Patriots
Unlike the Loyalists, the patriots objected to the taxes administered by the Townshend Act. The patriots believed that becoming an independent country was a better future than remaining a part of Britain. This may have been because the British citizens did not have to pay the same unfair taxes. The patriots became furious because of this scandal, and some of the patriots owning print shops published ads saying, "Do not buy from these people!" As tensions escalated, patriots began forming groups such as the Sons of Liberty and the Daughters of Liberty, marching on the streets in protest, tar and feathering British officials, burning effigies of tax collectors, and insulting redcoats, the British soldiers who were stationed in Boston. All of this led to the Boston massacre, a fight in the street where 5 colonists were killed by redcoats on March 5th, 1770. Shortly after the Boston massacre, the patriots rebelled and formed the Continental Army.