These soldiers guarded the streets of the city; they would not let any one go out or come in without their permission.
The people were very angry at the soldiers and at the king. They said, "We have a right to be free men, but the king treats us like slaves. He makes us pay taxes and gives us nothing in return. He sends soldiers among us to take away our liberty, and we have a right to be free!"
As the new laws and taxes made life more difficult and more expensive, the whole country got stirred up. Many brave men left their homes and hurried toward Boston to help the colonists in the city protest against the king and his laws.
They said, "We do not wish to fight against England, but we are free men, and the king must not send soldiers to oppress us. If the people of Boston must fight for their liberty, we will help them fight."
