how much do you know about the Boston Massacre?

Answer 1

The really interesting thing about it is the suggestion that the whole thing was staged by rebels who needed some kind of massive propaganda piece.

Before the event, it's worth mentioning that tensions between the British soldiers and some (not even most by a long shot) of the colonists were pretty high. Some colonists had been smuggling goods to avoid tax, and many officials were corrupt, but British countermeasures against these things were extreme enough to concern many business folk.

By most accounts, it was an argument over a small debt that started it. A tradesmen exchanged words with a soldier, and a British guardsmen clubbed the fellow over the head to shut him up. Word of this incident quickly spread, and more and more groups kept showing up to protest; the British sent a whole regiment to try and keep the peace. The start of the shooting reported happened when one of the guardsmen was struck in the head by a thrown club.

Nor was that club the first thing thrown... the mob was reportedly hurling rocks, ice, and whatever they could lay to hand as well. They may have been as many as 400 of them. They even openly dared the guards to fire, calling them cowards. Enough was finally enough, and the guards fired into the mob, killing five and wounding six more. The mob quickly dispersed.

The trouble did not. Handbills appeared the next day describing the 'massacre' and 'outrages' that occurred, and rebels swept the story far and wide as evidence of supposed harsh treatment by the British. Indeed, the word spread SO fast that those who are conspiracy-minded might actually have a point in this case...

Answer 2

In March 1774 outside of the old state house in Boston some British soldiers, who were acting as police in those days, fired upon some trouble making colonialists. They killed five agitators, including Chrispus Attucks, a mulatto (half *****, half caucasian) servant who was walking by minding his own business and got struck by a bullet (ball) by accident.

The Boston Massacre was hyped up and used by the Sons of Liberty, the radicals and rebels of the time, as an example of British cruelty and tyranny. Actually the colonists were acting like complete jerks and were throwing snowballs and stuff at the soldiers.

John Adams, the number one American rebel, was a typical lawyer and defended the British soldiers against his own people.

Answer 3

http://www.bostonmassacre.net/

Timeline
The "Boston Massacre" as it is called, was really not a massacre in the sense that a lot of people were slaughtered (because only five people were killed), it was a massacre in the sense that the British government's authority was not going to be tolerated. This incident marked the beginning of the end for England and its presence in the United States of America.

October 1, 1768

On October 1, 1768 a group of British regulars arrived in Boston, MA. to maintain order. The civilians reacted to the redcoats like they were invaders by taunting them through name calling, spitting, and fighting. The people of Boston had gained control of the reigns of power and prevented the soldiers from carrying out their duties. During the next eighteen months tension mounted between the two sides.

March 5, 1770

On March 5, 1770 the Twenty-Ninth Regiment came to the relief of the Eighth on duty at the Customs House on King (now State) Street. The soldiers, led by Captain Thomas Preston, were met by a large and taunting crowd of civilians. Captain Preston was unable to disperse the crowd and as they chanted "Fire and be damned" he ordered his troops "Don't Fire!" With all the commotion the soldiers probably did not hear his orders and they opened fire on the crowd killing three men instantly and another two who died later.

October of 1770

Seven months later, in October of 1770, Captain Preston was tried for murder in a Boston courtroom. He was defended by John Adams and Robert Auchmuty and assisted by Josiah Quincy Jr. Captain Preston was acquitted by a Boston jury. It was never satisfactory explained why the radicals Adams and Quincy represented Preston, and later the soldiers, although some surviving documents suggest that the jury in Preston's case was "packed." When the soldiers case came to trial soon after they were defended by Adams, Quincy, and Sampson Salter Blowers. The jurors in their case came from outside of Boston and they won acquittals a month after the trial began.

Answer 4

Not dissimilar to the Ohio State travesty. Angry, unarmed crowds. Scared, young soldiers with guns and live ammo. A few loud-mouthed hotheads fomenting passions and/or throwing rocks. Piss-poor, poorly-trained, umcaring military command.

Bang. Indiscriminate and uncontrolled.

Answer 5

collonists assulted the soldiers with snowballs, sticks, and rocks.as an act of self-defense, the red-coats attacked. the first to be killed was crispus atticks. john adams defended the soldiers and were aquitted.

Answer 6

it was the firsy gunshot heard around the whole world crispus attuks died that day african american lots of ppl where mad cause of propaganda that the british was saying about them charlienoble92001 explains it better thats all right

Answer 7

Try this site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Massacre