The Boston Massacre

Julian Figueredo

History 211

November 9, 2022
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The Boston Massacre is one of the vital events that jump started the American

Revolution, arguably one of the most important events in history. If it weren’t for the chain of

events that The Boston Massacre is a part of, then America may not have gained independence

and many of the inventions and achievements done by them may never have happened. Despite

what initially seems like the murder of several innocent Americans, it may not have been as

dastardly as things may seem. In this paper I am going to go into depth on the Boston Massacre,

exploring the causes and results as well as looking into both sides of the situation to answer the

question; Was the Boston Massacre a murder or an act of self defense?

According to ushistory.org1 the Boston Massacre is the event in which a group of nine

British soldiers fired into a crowd and killed five people. It happened in the downtown area of

Boston, specifically at the intersection of State and Congress streets, on March 5th, 1770.

Essentially, British soldiers were being yelled at by a crowd of American citizens and the British

soldiers fired at them in order to dissipate the crowd. However, there is a lot more to the story

that many do not know.

For the whole situation to start, it only took a small boy. A boy who went up to a small

group of British soldiers, who told him to leave and bashed him with the butt of one of their

guns. The boy yelled out, and quickly a group of American colonists gathered in defense of the

boy. The crowd was shouting, and someone threw a small item, probably a snowball, at the

troops. Then, someone else threw one, then someone threw a bottle, a brick, and things ramped

up so much that something hit a British troop in a way that shocked him so much he fired.

Whether he fired at the colonists or simply into the air is not known, but upon hearing the

gunshot the other troops fired into the crowd, killing five and dispersing the crowd.

1
Independence Hall Association. “The Boston Massacre.” ushistory.org (July 1995)
https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/massacre.html
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According to History.com2, the colonists killed are as follows: Crispus Attucks, Patrick

Carr, Samuel Gray, Samuel Maverick, and James Caldwell. It happened on March 5th, and what

many do not know is that it was actually during the night, in the cold snow. Nine British soldiers

all fired one round into the crowd of colonists, it is predicted.

We know how a group of British soldiers fired at a crowd of colonists. However, when it

is depicted it is often shown how a group of soldiers in a line fired into a small group of

colonists, maybe 20 or so. This is propaganda. The seemingly simple line that the troops were in

is a battle position known as a firing line, meaning that in the eyes of those who say the soldiers

this way it seemed like an act of direct violence. Realistically, the soldiers were all likely in

shock and in no kind of actual formation. Something else not shown in the many colonist

newspapers is how the colonists vastly outnumbered the troops, and where showing no act of

aggression, when truly the colonists were being more aggressive towards the troops than likely

being to them.

Looking at the British reaction, it also portrays them in a more realistic and friendly light.

Brittanica states as such.

By the next morning Preston and the seven soldiers that he led were under arrest
as was the sentry whom they sought to rescue. A town meeting produced a demand for
the removal of all the troops, and by March 11 both the 14th and 29th regiments had
decamped to Castle William (now Castle Island) in Boston Harbour. Fearing for their
safety, customs commissioners also left town. Various developments delayed for months
the trial of the soldiers, who were not arraigned until September. In the interim both sides
of the clash endeavored to convict the other in the court of public opinion. In his Boston
Gazette, publisher Benjamin Edes, acting under the influence of radical leader and
skillful propagandist Samuel Adams, characterized the event as “a horrid massacre.” (Jeff
Wallenfeldt, 2014)3

2
History.com Editors. “The Boston Massacre.” A&E Television Networks (March 2010)
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-boston-massacre#:~:text=The%20other%
20 soldiers%20bean%20 firing,and%20three%20 more%20where%20 injured.
3
Wallenfeldt, Jeff. “Boston Massacre.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. (January 2015)
https://www.britannica.com/event/Boston-Massacre/Aftermath-and-agitprop
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This quote shows that even the British believed that some form of justice was needed for

the soldiers. They were later declared not guilty in a court case, with a lawyer named John and

the 2 that were guilty were only found guilty of manslaughter.. It has been abundantly clear to all

parties that the actions of the soldiers were purely reactive and this was not a direct act of

aggression towards the colonists. However, the colonists used this as an opportunity to heat up

the relationship, creating propaganda portraying an intentional act of violence when truthfully it

was a fight or flight reaction. However the fact remains that the soldiers that were there only to

stand guard fired and killed several colonists.

With the entire situation summarized, let’s return to the question; who is at fault, the

British or the colonists? With this being a subjective question, the answer is individual, however

I believe that it is actually more the fault of the colonists than the British. While it is true that the

Boston Massacre is a vital event to the American Revolution, which is a vital event to the world

as it is known today, the colonists reacted in a totally unprompted way. They created propaganda,

rallied against other British troops who only do their job and all of it over an event that they

instigated.

Now that my side has been shared, here is what Battlefields.org4 has to say.

The Boston Massacre was one of the most important events leading up to the
Revolutionary War. The tragic event was commemorated annually in Boston with
orations that further fueled negative views of the British soldiers living amongst them.
With the large amounts of distrust between the colonists and British soldiers,
Massachusetts citizens would need to look to their own defense against possible
aggression by the British Army.

In conclusion, the Boston Massacre was one of the most important events leading up to

the American revolution, and without it there is a significant chance that the revolution would

not have occurred, with relations not yet reaching a tipping point. I believe that the colonists are
4
Jacobs, Wilten. “The Boston Massacre.” AmericanBattlefield (Date not shown)
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to blame, however it is also a common opinion that the soldiers are entirely responsible.

Consider both sides and decide for yourself; Who is at fault for the Boston Massacre?
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Bibliography

History.com Editors. “The Boston Massacre.” (March 2010) A&E Television Networks
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-boston-massacre#:~:text=The%20other%20
soldiers%20bean%20 firing,and%20three%20 more%20where%20 injured.

Independence Hall Association. “The Boston Massacre.” (July 1995) ushistory.org

https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/massacre.html

Jeff Wallenfedlt. “Boston Massacre.” (January 2015) Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.

https://www.britannica.com/event/Boston-Massacre/Aftermath-and-agitprop

Writer not shown. “The Boston Massacre.” (Date not shown) AmericanBattlefield
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/boston-massacre