Yearly Archives: 2014

The American Political Society was established in 1773 in Worcester, Massachusetts, by Col. Timothy Bigelow (1739-1790) as an extension of the Committee of Correspondence. It was a secret society of 71 Worcester Whigs who organized for the purpose of debating "upon ... our rights and liberties" and determining "methods to be pursued" in securing them. The Society held monthly meetings at a public house, usually the inn of Asa Ward (1748-1818), and eventually assumed control of town meetings and instructed the moderator and the representative to the General Court. The organization became a potent means of defeating

The Massachusetts Government Act was passed by the Parliament of Great Britain, receiving the royal assent on 20 May 1774. The act effectively abrogated the existing colonial charter of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and gave its royally-appointed governor wide-ranging powers. The Act is one of the Intolerable Acts (also known as Repressive Acts and Coercive Acts), designed to suppress dissent and restore order in Massachusetts. In the wake of the Boston Tea Party, Parliament launched a legislative offensive against Massachusetts to control its errant behavior. British officials believed that their inability to control Massachusetts was rooted in part in the highly independent nature of its local government.

LITTLETON -- In 1774 and 1775 the town of Littleton, like many communities in the area, had to decide whether to go to war with the British. "What a decision to make. What a thing to think about. Are we going to go to war with the greatest naval nation in the world at that time?" said Henry Atkins, a member of Opening Day Committee for the town's tercentennial. "When you read into the history of Littleton, it's amazing to see the things that went on here."