the next sentence discussing their preschool enrollment. (I have 6 kids, so kid events are how I tell time). Let's back up a second and see what the events of 1770 did for the colonists AND for the British. Could you imagine having to wait 8 weeks to 6 months just to hear news of stuff? That would drive me bonkers. I guess instant messaging optio...

 Hello History Friends! I accidentally lied to you. A few times. I  forgot to mention that the Sons of Liberty had branches in all 13 colonies. AND- I said that Andrew Oliver was from England. He was not. He was born in Boston, but was hired BY the Crown to be the stampman (until he resigned). Also, I've put way too much stress on myself about where to put mini episodes of people who are influential. I still want to DO some, but my brain might make me want to wait until later. Who knows? Not I, said the duck. Mostly, though, I told you that where we left off on the Liberty Pole episode was going to be discussed in this one. However, I forgot about a couple of important things that we need to discuss before jumping into the Liberty Pole story. Sorry!! We talked about how the Sons of Liberty responded to the Stamp Act and then later the Townshend Acts, but I really wanted to discuss a SPECIFIC response to these as well.  First I need to tell you about this guy, his name was...

 Hello history friends!! I must apologize. I lied when I said we were skipping a year because nothing happened in 1767. Something super important happened!! The Townshend Acts! *dun dun dun!!!* It seems that the British were quite confused for a few minutes why the colonies were mad about the Stamp Act. They didn't want to be embarrassed like that again, so they talked to Benjamin Franklin. Now, keep in mind that at this point, nobody was really thinking of independence. They just wanted representation. Franklin was in the same boat. He was well respected at Parliament, though, so they often discussed these issues  with him. He told them again, what the colonials had been saying "NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION," but did they listen? No. Instead, they listened to Charles Townshend. He was the treasurer and a big money and economics guy. He had this brilliant idea (at least, he thought it was brilliant). He was like, "Hey! Instead of directly shilling and pencing t...