The Boston Massacre: Who's to Blame
On the evening of March 5, 1770, with a foot of snow on the ground, groups of Bostonians gathered around the Custom House on King Street. Some 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 numbered about 100 (24). Then, a huge chunk of ice came flying in from the mob and knocked Private Hugh Montgomery to the ground. He stood up and fired into the crowd and several other shots followed. The event is known today as the Boston Massacre. Clearly these happenings occurred so quickly that it is hard for historians to see which side was responsible. However, the Boston Massacre was the fault of the British because they made the decision to station troops in Boston, they failed to remove the troops despite the rising tensions between the soldiers and the colonists, they fired into the crowd of colonists, and two soldiers were convicted despite heavy British favor in the trial.
The first reason that the British were at fault for the Boston Massacre was that the British made the decision to station the troops in Boston. In the winter of 1770, many Bostonians harbored deep resentment because of the presence of British military in their city (Linder). Two regiments of regulars had been quartered in Boston since September of 1768, when they had landed in response to a call by Governor Thomas Hutchinson to restore order and respect for British law. Trouble had arisen earlier that summer when Boston importers refused to pay required custom duties (Linder). This added to the anger in the colonies immensely. Now the
The first reason that the British were at fault for the Boston Massacre was that the British made the decision to station the troops in Boston. In the winter of 1770, many Bostonians harbored deep resentment because of the presence of British military in their city (Linder). Two regiments of regulars had been quartered in Boston since September of 1768, when they had landed in response to a call by Governor Thomas Hutchinson to restore order and respect for British law. Trouble had arisen earlier that summer when Boston importers refused to pay required custom duties (Linder). This added to the anger in the colonies immensely. Now the
Cited: Aaron, Paul. More Unsolved Mysteries of American History. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004. “Boston Massacre Account.” (1770): Sirs Knowledge Source. Williamsville High School Lib. 23 October 2007. <http://sks.sirs.com>. Leddy, Chuck. “Walking Boston’s Historic Freedom Trail.” American History Oct. 2007: 72-73,6. PerAbs. FirstSearch. Williamsville High School Lib. 23 October 2007. <http://firstsearch.oclc.org>. Linder, Doug. “The Boston Massacre Trials: An Account.” 2001. 23 October 2007 <http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bostonmassacre/bostonaccount.html>. Olson, Donald W, Russell L. Garrett, and Jennifer L. “The Moon and the Boston Massacre.” Sky & Telescope Mar 1998: 65-69. PerAbs. FirstSearch. Williamsville High School Lib. 23 October 2007. <http://firstsearch.oclc.org>. Preston, Thomas. “Boston Massacre Account.” (1770): Sirs Knowledge Source. Williamsville High School Lib. 23 October 2007. <http://sks.sirs.com>.