Final answer:
Sarah is confused about James' anger over the treatment of the loyalist sailor. The Boston Massacre, the presence of British troops, and acts of defiance like the Boston Tea Party contributed to the tension between the colonists and loyalists during the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sarah is confused because she doesn't understand why James is mad about the colonists tar and feathering the loyalist sailor. The colonists' actions were cruel towards the loyalist sailor, while other colonies showed kindness by sending food to Boston.
The tension between the colonists and loyalists escalated during the American Revolution. The Boston Massacre, the presence of British troops, and the imposition of imperial reform measures by the British government all contributed to the animosity between the two sides. Acts of defiance, like the Boston Tea Party, further fueled the conflict.
In this context, the colonists' treatment of the loyalist sailor can be seen as a direct result of the growing divide and tensions between the loyalists and the revolutionaries.