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Originally Posted by Taltarzac725
Benjamin Franklin became a lighting rod of sorts when the Townsend Acts were passed in 1767. Townshend Acts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia These five acts were needed as seen by Parliament to pay for the debt created by the Seven Years' War as well as for billeting of British troops in the colonies. Mirroring the present, these troops' officers were supporters of various Members of Parliament-- kind of a British 18th century military-industrial complex. As expected by Franklin, these Acts created a virus of protest much of it coming from the Boston area where a governmental agency enforced parts of these Acts which were duties on various goods and provided the means of enforcing these taxes. Coming of the American Revolution: The Townshend Acts This led to much decay in colonial relations with the Mother Country as well with Franklin's reputation as he was still very much in love with the Empire and his stellar position in it having the pleasure of being a scientist with a huge international fan base based on his many experiments but especially with those he did with electricity. While the name sake of these 5 Acts, Charles Townsend Townshend, Charles (1725-1767) (DNB00) - Wikisource, the free online library died on the Fourth of September 1767 before the full effect of those laws took place on the health of relationship between Mother Country and colony. This was the beginning of the end of the American Colonies and the spark of the American Revolution. Benjamin Franklin would really have to have his wits about him to get out of the mess created by the Townsend Acts. http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/...sponse1767.pdf |
Franklin had the
cougar by the tail and would not let go. He still tried to champion the notion of harmony between Britain and the Colonies and even went so far as to pen his hopes that the new Secretary of State of the Colonies Lord Hillsborough would appoint him undersecretary. It was not to be. The potential
couple had a long and contentious meeting in August of 1768. Hillsborough appointed a lackey instead in John Pownall-- a stanch anti-colonialist.
http://www.historyofparliamentonline...l-john-1720-95 Franklin
stashed his disappointment and fear in various anonymous articles as well as in a parable-- a young lion and a huge English dog travelled together on a ship. The dog often stole the lion cub's food and bullied him. One day the grown up lion smashed the big dog with a "stunning blow" that left the dog "regretting that he had not rather secured its friendship than provoked its enmity." The parable was humbled dedicated to Lord Hillsborough. Hardly a message that needed to be peeled like an
onion. Everything changed very rapidly when on March 5, 1770 a Boston crowd taunted a group of Redcoats enforcing the Townsend duties with "Fire and be damned". Five colonialists died after the Redcoats opened fire in what would be called the Boston Massacre.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-h...oston-massacre