Boston Massacre

On March 5, 1770, a mob of men taunted and threw snowballs at the sentry outside the city custom’s house in Boston, MA. When the sentry called for backup, the mob started throwing clubs at them (What Was the Boston Massacre). The British commander named Preston, started yelling at the mob that his mens’ muskets were loaded and ready to fire. Then, someone yelled, “FIRE,” and the soldiers opened fire on the crowd killing 5 people (The Boston Massacre). No one knows who yelled fire that night, even though it wasn’t Captain Preston, the soldiers still shot into the crowd (The Boston Massacre).

Boston Massacre

"FIRE!"

Hugh Montgomery fired his musket first on March 5, 1770, and he also killed Crispus Attucks (the leader and former slave). Thomas Preston, the commander of the 14th regiment, commanded his troops to load their muskets and be ready to fire. Private Hugh White, the sentry on guard outside the custom’s house that night, had many snowballs and rocks thrown at him (Participants of Boston Massacre). Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, James Cadwell, Samuel Maverick, Patrick Carr, and Christopher Monk all died as a result of the Boston Massacre (Participants of Boston Massacre).

The king of England had put a tax in place on all goods imported from England by the colonies. British troops arrived in Boston in October 1768 because the king suspected that the Bostonians had boycotted English products (What was the Boston Massacre). The troops disturbed the peace in Boston and beleagered the people. A few minor scuffles had broken out between the soldiers and the Bostonians, but only one person died as a result. Theses scuffles escalated very quickly (The Boston Massacre).

Background

Who Was Involved

What Happened

The place in Boston where the massacre happened

Pual Revere's etching of the Boston Massacre

The burial place of the massacre victims

Drew