Acollection of loosely organized protest groups who pressured british authorities over taxes. groups would practice both peaceful and non-peaceful protest throughout the colonies, but especially in massachusetts

The answer is "Sons of liberty".

The Sons of Liberty was an association that was made in the Thirteen American Colonies. The mystery society was framed to secure the privileges of the settlers and to battle tax assessment by the British government. They assumed a noteworthy part in many settlements in fighting the Stamp Act in 1765.