(Chrislip, 68) Of the three strategies for addressing public concerns, Sam Adams decided to go against the system advocating civil disobedience, economic action and physical violence. Adams most likely realized at a young age that the colonies should break away from British rule and the only strategy for doing so was by going against the system. Adams and the Sons of Liberty set the focus when they realized that many citizens were still on the fence in regards to their feelings about being under British rule. To remedy this, their focus was to discredit the British and highlight any tyranny committed by …show more content…
On March 5th 1770 Boston citizens weary of being living in a city under siege for more than a year had found itself in a standoff with a platoon of British soldiers at town hall on King Street young colonists began to taunt the cold, short tempered redcoats and eventually snowballs started to be thrown at the soldiers. More citizens gathered and eventually balls of ice started to be thrown at the troops. During the tense standoff a rifle discharged and moments later five citizens were dead and others injured. (Irvin, 87). Adams would not let this opportunity to pass him by. He would ensure everyone in every colony would hear about the “Boston Massacre”. He wrote many articles and letters to many colonial leaders. In a letter to Benjamin Franklin, Adams wrote “It affords very great satisfaction that the narrative of the horrid massacre perpetrated here on the 5th of March last which was transmitted to London, 1 has had the desired effect; by establishing truth in the minds of honest men, and in some measure preventing the Odium being cast on the Inhabitants, as the aggressors in it.” (Adams, Vol 2). Adams would use inflammatory words in his letters and articles such as “Horrid Massacre” to describe an event where only 5 people were killed. By