The Boston Massacre, an important and contentious event in American History, still lacks a precise account of its occurrence. It was not a spontaneous incident but rather the result of preceding actions. This tragedy brought about lasting changes in America and pushed the nation towards revolution. Without a doubt, the Boston Massacre continues to be a crucial moment in American history.
Contrary to popular belief, the Boston Massacre was not a spontaneous event. England’s debt from the French and Indian war led them to search for other sources of income. The King of England believed that the colonists should contribute to paying for the war as it occurred in America. As a result, British troops were stationed in Boston prior to the massacre, with their main purpose being to assist in collecting duties on imported goods (Hansen 11). Tensions ran high between soldiers and townspeople due to colonists’ resentment towards having military personnel among them. This hostility resulted in frequent physical conflicts between both sides.
England attempted to offset their debt by imposing taxes on the colonists through the Stamp and Townshend Acts. The Stamp Act taxed numerous items, affecting almost everyone who had to pay more than they wanted. Ships papers and legal documents required stamps, as did licenses for tavern owners and publications for printers. The Quartering Act allowed British troops to enter any colonist’s home without refusal. The Townshend Duties, introduced by Townshend, taxed various items such as paper, tea, lead, glass, and paint. These acts aimed to replace the repealed Stamp Act, which caused great resentment among Bostonians. To enforce these acts, Townshend employed writs of assistance, granting British troops the power to search homes for smuggled goods in America.Typically, a warrant is required to search a house, but the writ permitted a warrantless search without specifying the target. The colonists were particularly angered by the writs of assistance, more so than any other acts. However, before the laws were enforced, Townshend passed away (Hansen 141).
Prior to the Boston Massacre, on March 2nd, an altercation took place at John Gray’s Ropewalk. While following Mr. John Gray’s instructions, I witnessed a soldier using profanity and threatening behavior as he walked down the outside ropewalk. In response to his aggression, one of our workers offered him a job cleaning a privy but instead, he cursed at us and attempted to attack me. To defend myself, I struck him on the neck which caused his coat to open and reveal a naked cutlass that I claimed for myself. The soldier temporarily left but returned with approximately twelve men who attacked some of our workers after they called for help. We engaged in multiple altercations until they eventually retreated.
Nicholas Ferreter, then resident of Boston, witnessed this incident before the actual Boston Massacre occurred on March 5th. Another incident also happened shortly before the massacre on March 5th at Murrays Barracks where there was a significant fight between townspeople and British soldiers. Although no severe injuries were reported from this confrontation, it set the stage for the Boston Massacre itself.
The actual massacre took place later that evening on King Street when a young man employed at a barbershop sparked a brawl due to an altercation between a soldier and their boss over payment for haircuts given by some boys. The soldier refused to pay which led to a confrontation with one of the boys resulting in him being knocked down.The boy witnessed the soldier’s attack and immediately cried out to alert other residents of Boston. A crowd quickly formed around the Custom House, where Thomas Preston led a group of eight soldiers. It is believed that Crispus Attucks, a man of mixed race, struck one of the soldiers’ guns with a stick. The exact sequence of events following this remains unclear; however, it appears that after being struck, the soldier raised his gun and fired a shot. Subsequently, British soldiers fired five more shots. Tragically, this incident resulted in the deaths of five individuals. Once the gunfire ceased, rioters dispersed from the scene (Van Tyne 288).
Crispus Attucks is often regarded as a crucial figure in the massacre as he is believed to be the first casualty of the American Revolution, representing the ongoing fight for freedom in the colonies. However, in reality, he was not significantly more important than the other four individuals who died that evening in front of the Custom House (Hansen 52). Subsequently, Thomas Preston and his men were arrested and faced separate trials. Preston was defended by John Adams and Josiah Quincy during the six-day trial (Hansen 76). As there is no record of the trial proceedings, one can only speculate on what transpired. It was never proven that Preston ordered his men to fire, with few believing he did so. Preston maintained his innocence, denying issuing the order (Department of Humanities 3). It is believed that some of Preston’s acquaintances were present on the jury, potentially influencing his acquittal.
The eight soldiers, defended by John Adams and Josiah Quincy, faced a multitude of conflicting witness accounts, making it impossible to construct a clear narrative. Although six soldiers were acquitted of all charges, Hugh Montgomery and Matthew Killroy were convicted of manslaughter. In a peculiar punishment, they were given the choice between jail time or being branded on their finger. Opting for branding, they were released (Hansen 102). Thomas Preston, along with the soldiers, returned to Great Britain, much to the outrage of the colonists. This lenient treatment added insult to injury, confirming the colonists’ perception of England’s continual mistreatment. The aftermath of the Boston Massacre saw various outcomes, one being the infamous Boston Tea Party on December 6, 1773 (Hansen 163). Colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded three East India Company ships filled with tea and dumped the entire cargo into the harbor as a protest against unfair taxation. They believed that these taxes only served England’s interests rather than benefiting the colonies as they expected (Hansen 166).The onset of the American Revolution occurred two years subsequent to the occurrence of the Boston Tea Party.
The history of the United States was forever changed by the significant impact of the Boston Massacre. While uncertainty remains regarding an accurate account of that night’s incident, one thing is certain: it played a crucial role in accelerating America’s rebellion against Great Britain. The tragic loss of life during the Boston Massacre should not be forgotten, as it was driven by underlying conflicts that sparked violence and subsequent events. It marked the culmination of mounting tensions between English and American colonists, igniting a passion within the colonists to fight for freedom.
