Boston was a hotbed of Revolutionary activity and protest. As one of the largest cities and most important ports in the colonies, Boston was a center of political and economic activity. Many major events of the Revolution took place there, including Stamp Act protests, the Boston Massacre of 1770, and the Boston Tea Party of 1773. In 1776, the British army and loyalists evacuated Boston, leaving the city in patriot control for the rest of the war.