Boston Massacre

What was the main purpose of the British tax on certain goods in the 13 colonies?

Why were British soldiers sent to Boston in 1768?

What happened to Captain Preston and the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre?

Who was one of the lawyers who defended Captain Preston and the British soldiers during the trials?

What was a challenge faced by the trials of Captain Preston and the British soldiers?

What was the outcome of Captain Preston's trial?

What was the purpose of the propaganda spread by the colonists who wanted independence?

What did Paul Revere distribute to influence public opinion about the Boston Massacre?

What was the main argument made by John Adams during Captain Preston's trial?

What was Captain Preston's claim about the events of the Boston Massacre?

The British Colonies and the Boston Massacre

In 1770, the King of Great Britain had 13 colonies in North America that would later become the United States of America.
The British government imposed taxes on certain goods, like tea, to raise money, which led to tensions with the colonists.
British soldiers were sent to Boston in 1768 to enforce British laws, but their presence escalated the situation.

The Event of the Boston Massacre

On March 5, 1770, a group of angry colonists confronted a British soldier at the Customs House in Boston, leading to the arrival of Captain Thomas Preston and his troops.
In the confusion, the soldiers fired their guns, killing five colonists and injuring others.

The Boston Massacre Trials

Captain Preston and the soldiers were arrested and put on trial for their actions.
John Adams, future President of the United States, and Josiah Quincy, Junior, defended the accused, while Robert Paine and Samuel Quincy prosecuted.
The trials resulted in Captain Preston and most of the soldiers being found not guilty, with two soldiers receiving a small punishment.

The Boston Massacre as Propaganda

Colonists seeking independence used the Boston Massacre as propaganda to sway public opinion against the British.
Pamphlets, pictures, and poems, such as Paul Revere's engraving "The Bloody Massacre," were used to inflame anti-British sentiment.
Captain Preston's own account of the event was published in a British newspaper, downplaying the soldiers' responsibility.

Learn about the events leading up to the Boston Massacre in 1770, including the British taxation policies and the tension between British soldiers and American colonists.