The Road to the American Revolution: The Boston Massacre

Introduction

• Date: March 5th, 1770
• Event: Known as the Boston Massacre
• Significance: A pivotal moment leading up to the American Revolutionary War
• Controversy: Labeled as a massacre by colonial newspapers; British officer described colonists as malicious

Background

• Colonial Frustrations:
  • Series of acts and taxes imposed by British Parliament seen as violations of rights
  • Key Acts:
    • Sugar Act
    • Stamp Act
    • Quartering Act
    • Declaratory Act
    • Townshend Acts
  • Rallying cry: "No taxation without representation!"
• Military Presence:
  • British soldiers occupied Boston since 1768 to exert control
  • Military presence worsened relations between colonies and Britain

The Boston Massacre

• Tensions Escalate:
  • Edward Garrick's confrontation with Private Hugh White
  • Physical altercation: Garrick hit by White with a musket
• Mob Formation:
  • News spread leading to a mob of over 300 people gathering at Customs House
  • Eight British soldiers stood against the mob
  • Colonists threw snowballs, rocks, and insults; provoked soldiers to fire

The Incident

• Escalation:
  • Club thrown from the crowd hitting a soldier
  • British soldiers responded with musket fire
• Casualties:
  • First killed: Crispus Atticus, a former slave
  • Total: 5 killed, 6 wounded
• Aftermath:
  • Crowd dispersed; news of the massacre spread

Legal Proceedings

• Arrest:
  • Eight soldiers and Captain Thomas Preston arrested and charged with murder
• Defense:
  • John Adams, a patriot, defended the soldiers
  • Trial Outcome:
    • Two soldiers found guilty of manslaughter
    • Six found not guilty

Impact

• Paul Revere's Engraving:
  • Created the "Bloody Massacre" engraving
  • News spread rapidly across the colonies
• Significance:
  • Defined as a crucial event on the road to the Revolution
  • Increasing tension between colonies and Great Britain

Conclusion

• The event marked the beginning of larger conflicts leading to the Revolutionary War.

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