Artifact Analysis: Primary and Secondary Sources
Source #1
Source: Engrav'd Printed & Sold by Paul Revere Boston.
Artifact Analysis: Primary and Secondary Sources
Source #2
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight that occurred on March 5,
1770, between a “patriot” mob, throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks,
and a squad of British soldiers. Several colonists were killed and this led
to a movement by writers to spark the anger of the citizens.
The presence of British troops in the city of Boston becomes more and
more unwelcome by the patriots. The riot began when about 50
citizens attacked a British guard. A British officer, Captain Thomas
Preston, called in additional soldiers, and these too were attacked. The
British soldiers fired into the mob, killing 3 on the spot (a black sailor
named Crispus Attucks, a rope maker Samual Gray, and a mariner
named James Galdwell), and wounding 8 others, 2 of whom died later.
A town meeting was called demanding the removal of the British and a
trial of British Captain Preston and his men for murder. At the trial,
John Adams and Josiah Quincy II defended the British, which ended
with their release. Samual Quincy and Robert Treat Paine were the
attorneys for the prosecution. Later, two of the soldiers were found
guilty of manslaughter.
The Boston Massacre was a signal event leading to the Revolutionary
War. It led directly to the Royal Governor evacuating the occupying
army from the town of Boston. It would soon bring the revolution to
armed rebellion throughout the colonies.
Source: Reginald Smith 2009