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the Boston massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight that occurred on March 5, 1770 between a “patriot” mob, throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks, and a squad of British soldiers. British troops in the city of Boston were not welcome. It was the culmination of tensions in the American colonies that had been expanding since Royal troops appeared in Massachusetts in October, to enforce a heavy tax burden imposed by the Townshend Acts. British Captain Thomas Preston, the commanding officer at the Customs House, to join the guard outside the building. The colonists responded by throwing snowballs and other objects at the British. This spiraled into a cluster of angry people fighting for what they believed, and not backing down, leading to what we know as the Boston Massacre.
Many witnesses acclaim that the British were to blame, but behind all of the soldiers stood a mastermind. Captain Thomas Preston. One of the many witnesses, including Daniel Calef stated that Captain Preston ordered his men to fire. “I turned about and looked and heard the officer who stood on the right in a line with the Soldiers give the word fire twice. I looked the Officer in the face when he gave the word and saw his mouth.” (Doc L). In the deposition of Robert Goodard, he claimed he heard

Captain Preston curse his men for not firing when ordered. “A Sailor or Townsman struck the Captain. He thereupon said damn your bloods fire think I'll be treated in this manner.” (Doc K).
Captain Thomas Preston was the British Redcoat who told his fellow Redcoats to fire. Without Capt. Preston’s “advice” on firing first, the massacre most likely could have been avoided. Captain Preston claimed he ordered his men to load their weapons. Meaning if there was a instance where he felt threatened he would fire on people with snowballs. (Doc C). Behind the red coats wad the heart and soul of it. Captain Thomas Preston. Captain hid behind his fellow Redcoats in order to cover himself, to insure he would leave
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