Essay On The Boston Massacre

During the American Revolution, numerous events occurred that assisted the thirteen colonies in gaining independence. Of these events, the Boston Massacre had the biggest impact. The Boston Massacre was the single most important incident leading up to the American Revolutionary War.
The Boston Massacre was the killing of five colonists by British regulars. It took place March 5, 1770. Three separate confrontations between colonists and soldiers were going on at the same time.
There happened to be a great deal of tension between the British soldiers and colonists for many reasons. For example, the citizens disliked soldiers because of job competition and heavy taxes. Soldiers made very little money, plus they were charged for supplies and uniforms they were required to wear. They were forced to find other work to make ends meet. Not only did being hated by the colonists make their lives harder, but their commanders treated them very poorly. They were physically punished for even the smallest violation. Contrary to their beliefs, the soldiers’ lives were barely batter than the colonists’.
The colonists started the Massacre due to their strong dislike of soldiers, who were only doing their duties. “Patriot” mobs caused the situation by throwing

snowballs, stones, and sticks at the British soldiers. Fifty colonists attacked a guard, causing Captain Thomas Preston to call for additional soldiers, who were also attacked. Another dispute took place when a citizen, named Edward Garrick, accused a soldier of not paying a bill to a local wigmaker.
Five colonists were killed because of the Boston Massacre.

The first colonist to be shot was a man named Crispus Attucks. He was a forty-seven year old mulatto dockworker. Attucks, armed with a club, knocked a soldier, Hugh Montgomery, to the ground with his bayonet. When Montgomery was back on his feet, he ordered the soldiers to fire. One soldier put two bullets through Crispus Attucks’ chest. Soldier Matthew Killroy then shot a man named Samuel Gray in the head. James Caldwell was the last one to be shot dead at the massacre. The soldiers had prepared to fire again when Captain Preston ordered, “Stop firing! Do not fire!” Eight other colonists were wounded and two of those, Samuel Maverick and Patrick Carr, later

died.
After the Boston Massacre, a town meeting was held. The colonists were demanding the removal of British soldiers. They also wanted Captain Preston and his men to be tried for murder. A trial would take place eight months after the massacre. John Adams and Josiah Quincy II defended the British soldiers and Captain Preston. The authorities wanted the soldiers and Preston to be tried separately, but the soldiers disagreed. Their best defense was that they were just following their captain’s orders, but they feared he would say he never gave them the orders to shoot. The soldiers’ request was denied without an explanation. Preston’s trial took place between October 24th and 30th at the Queen Street Courthouse. The jury did not include a single Bostonian. Preston and six other soldiers were acquitted of all charges, but two soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter.
The Boston Massacre has the most significance compared to any other event that assisted the colonists in gaining independence. It majorly sparked their desire for freedom. Because of the Boston Massacre, the colonists became inspired enough to fight and succeed in becoming free from Britain.