Lessons Learned under the Liberty Tree- The Tea Party Was Born Under This Flag

[John Parker]

America's First Flag… The Liberty Tree Flag

 
One morning in the fall of 1765 the "Sons of Liberty" in Boston met at the Liberty Tree on the corner of Orange and Essex and unfurled a huge flag...13 feet long by 7 feet wide... having nine vertical red and white stripes...the "rebellious stripes" they called them...to honor the nine colonies which had joined in protest of the Stamp Act.

 

Influential patriots like Sam Adams and John Hancock were part of this group of early protesters of British rule. They met often beneath the sheltering branches of this great American Elm, known throughout the colonies as the "Liberty Tree". To see a photo of the flag visit http://libertytreesociety.org/Liberty_Tree_Flag.html

It was at one such meeting in 1773 that they planned the Tea Party, an act of rebellion which soon became a revolution. Overhead flew the "Liberty Tree Flag" . When the British troops  evacuated Boston they cut down the "Liberty Tree" but the "rebellious stripes" survived to this day. They are on display by the Bostonian Society at the Old State House, 206 Washington St. in Boston, Mass.

[William Gavette]

Great article. I had never heard of this before. Thanks for sharing