Final answer:
Patriotic upheaval in Boston involved increasing tensions as a result of British military presence and policies, leading to the Boston Tea Party protest and subsequent punitive Intolerable Acts, ushering the colonies towards revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The patriotic upheaval in Boston in the years leading up to the American Revolution was characterized by increasing tension and protest against British rule. The presence of British troops meant to suppress rebellion only heightened local animosities. Labor competition from the troops, along with enforcement of boycotts led by the Sons of Liberty, exacerbated the situation. The Boston Tea Party, an iconic event of civil disobedience, saw the Sons of Liberty, disguised as American Indians, dumping tea into the harbor in protest of the Tea Act and British policies. This act of defiance sparked harsh punitive measures from the British government, known as the Intolerable Acts, which further inflamed the colonists and set the stage for revolution.