The Spirit of Rebellion: A New England Tradition

New Englanders don’t take kindly to being told what to do. Whether it’s throwing tea into Boston Harbor, organizing underground resistance networks, or telling politicians exactly where they can stick their bad policies—rebellion is part of our DNA.

The resistance isn’t new. We’re just picking up where our ancestors left off.

A Brief History of New Englanders Saying “Nope.”

• Boston Tea Party (1773) – The original “you can’t tell us what to do” moment. Britain tried to tax tea? We dumped it in the harbor.
• Shays’ Rebellion (1786-87) – Farmers in Massachusetts were sick of economic oppression. So what did they do? Grabbed their muskets and demanded change.
• The Abolitionist Movement (1800s) – New England was a hotbed of anti-slavery activism, from Frederick Douglass speaking in Massachusetts to Harriet Beecher Stowe writing Uncle Tom’s Cabin in Connecticut.
• Labor Strikes of the 19th & 20th Century – Whether it was textile workers in Lowell or dockworkers in Boston, New Englanders fought for fair wages and better conditions.
• Stonewall & LGBTQ+ Rights (1969 - Present) – Yes, Stonewall happened in NYC, but New England was one of the first regions to push for LGBTQ+ rights, legalizing same-sex marriage before the rest of the country caught up.
• Climate Activism (Now) – New England is on the front lines of fighting climate change, from stopping pipelines to protecting our coastlines.

The Resistance is Still Alive

History didn’t end in a textbook. The same forces of oppression that people fought against hundreds of years ago? They’re still around.

• Voter suppression? Still happening.
• Attacks on reproductive rights? Worse than ever.
• Racism, economic injustice, and climate destruction? Yup, still here.

But here’s the thing—so are we. And if history has shown us anything, it’s that New Englanders don’t back down.

How You Can Carry On the Tradition of Rebellion

🔥 Show up – Find a protest, rally, or meeting. Nothing changes without bodies in the streets.
🔥 Speak up – Use your voice. Call out injustice, challenge bad policies, and educate others.
🔥 Support the cause – Every dollar spent is a vote. Buy from ethical businesses (like us) that put their money toward real change.
🔥 Stay loud, stay strong, and stay in the fight.

New England didn’t ask permission to start a revolution before. We’re not asking now.

Welcome to the resistance.