That is a quote said by Patrick Henry at the Virginia Convention.
The British Parliament passes the Tea Act, a bill designed to save the faltering East India Company from bankruptcy by greatly lowering the tea tax it paid to the British government and, thus, granting it a de facto monopoly on the American tea trade.
Answer:
The french people saw that a revolt could be successful even against a major military power and lasting change was possible.
I don't have the entire answer, but I do know that the freedom of the state (as in acceptance towards people of color) and the several gold rushes and general resource deposits in California drew in pioneers, gold panners, and simple citizens looking to settle down in a high income area.
