The French and Indian War (1755-1763) was over. After seven years of fighting, the British ousted the French from North American soil. Victory, however, had left England with a hefty national debt. The British looked to the colonies for ready cash. In the hopes of recouping some of their losses, Parliament passed the Stamp Act, taxing colonists for their use of paper products, and then the Townshend Act, which taxed such essential goods as paper, lead, glass and paint. In an effort to squeeze even more money out of the pockets of the colonists and into British coffers, Parliament began to strictly enforce the Navigation Acts, making it difficult for the colonies to trade with anyone other than England.

Riots erupted in the streets of Boston. To shouts of "liberty, property and no stamps," British housing was destroyed and officials of the British government were hung in effigy. Boston became known as the most defiant town in the 13 colonies. His Majesty's troops sailed into Boston Harbor on October 1, 1768 — purportedly as conservators of the peace (although John Adams characterized the so-called peacekeepers as "wretched ones at that"). The quartering of British soldiers in Boston proper became the spark that would ignite the events of March 5, 1770.