Boston Massacre Research Paper

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The Boston Massacre

This is Tyair Sallam, reporting live from Boston, in position to inform news upon the Boston "Bloody" Massacre across the colonies. The British had repealed almost all of the Townshend Acts! The repeal of the Townshend Acts brought peace and stability to the colonies, but only temporarily. Colonist newspapers portrays the British as tyrants, "lobster backs", who are willing to kill people who stood up for their rights. Bostonians referred to the British troops stationed there as "lobster backs" due to the red coats they wore. As violence against customs officers in Boston upraised, Britain dispatched roughly 1,000 troops to the city of Boston to maintain order. Twenty minutes later, the troops had killed or wounded 11 people. …show more content…

Captain Preston claimed guards came to and informed him that the town inhabitants were assembling to attack the troops and went toward the Custom House where the king's money is lodged. A crowd of colonists began taunting and throwing snowballs at a British solider guarding the Custom House. Captain Thomas Preston stated that the mob increased and were more outrageous, striking their clubs or bludgeons one against another, and calling out come on you rascals, you bloody backs, you lobster scoundrels, fire if you dare. His call for help brought Captain Thomas and a squad of soldiers. "The officer on guard was Captain Preston, who was with seven or eight soldiers, with firearms and charged bayonets...", statement mentioned by Samuel Drowne [a witness]. Samuel Drowne also stated, "There was much foul language, between them, and some of them, in consequence if his pushing at them with his bayonet, threw snowballs at him, which occasioned him to knock hastily at the door of the Custom House". Crowds constantly heckled and harassed the troops. "They immediately surrounded the sentry posted there, and with the clubs and other weapons threatened to execute their vengeance on him...", statement given by Caption Thomas Preston. In the midst of the tumult, the troops began firing into the

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