What Was The Boston Massacre?

The Boston Massacre was one of the events that helped stoke up revolutionary fervour in Britain's American colonies which culminated eventually in their rebellion against British rule and the subsequent foundation of the United States of America.

The incident occurred in Boston in 1770, where British troops had been garrisoned for two years in the hope that their presence would serve to quell any disorderly impulses among the populace. Instead, it seemed to stoke them up. Confrontations between British troops and the local inhabitants culminated on March 5th, 1970 when hundreds of Bostonians gathered threateningly around the customs house. A small party of British troops found themselves being pelted with bricks, snowballs and chunks of ice by the unruly locals. Eventually, the soldiers opened fire on the crowd, killing a few and injuring others. Five Boston inhabitants in total died in the incident.

The captain of the British troop, and the soldiers themselves, were tried for the crime of murder. Defended by John Adams, a future president of the United States, the captain and all except two of the soldiers were acquitted, and in their case the charge was reduced to one of manslaughter. Their punishment was to be branded on the finger.