Following the Liberty Affair, British officials in Boston expressed concerns that an uprising was imminent. They accused the local assemblies of coordinating efforts to resist British policies and suggested if there were an uprising in Boston it would spread to other colonies. The only way to stop that from happening was to send troops to Boston to occupy the city. Officials in London responded by sending British troops to Boston to help maintain order. The ships carrying the troops arrived in Boston Harbor on September 28, 1768. On October 1, they disembarked, establishing the “Boston Garrison.” Troops secured quarters at various locations in Boston, including Castle Island, Faneuil Hall, and warehouses at Wheelwright’s Wharf.
In order to restore order in Boston, prevent an uprising, and enforce the provisions of the Townshend Acts, British troops were sent to Boston to occupy the town. Governor Bernard had asked for troops as early as 1766 due to the unrest and his request was finally granted. The American Customs Board of Commissioners also asked for troops to help them enforce the Townshend Acts in the aftermath of the Liberty Affair. Ships carrying troops arrived on September 28, 1768. On October 1, the troops disembarked and were quartered at various locations throughout the town.
For several months, the monthly Boston Town Meeting discussed the problem of troops occupying the city during peacetime. During the meetings, the officials in Boston and Massachusetts questioned the legality of housing a standing army during a time of peace. They argued it was a violation of the Massachusetts Constitution and the English Bill of Rights. They believed it would certainly be seen as illegal if it was done in London.
In March 1769, the Boston Town Meeting adopted a petition to the King, asking for the removal of the troops. At the same meeting, Joseph Warren was appointed to a committee to clear the town from the false accusations that had been made, in regards to rebellion and loyalty to the Crown. The members of the committee were James Otis, Samuel Adams, Thomas Cushing, Richard Dana, Joseph Warren, John Adams, and Samuel Quincy.
John Adams was not as involved as some of the others during this time. He was more cautious about becoming too involved with the unrest. He wrote: “I was solicited to go to the Town Meetings and harangue there. This I constantly refused. My friend Dr. Warren the most frequently urged me to this: My Answer to him always was ‘That way madness lies.’. . . he always smiled and said, ‘it was true.’”
On July 21, 1769, Governor Bernard left Boston and returned to England. He was replaced by Thomas Hutchinson, a native of Massachusetts.
Soon after Bernard left Boston, two regiments — the 64th and 65th — were removed from the city. The 14th Regiment and 29th Regiment remained. Despite the reduction in the number of troops that were quartered in the city, the activities the troops indulged in made matters worse with the citizens of Boston. Some of the issues were:
British officers paraded their troops through the streets on a frequent basis.
On Sundays, the troops would race their horses through the streets.
On top of those things, off-duty soldiers were often employed by businesses in the city when they were off duty. The residents of Boston who needed jobs accused the soldiers of taking their jobs.
The people of Boston retaliated by insulting and teasing the troops, which would sometimes lead to arguments or even fights.
Increased Tensions: The occupation was a direct response to rising tensions between the colonists and British authorities, particularly following the passage of the Townshend Acts. The presence of British troops in Boston heightened fears and animosities among the colonists.
Colonial Resistance: The occupation galvanized colonial resistance to British rule. Many Bostonians viewed the troops as an occupying force, leading to increased anti-British sentiment and organizing efforts among the colonists.
Formation of Revolutionary Sentiment: The presence of British soldiers in the city contributed to the development of revolutionary sentiment among the colonists. It fostered a sense of unity among disparate groups in Boston, as they collectively opposed what they perceived as British oppression.
Incidents of Violence: The occupation led to confrontations between soldiers and civilians, most notably the Boston Massacre in 1770. These incidents further inflamed tensions and solidified the colonists' resolve to resist British authority.
Influence on Public Perception: The occupation and the subsequent violent incidents were widely publicized and used as propaganda by revolutionary leaders. They portrayed the British soldiers as brutal oppressors, which helped to rally support for the colonial cause.
Prelude to Revolution: The events surrounding the occupation of Boston can be seen as a precursor to the larger revolutionary movement. It set the stage for further acts of defiance, such as the Boston Tea Party in 1773 and ultimately the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in 1775.