Boston, Massachusetts, was founded by English Puritans who were fleeing religious persecution in 1603. Amazingly, this makes Boston one of the oldest cities in the US. Just 33 years later, Harvard, the first college in the New World, was founded in 1636. By the late 1600s, the new colonies of England were united under the Dominion of New England. Governed by Sir Edmund Andros, many citizens of Boston became unhappy with his harsh and unfair method of rule. Due to the unbearable nature of laws and taxation, political uprisings began to crop up.
As Boston grew, its people wanted to escape the restrictive British rule. In 1746, England’s oppression of the colonists reached an all-time high with the issuing of the Stamp Act. This act required colonists to pay tax on every piece of paper they printed. This increased the unrest amongst the colonists because this tax only benefited the British military. As the unrest grew and Bostonians began to riot, five people lost their lives in the Boston Massacre of 1770. The loss of lives resulted in the Boston Tea Party, where expensive British tea was dumped into the Boston Harbor in the dead of night.
This further sparked tensions between the New Englanders and Britain and spread to the other colonies. On April 19, 1775, the Revolutionary War began. And in 1776, the United States declared its freedom from England after the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. Then on February 6, 1788, Massachusetts became the 6th state of the United States. Other states quickly followed suit and strengthened America’s resolve to be free.
Fast forward to the present-day Boston. Currently, this capital of Massachusetts draws a large number of tourists for both history buffs and cultural enthusiasts. With its theater district, it’s no wonder visitors flock to see plays, ballets, and performances. Sports fans come in droves to watch a variety of athletics; football, baseball, basketball, soccer, rugby, and ice hockey. Young and old alike enjoy the rich cultural atmosphere of a wide variety of museums, historical tours, dining, and shopping experiences. What better place to see our humble beginnings as a nation grow into beautiful views of skylines, harbors, wildlife, and cultural venues?
Modern-day Boston has something for everyone, from its many neighborhoods, each with its own flavor and flare, to the many higher education institutions in and around the city.
