The United States became a country in 1776. Before that, Britain controlled the American colonies. The colonists fought the British for their freedom. The first major act happened on June 9, 1772. It’s called The Gaspee Affair.
In the 1760s, Britain began adding taxes on American colonists. The Sugar Act of 1764 forced them to pay more for sugar. Then there was the Stamp Act in 1765. The colonists had to pay taxes on paper products like newspapers.
A British ship called Gaspee made sure people in Rhode Island followed the laws. The ship’s commander stole goods too. On June 9, 1772, the Gaspee got stranded in Warwick, Rhode Island. The ship was stuck! The colonists wanted to show that they had had enough.
John Brown led an attack. He was a . Colonists rowed to the Gaspee. They forced the sailors off the ship. Then they set fire to the Gaspee. The ship burned.
Patrick Conley is a Rhode Island historian. He called the Gaspee Affair “a major event.” Conley said “it was the first time the colonials fired on a British naval ship.” Soon, more colonists wanted .
In 1773, there was a protest in Boston, Massachusetts. Colonists dumped British tea into the harbor. This led to the American Revolution. Students learn about the Boston Tea Party. Fewer study the Gaspee Affair. Yet people in Rhode Island still remember it.
The Gaspee Days Committee calls it “The First Blow for Freedom.” The group celebrates the event. It has a parade in June. People march in Warwick. There is a of the burning of the Gaspee.
Conley believes the Gaspee Affair was important. He said “burning a British ship was a lot more bold!” than the Boston Tea Party! Locals may know about the Gaspee Affair. But Conley said Rhode Islanders want “more .”
Updated June 8, 2023, 5:01 P.M. (ET)
By Tyler Burdick
