You're listening to an airwave media podcast. Hello and thank you for joining the American Revolution.

Today episode 36 sinking the HMS Gas Bay.

Now last week we looked at a few of the internal colonial disputes in the Carolinas.

Those issues involve fights between people and the colonial government.

This week, Rhode Island takes on the British Navy

directly when colonists sink the HMS Gaspi. And just at the outset I'll note that

there is some debate whether to pronounce it Gaspi or Gaspi.

I'm going with Gaspi, but if you care, don't take that as the final authoritative

answer on the pronunciation.

Now following the repeal of the Stamp Act and most of the Townsend Acts

Parliament focused its attempts to assert authority over the colonies through

tougher trade enforcement. Smuggling had always been common in the colonies, as historically London had not made much of an effort to enforce the trade laws.

Almost no colonists argued that Parliament lacked authority to create and enforce some trade laws, but strict

enforcement of existing laws made profitable trade almost impossible.

As I've discussed over numerous past episodes, after the end of the seven years war, we see the British government focusing more on enforcement.

It began as a way to raise revenue, but by 1770 enforcement seems more about asserting authority

than actually raising any money.

As we saw back in episode 29, London had placed an American Board of Customs in Boston,

responsible for enforcing trade laws and collecting tariffs.

It then sent in regulars to back up that board,

eventually leading to the Boston Massacre,

and then pulling the soldiers out of the city again.

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