As the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of its independence, much of the national focus will fall on Massachusetts and the Boston Tea Party. But New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte is drawing attention to an earlier act of colonial defiance in her state: the Pine Tree Riot of 1772, which she says may have inspired the more famous protest in Boston a year and a half later.
«Before the Boston Tea Party, we had the Pine Tree Riots here in New Hampshire. That's because the British tried to come in and tax our pine trees and take them for their own, and we said no way,» Ayotte told Fox News Digital in an interview ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. The riot was a direct response to a longstanding British policy that prohibited colonists from cutting down white pine trees larger than 12 inches in diameter. Those trees were reserved for the Royal Navy, which used them as masts for its ships.
The Pine Tree Riot demonstrated that colonists were willing to defy British authority, setting a precedent for the larger acts of resistance that followed. Ayotte emphasized that New Hampshire played a pivotal role in the founding of the United States. «We were early joiners of the revolution, very, very proud of this nation,» she said. «New Hampshire has a very special role in the history of this country.»
The governor also noted that New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, making it the deciding state that ensured the Constitution's adoption. Additionally, New Hampshire was the first state in the nation to draft its own state constitution. These milestones are highlighted in the state's exhibition at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
«New Hampshire is so proud to be part of the fair on the National Mall. In fact, in that fair, we are displaying the history of New Hampshire. We have a video that's running where we have prominent figures throughout our state, on both sides of the aisle, reading from the Declaration of Independence. We also talk about our history. We'll be giving out some great New Hampshire maple syrup,» Ayotte said.
Back in the Granite State, the Statehouse will open its visitors center with special documents on display, including one of the Dunlap Broadsides — the first printings of the Declaration of Independence — and one of the original 1823 William J. Stone engravings of the historic document. Cities and towns across New Hampshire have long taken a lead in celebrating the Fourth of July with parades, fairs, fireworks, and other festivities, and this year is no different.
Ayotte, a former U.S. senator and state attorney general who is running for re-election this year, said she would be marching in four Independence Day parades on July 3 and 4. «It's going to be fantastic,» she said.
The Pine Tree Riot is part of a broader story of colonial resistance that included not only political and economic defiance but also remarkable adaptation in daily life. As Americans mark the 250th anniversary, a new documentary explores how colonists transformed local resources into a self-sustaining food system when British imports dried up. Host Capri Cafaro traveled to landmarks of colonial America to trace the roots of foods that remain integral to the nation's palate, including cheese and whiskey. Colonists turned milk into cheese because fresh milk spoiled quickly, and they used byproducts of milled grain to make alcohol. The documentary also highlights the popularity of squirrel pie and stew in 18th- and 19th-century America, a dish that can still be found in some Appalachian regions today.
«Food is a really interesting anchor, culturally,» Cafaro told Fox News Digital. «It has an opportunity to tell infinite stories from economics to agriculture to the environment to science.» She described the most challenging part of making the show as hunting and eating small game. «It was tough for me to be part of a squirrel-hunting process and then be faced with having to eat it,» she said. «I joked at the time that I may be a vegetarian in the 18th century, having to rely on small game like squirrel.»
The 250th anniversary of American independence is prompting reflection on the many acts of courage and ingenuity that led to the nation's founding. From the Pine Tree Riot in New Hampshire to the Boston Tea Party in Massachusetts, colonists demonstrated a willingness to challenge British authority and forge their own path. As Ayotte put it, New Hampshire's early role in the revolution and the ratification of the Constitution underscores the state's enduring pride in its contributions to the nation.
