Written by Background
By the late 1760s, tensions between American colonists and British authorities had escalated due to Britain’s increasing taxation policies. The Townshend Acts (1767) imposed duties on imports such as glass, paper, paint, and tea, fueling resentment among the colonists. Many Americans viewed these taxes as an overreach of British power, arguing that they were being taxed without proper representation in Parliament. Protests and riots had broken out in Boston, a key center of revolutionary fervor, leading the British government to deploy troops to maintain order.
What Happened
On the night of March 5, 1770, a confrontation between British soldiers and a crowd of Bostonians turned deadly. The incident began when a young apprentice confronted a British sentry stationed outside the Custom House. As tensions rose, a group of angry colonists gathered, taunting the soldiers and throwing snowballs, rocks, and debris. In response, a detachment of British troops led by Captain Thomas Preston arrived at the scene to support the guard.
As the crowd grew larger and more aggressive, soldiers became increasingly nervous. Someone in the mob allegedly shouted “Fire!”—though it remains unclear whether it was an order, a misunderstanding, or a provocation from the crowd. Suddenly, the soldiers opened fire into the crowd, killing five men and wounding several others. Among the dead was Crispus Attucks, a man of African and Native American descent, who became one of the first martyrs of the American Revolution.
In the aftermath, the British soldiers were arrested and put on trial for murder. Future U.S. President John Adams defended the soldiers in court, arguing they had acted in self-defense. His efforts led to the acquittal of most of them, while two were found guilty of manslaughter and lightly punished.
Impact for the Future
The Boston Massacre became a powerful propaganda tool for revolutionaries, igniting anti-British sentiment throughout the colonies. It was widely publicized in newspapers and through engravings, such as Paul Revere’s famous depiction, which exaggerated the British aggression. The event played a crucial role in unifying colonists against British rule, setting the stage for the American Revolution. Just five years later, the conflict escalated into full-scale war, ultimately leading to the independence of the United States.