In Boston, the year 1770 started out beneath a veneer of calm, in contrast to the five turbulent years that had preceded it. Couriers raced from town to village carrying sheaves of the latest patriot broadsides and newspapers. Behind closed doors, the colonists debated whether to stay loyal to the Crown, to join the Rebels, or to stay neutral. And in the light of day, to the relief of those “Friends of Government” who would become “Loyalists,” red-coated British soldiers strolled in pairs or marched in squads.
British soldiers were poorly paid and were forced to look for odd jobs in Boston to earn extra money. The city’s local toughs and idlers had marked these “King’s men” and insulted the job-seeking soldiers, driving them from employers’ doors. Soon, bitter soldiers…
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All About History Book of the Founding of the United States (Digital) - 1 Issue, Vol 4