An American Liberty Elm was named after the Liberty Tree, regarded as the country's first symbol of freedom. On the morning of August 14, 1765, the people of Boston awoke to find two effigies hanging from an elm in protest of the hated Stamp Act. From that day on, the elm became known as the Liberty Tree, standing in silent witness to countless meetings, speeches, and celebrations and serving as the rallying place for the Sons of Liberty. In August 1775, as a last act of violence before their evacuation of Boston, British soldiers cut it down because it bore the name Liberty.