All the Strength and PowerGage was in America in 1754 serving as the General of the British Army. He then got appointed to be the Royal Governor in 1774.[14] This was around the start of a Revolutionary War. The same year that he was appointed Governor, he was given the duty of implementing the Boston Port Act. This was a law restraining anything from going in or out of the Boston Harbor. This was a law that was put into place after the Boston Tea Party, which erupted on December 16, 1773. This caused many riots and other rebellions. With the riots and rebellions Gage always had Massachusetts in much order as he could. Just like in the painting order was a necessity for Gage. [15]
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It was a fact that about after nine months of being governor of the Bay Colony, he was “sick of his task.”[18] Thomas Gage had come to hate Boston. He once wrote “I wish this cursed place was burned.” Gage had to remind himself that these people had British born blood. They were flesh of his own. This is partly why General Thomas Gage did not understand why the Colonists wanted their freedom. Thomas Gage thought that the people of Massachusetts had luxuries and that they had been allowed more liberties than anyone else in the world. But the Colonists were always complaining. He never used his power to deliberately try to hurt the colonists. His rulings were based of principle. Using principle with the colonists was smart because it made sure that he was fair and he was only listening to what his authorities were telling him. [19]
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General Thomas Gage had his hands full with trying to keep his state in order. However, difficulties took place, especially on April 19, 1775 in Lexington, Massachusetts. General Thomas Gage finally initiated the Revolutionary War. Gage would not start a war on his own. He would need direct instructions from authorities back in England. He urged his superiors back in England to act quick and this time, to do it with an overwhelming show of force. This was their best bet to keep the Colonists fighting for independence in order. The Colonists were ready to fight. Thomas Gage was in fact preparing for a war that could erupt at any moment.[16] For many months, he tried to act with firmness and restraint but every time the people of New England set his efforts to waste.[17] As if the efforts to show strictness in the painting were all being over shadowed.
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Margaret Kemble Gage. Painted by JohnSingleton Copley in 1771
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In fact he never hated Americans. He rather liked most of them. He was married to an American. Her name was Margaret Kemble Gage. She was known to be a very beautiful woman. But Margaret was a difficult woman at times to Thomas. She was all about independence and everyone getting their liberties. Margaret was also painted by Copley in 1771. Copley depicted her as a strong independent woman. With a big dress on and her looking off into the distance, Margaret was shown powerful. Thomas and Margaret were not together often but whenever they were she would lecture him on justice and liberties. It could of a coincidence but it was almost prone that Margaret and Thomas both as powerful people got married to each other. In the portrait of Thomas Gage, he was shown just as powerful as Margaret thought he was.
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