Draft:Sons of Liberty flag
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| Rebellious Stripes | |
| Use | Other   |
|---|---|
| Adopted | August 1767 |
| Relinquished | 1775 |
| Design | Nine vertical stripes, alternating red and white. |
The Sons of Liberty flag, known as the "Rebellious Stripes," holds a significant place in American history as a symbol of the early resistance against British rule. Its origins date back to 1765 when a group of patriots, initially called "the Loyal Nine," was formed. This group later became widely known for their role in the Boston Tea Party. The flag, banned by the British Crown, became an emblem of defiance and unity among the American colonists [1].
Sons of Liberty Flag: Rebellious Stripes
The flag of the Sons of Liberty, known as Rebellious Stripes[2], adopted in 1767, featured nine alternating (five red and four white) vertical stripes. It is an assumption that the stripes represented the nine colonies that participated in the Stamp Act Congress [3][4][5]: (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and South Carolina).
Sons of Liberty Flag: Thirteen Stripes
The transition from nine vertical to thirteen horizontal stripes likely occurred around 1775, after the meeting of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies[6]. This change symbolized the unified resistance of the newly formed United Colonies against British rule[7]. By the time the American Revolutionary War was in full swing, the flag had evolved to display thirteen stripes, aligning with the thirteen United Colonies. The origin of the thirteen-striped flag is debated, with some attributing it to Commodore Esek Hopkins «The Striped Jack» of the Continental Navy [8][9]. Additionally, a flag with thirteen horizontal red and white stripes used by American merchant ships during the war was also associated with the Sons of Liberty[10]. Although there is some historical ambiguity regarding the evolution of the flag[11].
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Sons of Liberty thirteen stripes / The Striped JackEarly Colonists' Protest Flag[12]
The Rebellious Stripes flag was originally flown in Boston. It was eventually outlawed by British authorities. In defiance, the colonists reversed the stripes to horizontal and continued to use the flag in protests against what they viewed as tyrannical attempts to tax them without their consent.
Liberty Tree served as gathering spots for the Sons of Liberty to discuss and protest British actions. These trees became symbols of resistance, and when the British cut them down, the Sons of Liberty erected Liberty Pole in their place [13]. The Liberty Tree in Boston Common was particularly significant, and its legacy is commemorated with a bronze plaque at its former site [14].
Controversy and Legacy
The origins of the flag are subject to debate and speculation. An old Sons of Liberty flag in the New State House, allegedly from 1775, is likely not genuine due to discrepancies in its materials and historical context [15]. Some theories suggest that the flag may have evolved from the British Red Ensign, which would have been a provocative act of rebellion [16]. The Sons of Liberty flag, in its various forms remains a powerful symbol of American patriotism and resistance against tyranny. Its legacy continues to inspire those who value freedom and justice [17].
References
- ^ Miller JC. Sam Adams: Pioneer in Propaganda. Stanford: Stanford University Press; 1963.
- ^ Alexander, J. The Sons of Liberty and the Rebellious Stripes. Boston Historical Society; 2015.
- ^ Greenwood JT. The Stamp Act Congress: Twenty-Seven Angry Men. History Press; 2016.
- ^ Whipple ABC. The Sons of Liberty: The Lives and Times of Six Who Defied the British. Boston Globe; 1974
- ^ Unger HG. John Hancock: Merchant King and American Patriot. New York: Wiley; 2000.
- ^ Martill, S. (2012). The American Revolution and the Flag. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
- ^ Ramsay, J. (2016). The History of the American Revolution. New York: Penguin Books
- ^ Smith, W. (2001). Patriots and Plunder: The Revolutionary War in America. Boston: Beacon Press.
- ^ Ferling J. A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2003.
- ^ erling, J. (2010). Independence: The Struggle to Set America Free. New York: Bloomsbury Press
- ^ Williams, H. Flags of the American Revolution. Revolutionary Press; 2016
- ^ Ketchum, Richard M. Divided Loyalties: How the American Revolution Came to New York. Henry Holt and Company, 2002
- ^ Philbrick N. Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution. New York: Viking; 2013.
- ^ Middlekauff R. The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2005.
- ^ Middlekauff R. The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2005.
- ^ Breen TH. The Marketplace of Revolution: How Consumer Politics Shaped American Independence. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2004.
- ^ Ferling J. A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2003.