Boston Massacre

Eric Wong November 15, 2006

In American history, March 5th, 1770 was a very important date because it was the day known as the Boston Massacre. On that day five civilians were shot by British troops, which was one of the events that lead to the American Revolution. But what sparked such an event that created uproar in the community and the nation? Paul Revere’s image portrays an inflammatory detail that the British regiment was ordered by Captain Thomas Preston to shoot the innocent Bostonians while Preston’s account states the contrary.

The Colonists were already agitated with the British troops; one of the reasons was that Parliament passed the Stamp Act, which was a way to finance the quartering of British troops in North America. (The act taxed all legal documents, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, pamphlet, and even playing cards. The tax stamp was placed upon purchase from a royal official.) The angry Colonists were even more outraged to see depiction of Paul Revere’s image of the night of March 5th, 1770, in Boston, which is referred to as the Boston Massacre. Paul Revere’s image of that night quickly spread like wild fire to the other Colonies. Paul Revere’s image showed peaceful Bostonian in an open area, standing around, and at the same time being ordered to be shot by Captain Thomas Preston. The image also showed massive bloodshed.

Captain Thomas Preston denies of such an account, “I answered no, by no means, observing to them that I was advanced before the muzzles of the men’s pieces” (Preston 2) His statement showed angry irate protestors that were advancing towards the British troops. Preston stated that locals loathed the British troops, and provoked them into a dispute, “…desired effect by provoking the soldiers, and from words they went to blows”. (Preston 1) The occurrence of that night according to Preston stated in his account were(1) two soldiers were attacked and beat, (2)two meeting houses were broken into and alarms were rung to assemble more locals, (3) 9 locals guards informed me the town inhabitants were assembling an attack on the troops, (4) caused great commotion, used cruel and horrid threats against the troops, (5) 100 people went toward the custom house where the king kept its money, and as they immediately surrounded that outpost, (6) sent 12 men and a non commissioned officer to protect the outpost and the kings money, (7) the soldier kept their bayonets out in half-circles to keep the locals at a distance, (8) the locals were more agitated and advanced, (9) the local struck the soldiers, and a shots were being fired. (10) A well behave person asked were the gun loaded, and Preston answered yes, and (11) the same person asked did the Captain intended to shoot, the captain answer “no.” Captain Thomas Preston claimed that a soldier was struck with severe force and fired and claimed he asked the soldier why he fired. Preston stated if he was told the regiment to fire, than he was to be no officer.

Both depictions were completely