Boston in the American Revolution

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:42:08 +0000

As one of America’s earliest settlements, the history of Boston is deeply rooted in that of our great nation. As a hotbed of unrest during the American Revolution, the city played a major role in both shaping our culture and securing our freedom. The home of outspoken revolutionaries, Continental Congressmen, Founding Fathers and tea party enthusiasts, Boston is a city rich in history and pride. Here is a look at some of the area’s legendary historical sites it would be almost treasonous to miss.

Paul Revere House While no one will warn Bostonians of your upcoming visit, Paul Revere’s midnight ride served as a notice to fellow Sons of Liberty John Hancock and Sam Adams the British were moving from Boston down to Lexington to seize Colonist weapons and arrest revolutionary leaders. The old Boston home of Paul Revere now operates as non-profit museum and provides invaluable insight into the life of the time period and the background of an American hero.
Old State House Constructed in 1713, the Old State House is the most senior surviving public building in the city of Boston. On July 18, 1776, just 2 weeks after it was signed and approved, the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed from the buildings balcony to the large crowd assembled outside. The artillery proceeded to fire their cannons 13 times to represent each united colony. Any signs and symbols of the British crown were quickly removed and eradicated from the edifice making it a purely American landmark.
Bunker Hill Monument The Battle of Bunker Hill, which took place on June 17, 1775, marks one of the most heroic stands in American military history. With ammunition supplies depleted, soldiers were ordered not to fire until they could see “the whites in their eyes” as Redcoats advanced from their downhill position. The 1,054 British casualties were the highest of any individual encounter in the war. Though the Americans were eventually forced to retreat, the stand still marked a considerable victory early in the Revolution.

“Beantown”

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:19:47 +0000

Boston residents and visitors alike often affectionately refer to the city by its most common nickname “Beantown,” but many Boston patrons still do not know where this quirky moniker comes from. The phrase actually stems from the once popular dish “Boston baked beans,” a local former favorite that has now fallen out of favor, with no companies in the city currently making it and very few restaurants featuring the item on the menu. Following the recipe, navy beans can be either baked or stewed in salt pork and molasses. This differs from common baked beans in which maple syrup replaces molasses and pork substitutes for bear fat. Little did chefs of the time know, they would be altering the name of the city for centuries.The recipe for Boston baked beans finds its roots in old world trade routes. Boston served as a major port on what was then a trade triangle between the Caribbean, New England and the west coast of Africa. Mercantile ships transported slaves from Africa over to the Caribbean where they were put to work raising sugar cane on plantations. Harvested sugar and molasses would then be transported from the islands up to the New England ports where it was turned into rum and shipped either back to Africa or distributed throughout the New World. In Boston, as more and more ships arrived a stockpile of barrels filled with sugar and molasses accrued over time. Following the basic supply and demand principles of economics, rum makers had more molasses then they could put to use, making the sweet substance cheaply available for other uses. Area residents quickly found savory alternatives to traditional rum making and began incorporating molasses into their cuisine, thus Boston baked beans were born. The beans were so popular during the time period that they became intertwined with the city itself, putting Beantown both on the map and in the dictionary.

Repping Beantown » History

Boston in the American Revolution

“Beantown”