Presidential Message on the 260th Anniversary of the Formation of the Sons of Liberty

Summary:

The message commemorates the origins and legacy of the Sons of Liberty, highlighting their role in resisting British taxation and tyranny, catalyzing the American Revolution, and shaping the early American identity grounded in liberty and self-government.

Key historical points:

• August 14, 1765: The Loyal Nine burn an effigy of tax collector Andrew Oliver in Boston to protest the Stamp Act, sparking wider resistance.
• Evolution into the Sons of Liberty: A multi-colony network led by figures such as Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere, using protests, rallies, and boycotts.
• Boston Tea Party: December 16, 1773, mass dumping of tea in Boston Harbor to oppose unjust taxation, galvanizing colonial unity and setting the stage for Lexington and Concord.

Themes and framing:

• Rallying cry: “No Taxation without Representation” as a defining principle.
• Legacy: Courage, defiance, and devotion to freedom presented as a proud inheritance for today’s Americans.
• Present-day linkage: Framed within the administration’s narrative of a “Golden Age of America.”