.
Thirdly, mob had a role of symbolizing a free government. Maier stated that "tyrants imposed order and submission upon their subjects by force. Only under free governments were the people "nervous," spirited, ready and able to react against unjust provocations" (Maier 23). Mob was something that could only happen in a free state where people were able and willing to fight for own liberty; it then represented this country as a healthy free state with only some shortcomings. Mob had long tradition in England and was justified under circumstances, promoting by the Whig Party. America soon adopted this version of mob which played an important role in America's road towards its independence. So, actually, Great Britain and its traditions paved the way for American independence and even the establishment of United States. .
These traditional roles of "mob" could also be seen in America fighting against acts passed by the British Parliament in the next few decades, including the most famous Stamp Act and Townshend Acts. The mob resistance to Stamp Act was also seen as just because the violence was still restrained when fighting against Stamp Act; if there was still legal channel opening, violence would not be used, which was also a tradition that could be traced back to the 18th-C England. The mob resistance to the Stamp Act took place "only when the "ordinary Methods of Proceeding" had failed to win redress" (Maier 64). Inheriting British traditional role of mob, mob resistance in North American colonies was likewise restrained in its form by avoiding any unnecessary violence. Also the mob resistance in America involved and represented "whole the Body of people", like its British counterparts (Maier 64). Thus the mob resistance in America was also seen as just because it aimed at public welfare instead of private interests. .
During this period of mob resistance, Sons of Liberty was the most famous and most influential one among them.