The Boston Massacre

March 5, 1770

Boston, Massachusetts, Circa 1770

What we know happened.

A crowd (or mob) of Bostonians approached and began yell at a group of seven or eight British soldiers and their commanding officer, Captain Thomas Preston.

British soldiers of the time were nicknamed “Lobsterbacks”

What we know happened.

Preston and his men were coming to the aid of a lone British Sentry (guard) in front of the Custom’s House (Seaport Tax Office).

The Boston Custom’s House

What we know happened.

The crowd (or mob) surrounded the group of soldiers under Captain Preston’s command.

Captain Preston’s efforts to get the crowd (or mob) to calm down and disperse (go home) failed.

What we know happened.

The crowd (or mob) was calling the soldiers things far worse than “lobsterback”.

The crowd started throwing things.

The crowd started chanting “Fire and be damned!”

The Boston Mob

What we know happened.

A musket was fired at the crowd (or mob).

This first shot was immediately followed by more shots.

What we know happened.

The crowd (or mob) quickly went home.

The soldiers and Captain Preston went back to their barracks (the buildings where groups of soldiers live).

Five Bostonians were dead or dying.

Grave of the five victims

What we know happened.

People were angry.

Questions

Did the soldiers fire with provocation?

Did they fire on their own?

Was Captain Preston guilty of ordering his men to fire into a crowd of civilians?

Was Preston innocent and being used by men like Samuel Adams to confirm the oft-claimed tyranny of England?

Patriots claimed. . . .

A Short Narrative of the Horrid Massacre in Boston.

Printed by Order of the Town of Boston.

THE HORRID MASSACRE IN BOSTON, PERPETRATED IN THE EVENING OF THE FIFTH DAY OF MARCH, 1770, BY SOLDIERS OF THE TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT

Paul Revere engraved the event.

Paul Revere by John Singleton Copley

Who is missing from the engraving?

Source: www.americaslibrary.gov

Who is missing from the engraving?

Crispus Attucks

This is a mid 1850s depiction of the attack.

Why isn’t Crispus Attucks in the engraving?

Bias?

Racism?

Personal Animosity?

Lack of knowledge?

Another reason.

Questions

Did the soldiers fire with provocation?

Did they fire on their own?

Was Captain Preston guilty of ordering his men to fire into a crowd of civilians?

Was Preston innocent and being used by men like Samuel Adams to confirm the oft-claimed tyranny of England?

What happened after the Boston Massacre?

The soldiers were put on trial.

March 13, 1770

A grand jury indicts Captain Preston and eight soldiers are indicted for murder in connection with the massacre.

Queen Street Courthouse

September 7, 1770

Preston and the soldiers are formally arraigned on charges of murder.  All plead "Not Guilty."