What Caused The Boston Massacre

Words: 421
Pages: 2
Open Document
Boston massacre occurred in March 5th 1770 between a patriotic mob and a squad of British soldiers. As a result, five British regulars were killed. It took a few more years for people to understand the situation leading to the massacre and the resulting trials. In fact, the massacre is only understood when one gets to the setting of other historic events.
Since 1767, the citizens had been protesting the presence of the troops from Britain in Boston. In particular, they were against heavy tax burden that was imposed on shared products brought in from the colonies. Such products included glass, paper, and tea. Consequently, in 1768, citizens rioted in Boston and kept calling the soldiers names, spitting on them, and fighting with sticks, stones, and other small arms. Further, they prohibited the combatants from performing their duties, leading to increased tensions within the city.
In March 5th 1770, The British officers called in for support and relief. The leader of the soldiers was Thomas Preston. Unfortunately, on arrival, he and other soldiers met a great and provocative multitude of civilians. He was incapable of dispersing the crowd that kept chanting that if the soldiers would fire, then they would be damned. Though he ordered the soldiers not to fire, they went ahead to open fire, consequently killing three …show more content…
Further, Captain Preston and his soldiers were tried for man slaughter. A lot of evidence was given by the citizens, each of them narrating a different version of the events at the massacre. Preston was secured through Robert Auchmuty, John Adams and Josiah Quincy. The captain was cleared by the Boston jury. However, the soldiers were defended a month later by a jury coming outside Boston, and were cleared based on self-defense. In the end, two of them were guilty as charged concerning murder due to overwhelming evidence of them firing into the
Show More

Related Documents: What Caused The Boston Massacre

Analyze The Effects Of Exaggeration On The Masses

135 13 April 2024. The Effects of Exaggeration on the Masses: How Taxation Evolved into the Boston Massacre and then the American Revolution. On March 5th, 1770, eleven protesting civilians were shot and killed after Boston civilians provoked British soldiers (“Today in History - March 5”). According to an anonymous source, five people died in total, and three on the spot. The Boston Massacre is known as a key point in American history, and one that led to the American Revolution. Many…

Words 2627 - Pages 11

Paul Revre: The Boston Massacre

Introduction What is the Revolutionary war. There is far more to this war than you think. It was all caused by taxes, arguments and more. It changed our world. If we didn't have this specific war our world would be different. Boston Massacre The Boston Massacre or the (Bloody Massacre) as Paul Revere would say. The Boston Massacre was a propaganda when Paul Revere painted it. One morning Red Coats came to the city of Boston. The patriots were…

Words 602 - Pages 3

Boston Massacre Research Paper

shots, and the colonists began assaulting the soldiers. At the end, four men died at the scene, and another man died a few days later. Many people today are debating whether this day in history was a massacre or not. Based on written accounts, it can be settled that the Boston Massacre was a massacre. On the night…

Words 593 - Pages 3

Boston Massacre Research Paper

way to American freedom and the America that we have today. The American Revolution is composed of several events that lead to our eventual victory over Britain. One of these events is the Boston Massacre. Event The Boston Massacre was given its name by the colonists after 5 Bostonians were killed in what was supposedly a peaceful riot. It all started while Private White of the British military struck young Edward Garrick in the face for insulting his commanding officer. Soon, many other Bostonians…

Words 629 - Pages 3

The American Revolution, Boston Tea Party, And The Boston Massacre

power.Freedom is something worth fighting and dying for because of,The American Revolution,Boston Tea Party,and The Boston Massacre. When talking about freedom.An historical topic comes to mind,The American Revolution.In the war,independence was key.It was a goal that everyone was gonna fight for.Even if it was going to lead them to death.Everyone took all the risks to fight/die for independence. The Boston Tea Party was an interesting event,that was always going to be remembered in history.The whole…

Words 219 - Pages 1

What Caused The American Revolution Dbq Analysis

What Caused the American Revolution DBQ The American Revolution was a political battle between the American colonies and Great Britain from 1765-1783.It had began with the Stamp Act of 1765, and then the Declaratory Act of 1766 the following year. A few more major events include the Townshend Acts of 1767, the Boston Massacre, and the Boston Tea Party in 1773. In response to the Boston Tea Party had come the Intolerable Acts in 1774. Those acts include the Boston Port Act, the Administration of Justice…

Words 798 - Pages 4

Absurdity Of The Townshend Duties And The Boston Massacre Essay

Absurdity of the Townshend Duties and the Boston Massacre By: Leo Lei Word Count: 496 There is no doubt that in the past decade, resentment towards our British founders has grown evermore coherent. This hatred sought its peak a week ago after the events of what headlines everywhere have coined, “The Boston Massacre” which is the quite the hyperbole, but I will get to that a little later. So what really sparked this controversy? Well, the simple answer is Britain’s continued surge to maintain…

Words 575 - Pages 3

American Revolution and Boston Massacre Essay

Seven Years' War begins 1757.................William Pitt takes control of Seven Years' War 1763.................Peace of Paris ends Seven Years' War 1770.................Boston Massacre begins 1773.................Boston Tea Party 1773.................Tea Act During the period of 1756 - 1776, several things caused a breakdown of the relationship between England and the 13 colonies. One was the military conflict. The second was a political struggle within America. The third is the affect…

Words 619 - Pages 3

American Revolution Essay

What were the causes of the American Revolution? The American Revolution began after a long-winded period of conflict between Britain and her American colonies. The basis for this conflict began when Britain wanted the colonists to assist in fighting the French and Indian War. The taxation that Britain heavily imposed upon the colonies left them angry and fighting for the removal of the duties. Their opposition took many forms, the most successful being the political group, the Sons of Liberty…

Words 1309 - Pages 6

Three Main Causes Of The American Revolution

British in the year, from April 19, 1775, to September 3 1783. There were many main causes of the American Revolution. Three important events that caused the American Revolution were, the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere’s famous ride along with the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and The Declaration of Independance. The first important act, was The Boston Massacre, which occurred on March 5th, 1770. It occurred when a colonist was arguing with a British Captain outside of the Customs House. The colonists…

Words 507 - Pages 3