of The Boston Massacre began with a few colonists throwing snowballs at a soldier outside the Custom House in Boston, Massachusetts. (Text, 155) The argument began to escalate as more colonists gathered. Captain Thomas Preston arrived with a number of soldiers to maintain order. (Text, 155) Captain Preston tried to get the crowd to disperse; however, the crowd continued to throw snowballs, stones, and sticks at the British soldiers. Then one of the soldiers fired into the crowd and soon after, a number
The first English colony in North America was founded at Jamestown, Virginia, in 160, with dreams of wealth and social prominence. Throughout the centuries, British colonists in North America took immense pride in the British Empire and the colonial upper class was even known to spend large amounts trying to emulate upper class English fashion and lifestyle. The colonies and its motherland shared this strong relationship until the 1760’s and the Seven Year war which was followed by years of civil
into happening. However, I believe that the Americans are the ones to blame for this tragic event. The whole occurrence had the British holding the guns and shooting at the colonists but I feel that the colonists stimulated this affair. In different accounts of the massacre, it is stated that the colonists taunted the redcoats. Additionally, this protest was the result of the mercantilistic acts British imposed. The Boston Massacre initially started as an argument in Boston’s customs house. However
Multiple Perspectives: Primary Source Activity Directions: On the night of March 5, 1770, several Boston residents were shot and killed by British soldiers in what became known as the Boston Massacre. What follows are several images and first-hand accounts from eyewitness to and participants in the event. Following each primary source are questions to help you examine and interpret the information. Primary source #1: Report of the Committee of the Town of Boston (patriot viewpoint) On Friday, the 2d
Legal Papers of John Adams, No. 64, Rex v Wemms | John Adams | 1755-1784 | To record what he heard and saw during the trial and how he defended for the British soldiers. | Despite the fact that most eyewitnesses’ testimonies denounced Captain Thomas Pretson ordering his men to fire upon the citizens, he believed these people were biased and words aren’t 100% reliable. | Anonymous account of the Boston Massacre March 5 1770 | Unknown | Unknown | To briefly explain what caused the people to rise up against
had buckets of water, after responding to a fire alarm. Others had clubs to defend themselves or perhaps to threaten the despised “lobsterbacks.” Private Hugh White was, in fact, being threatened by several wigmakers’ apprentices (Aron 24). When Captain Thomas Preston heard of Private White’s situation, he came with seven other soldiers to help. Words escalated into snowballs and stones, and the soldiers began to fight back with the butts of their guns. The crowd of Bostonians was growing and now
documents are of different accounts of the massacre: a pamphlet of the testimony of William Wyatt, an article from the Boston Gazette and Country Journal, a sketch by Paul Revere, an account of Captain Thomas Preston, and a court case from John Adams. These documents expose the turmoil of that day from different perspectives of Bostonians and British soldiers. They also show how some colonial leaders used this event to advance the patriot cause. The account of Captain Thomas Preston said that he
tear gas to break up the crowd, breaking the promise. (10) These previous events all built up to the final climax in each of the two situations. On March 5th, 1770, a British captain, John Goldfinch, was stopped by a wig-maker's apprentice, Edward Garrick, who accused Goldfinch of not paying for his new wig. The captain ignored Garrick and continued on his way despite Garrick's protests. A sentry by the name of
massacre. The Boston Massacre is viewed with overwhelming bias and many contradictions in accounts exist, yet overall the “Boston
History 2.1 What Lead to the Fractured Relationship Between the British and the American Colonies Prior to the Boston Massacre? Following Britain’s success in the Seven Years War and the signing of a Peace with France in 1763 Britain gained control of all territory east of the Mississippi in North America. From all of this there was a cost; the war left Britain with large military expenses debts and additional expenses of an enlarged empire. At an attempt to solve this problem, the politicians