How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Almost every day and sometimes all day, the mass meetings at Old South Church went on. Tempers grew higher and higher. Boston was swept with a passion it had not known since the Boston Massacre three years before. Riding this wild storm was Sam Adams and his trusty henchmen, directing it, building up the anger until, although the matter was not publicly mentioned, they would all see the only thing left for them to do was destroy the tea. (6.5.2)
As he's depicted in Johnny Tremain, Sam Adams is a spin-doctor extraordinaire. He basically convinces people that his ideas are their ideas. What is the point in building up anger? What is he trying to accomplish? How do political thinkers use emotion to get the public where they want them?
Quote #8
People were standing in angry knots talking, gesticulating, swearing that yes, they would starve, they would go down in ruin rather than give in now. Even many of the Tories were talking like that, for the punishment fell equally heavily upon the King's most loyal subjects in Boston and on the very "Indians" who had tossed the tea overboard. This closing of the port of Boston was indeed tyranny; this was oppression; this was the last straw upon the back of many a moderate man. (7.1.4)
Bad move, Britain—you just lost a lot of friends with this whole close-Boston-Harbor move. Think about it: even though popular history depicts everyone rising up together and overthrowing British rule, it didn't happen like that. Most people don't have the inclination to rebel simply for the sake of ideals, so part of what initiated the war was Britain pushing colonists to a very practical breaking point.
Quote #9
Sam and John Adams were standing and the other members were crowding about them, shaking hands with them, wishing them success at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. They were starting the next day. Everyone was ready to give them advice on whom to see, what to say, or to prophesy the outcome of this Congress. Paul Revere and Joseph Warren were apart a little, making plans for that spy system which was needed badly. They called Johnny to them, but he could hear one of the men standing about the two Adamses saying, "But there must be some hope we can still patch up our differences with England. Sir, you will work for peace?"
Sam Adams said nothing for a moment. He trusted these men about him as he trusted no one else in the world.
"No. That time is past. I will work for war: the complete freedom of these colonies from any European power." (8.5.23-25)
What is your deal, Sam Adams? You're always so happy whenever anything bad happens—it's weird, yo. But this is our friend Sammy's goal: he wants total separation, complete freedom, no matter what the cost. The usual goal of diplomacy is to avoid war. How would you feel about sending a representative to Congress who says he will work for war, not peace? Is there ever a situation in which war is desirable?