The Boston Massacre was a deadly incident between British soldiers and American colonists. Following heavy taxes on the American colonies after the French and Indian War, tension between colonists and the English Empire increased. In 1768, British troops arrived in Boston to restore order following large protests. In February 1770, an eleven year old boy was killed while protesting in front of the home of an English loyalist. This enraged Bostonians and thousands attended his funeral.
On March 5, 1770, a heated argument took place between a British regular and a young whigmaker’s apprentice. The British regular struck the apprentice on the head with his musket. Word of this incident spread throughout Boston and protestors descended on the Custom’s House, which was guarded by nine British troops. The crowd, whose size was estimated at 300 or 400, threw rocks, paddles, and snowballs at the soldiers. A British regular was knocked to the ground by an object and when he stood back up he opened fire with his musket. The rest of the soldiers then opened fire. A total of eleven protestors were hit-five men were killed and six were wounded.
The following day the soldiers and their commanding officer were arrested by order of Governor Thomas Hutchison and a trial was set for murder. They were defended by patriot John Adams who received backlash for defending them. Ultimately, Adams was victorious in the trial. Six soldiers were found non-guilty and two were found guilty for the lesser crime of manslaughter.
Reflecting on the Boston Massacre years later, Adams said “How slightly, however, historians, may have passed over this event, the blood of the Martyrs, right, or wrong, proved to be the seeds of the Congregation. Not the Battle of Lexington or Bunkers Hill; not the surrender of Burgoyne, or Cornwallis, were more important events in American history than the battle of King Street, on the 5th of March 1770.”
Recommended Reading about the Boston Massacre
The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff
The Boston Massacre: A Family History by Serena Zabin
Michael Walsh is an Adult Services at the Will Library. He is currently reading Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan.