Sam Adams and John Hancock

403 Words2 Pages
Samuel Adams and John Hancock were highly influential in the spurring of the American Revolution. Each contributed by provoking the American colonists into action, especially in Boston. Because of their success and direction, Adams and Hancock were elected by the colonists to multiple leadership positions. Of course, though, there would be nothing to provoke into revolution if it hadn’t been for the tyrannous British oppression. Samuel Adams was a powerful writer and orator. He spoke frequently at Boston town meetings and wrote dozens of newspaper articles that stirred readers’ anger at the British. He was a leading figure in the building public outrage over the Boston Massacre. He organized the Sons of Liberty in and the committee of correspondence in Massachusetts. This was all crucial to spark the opening salvos of the revolution. John Hancock was a natural leader and an avid supporter of the revolution. For example, he was the first delegate to sign the Declaration of Independence, not to mention that he signed it the largest, inspiring the other delegates to sign as well. As elected President of the Second Continental Congress, President of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, President of the Massachusetts Ratification Convention, and Statesman to the Massachusetts State House of Representatives, Hancock was a powerful factor of the revolution. During one of these conventions, he introduced the Bill of Rights, breaking the existing deadlock. Hancock supported the Boston Tea Party, took part in boycotts on British imports following the Stamp Act of 1765, and refused to allow customs workers to search on of his ships in the Boston Harbor in 1768. These acts inspired other Patriots to follow suit. In 1775, General Gage received orders from England to arrest both Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who were known to be in the vicinity of Lexington.
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