Boston Pamphlet facts for kids
The Boston Pamphlet was an important document published in Boston in 1772. It came out during the time leading up to the American Revolution. This pamphlet explained the rights of the American colonists and showed how new British rules were taking those rights away.
What Was the Boston Pamphlet?
Even though people called it the "Boston Pamphlet," its real name was The Votes and Proceedings of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of The Town of Boston, In Town Meeting assembled, According to Law. It was written by members of the Boston Committee of Correspondence. These committees were groups of people who shared information and ideas among the towns.
What Was Inside the Pamphlet?
The Boston Pamphlet had three main parts.
- The first part was called "A State of the Rights of the Colonists." It listed the basic rights that colonists believed they had.
- The second part was a "List of Infringements and Violation[s] of Rights." This section pointed out how the British government was breaking those rights.
- The third part was a "Letter of Correspondence." This letter was sent to other towns in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. It asked them to join in the discussion about their rights.
Some historians believe that Samuel Adams, Joseph Warren, and Benjamin Church each wrote one of these sections. However, it's more likely that each part was written by a group of people working together. The pamphlet also included letters between Governor Thomas Hutchinson and the town of Boston.
Why Was the Pamphlet Important?
A big problem for the colonists was a new decision by the British government. Britain decided to pay the salaries of the governor, lieutenant governor, and judges in Massachusetts. Before this, the Massachusetts House of Representatives paid these officials.
This change worried the colonists a lot. It meant that their leaders would no longer depend on the people they governed for their pay. This was a step away from what was called "responsible government." In a responsible government, leaders are accountable to the people who elected them.
In 1773, the Boston Committee of Correspondence printed 600 copies of the pamphlet. They sent these copies all over the colony. Many towns in Massachusetts responded by agreeing with the pamphlet's ideas. They also formed their own committees of correspondence. This helped bring the colonies together during the growing crisis that led to American independence.
