# Boston Massacre Case Study
[TOC]

## Introduction
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The year is 1770, on March 5th an incident between American colonists and British soldiers stationed in Boston has erupted into violence leaving 5 colonists dead and 6 wounded. It is being called "The Boston Massacre". You have been assigned to the case as an independent investigator tasked with uncovering the truth behind the deadly riot and to determine if justice has been served in the subsequent trial of the British soldiers.

## ***Using this [link](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mSd2NWlGwazqVQhwSFpyj669mA_Ly6RmIfVrC1LPX2Q/edit?usp=sharing) you and your table will complete an investigative report to uncover the truth of the Boston Massacre***
### Investigative Questions to Consider:
1. How can we identify reliable sources of information?
2. Removing our feelings about what happened, what are the facts of the case?
3. What is the "burden of proof"? Is there enough evidence to convict or acquit the British soldiers in this case?
4. Is it possible to remain impartial when there is so much animosity between both sides of a situation such as this?

## Background
"Tensions ran high in Boston in early 1770. More than 2,000 British soldiers occupied the city of 16,000 colonists and tried to enforce Britain’s tax laws, like the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts. American colonists rebelled against the taxes they found repressive, rallying around the cry, “no taxation without representation.”

Skirmishes between colonists and soldiers—and between patriot colonists and colonists loyal to Britain (loyalists)—were increasingly common. To protest taxes, patriots often vandalized stores selling British goods and intimidated store merchants and their customers.

On February 22, a mob of patriots attacked a known loyalist’s store. Customs officer Ebenezer Richardson lived near the store and tried to break up the rock-pelting crowd by firing his gun through the window of his home. His gunfire struck and killed an 11-year-old boy named Christopher Seider and further enraged the patriots."
(Source: https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-massacre)

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## Eyewitness Accounts
### Charles Hobby, Boston laborer
“Between the hours of nine and ten o’clock, being in my master’s house, was alarmed with the cry of fire, I ran down as far as the town-house and then heard that the soldiers and the inhabitants were fighting in the alley… I then left them and went to King street. I then saw a party of soldiers loading their muskets about the Custom-house door, after which they all shouldered. I heard some of the inhabitants cry out, “heave no snowballs”, others cried “they dare not fire”.

Captain Preston was then standing by the soldiers, when a snow ball struck a grenadier, who immediately fired, Captain Preston standing close by him. The Captain then spoke distinctly, “Fire, Fire!” I was then within four feet of Capt. Preston, and know him well. The soldiers fired as fast as they could one after another. I saw the mulatto [Crispus Attucks] fall, and Samuel Gray went to look at him, one of the soldiers, at a distance of about four or five yards, pointed his piece directly for the said Gray’s head and fired. Mr Gray, after struggling, turned himself right round upon his heel and fell dead.” (Source: https://alphahistory.com/americanrevolution/eyewitness-accounts-boston-massacre-1770/#:~:text=I%20was%20going%20off%20to,people%20in%20general%20cried%20fire.%E2%80%9D)
### Edward Payne, a merchant injured in the shootings
“On the evening of the 5th, on hearing the bells ring, he supposed there was fire, but on going out he was informed there was not any fire, but a riot… The people round the sentinel were then crying out “Fire, fire, damn you, why don’t you fire”. Soon after, he perceived a number of soldiers coming down towards the sentinel, with their arms in a horizontal posture and their bayonets fixed…

The people before the Custom-house drew up before the door, the people who still remained in the street and about the soldiers continued calling out to them to fire. In this situation, they remained some minutes, when he heard a gun snap, and presently a single gun fired and soon after several others went off, one after another… at which time, a ball passed through the deponent’s right arm, upon which he immediately retired to the house.” (Source: https://alphahistory.com/americanrevolution/eyewitness-accounts-boston-massacre-1770/#:~:text=I%20was%20going%20off%20to,people%20in%20general%20cried%20fire.%E2%80%9D)
### Daniel Usher, Boston citizen
“Saw several persons, mostly young folks, gathered between the Town House and Coffee House, some of whom were talking to the sentinel at the Commissioners’ or Custom-house. After some time, the boys at a distance began to throw light snow-balls at him, which he seemed much enraged at and… appeared to have charged his gun, giving it a heavy stamp upon the doorstep, as if to force down the lead… and swore to the boys if they came near him he would blow their brains out.

About ten minutes after this, the deponent saw Captain Preston leading seven or eight men from towards the Town House, and placed them between the Custom-house door, and the sentinel box. About four or five minutes after they were posted, the snowballs now and them coming towards the soldiers, the Captain commanded them to fire. Upon this, one gun quickly went off; and afterwards he said “Fire by all means!” others succeeding, and the deponent being utterly unarmed, to avoid further danger, went up round the Town House till the fray was over.” (Source: https://alphahistory.com/americanrevolution/eyewitness-accounts-boston-massacre-1770/#:~:text=I%20was%20going%20off%20to,people%20in%20general%20cried%20fire.%E2%80%9D)
### Captain Thomas Preston, British soldier
“The mob still increased and were 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, God damn you, fire and be damned, we know you dare not”, and much more such language was used. At this time I was between the soldiers and the mob, parleying with and endeavouring all in my power to persuade them to retire peaceably, but to no purpose.

They [the civilians] advanced to the points of the bayonets, struck some of them and even the muzzles of the pieces, and seemed to be endeavouring to close with the soldiers. On which some well-behaved persons asked me if the guns were charged. I replied yes. They then asked me if I intended to order the men to fire. I answered no, by no means, observing to them that I was advanced before the muzzles of the men’s pieces, and must fall a sacrifice if they fired; that the soldiers were upon the half cock and charged bayonets, and my giving the word fire under those circumstances would prove me to be no officer.

While I was thus speaking one of the soldiers, having received a severe blow with a stick, stepped a little to one side and instantly fired… On this a general attack was made on the men by a great number of heavy clubs and snowballs being thrown at them, by which all our lives were in imminent danger… some persons at the same time from behind calling out “Damn your bloods, why don’t you fire”. Instantly three or four of the soldiers fired… On my asking the soldiers why they fired without orders, they said they heard the word ‘fire’ and supposed it came from me. This might be the case as many of the mob called out fire, fire, but I assured the men that I gave no such order… that my words were “don’t fire, stop your firing”…” (Source: https://alphahistory.com/americanrevolution/eyewitness-accounts-boston-massacre-1770/#:~:text=I%20was%20going%20off%20to,people%20in%20general%20cried%20fire.%E2%80%9D)
### William Sawyer, Boston citizen
“The people kept huzza-ing. Damn’ em. Daring’ em to fire. Threw snowballs. I think they hit ’em. As soon as the snowballs were thrown, and a club, a soldier fired. I heard the club strike upon the Gun and the corner man next the lane said fire and immediately fired. This was the first gun. As soon as he had fired he said “Damn you, fire”. I am so sure that I thought it was he that spoke. That next gun fired and so they fired through pretty quick.” (Source: https://alphahistory.com/americanrevolution/eyewitness-accounts-boston-massacre-1770/#:~:text=I%20was%20going%20off%20to,people%20in%20general%20cried%20fire.%E2%80%9D)
### Newton Prince, Boston citizen
“Heard the Bell ring. Ran out. Came to the Chapel. Was told there was no fire but something better, there was going to be a fight. Some had buckets and bags and some clubs. I went to the west end of the Town House where [there] were a number of people. I saw some soldiers coming out of the guardhouse with their guns and running down one after another to the Custom house. Some of the people said let’s attack the Main Guard, or the Centinel who is gone to King street. Some said for God’s sake don’t let’s touch the main guard.

I went down. Saw the soldiers planted by the Custom-house two deep. The people were calling them lobsters, daring’ em to fire, saying damn you why don’t you fire. I saw Captain Preston out from behind the Soldiers. In the front at the right. He spoke to some people. The Captain stood between the soldiers and gutter, about two yards from the gutter. I saw two or three strike with sticks on the guns. I was going off to the west of the soldiers and heard the guns fire and saw the dead carried off.

Soon after, the guard drums beat to arms. The people, whilst striking on the guns cried fire, damn you, fire. I have heard no orders given to fire, only the people in general cried fire.” (Source: https://alphahistory.com/americanrevolution/eyewitness-accounts-boston-massacre-1770/#:~:text=I%20was%20going%20off%20to,people%20in%20general%20cried%20fire.%E2%80%9D)
### Daniel Cornwall, Boston citizen
“Captain Preston was within two yards of me and before the men and nearest to the right and facing the Street. I was looking at him. Did not hear any order. He faced me. I think I should have heard him. I directly heard a voice say “Damn you, why do you fire? Don’t fire”. I thought it was the Captain’s then. I now believe it.” (Source: https://alphahistory.com/americanrevolution/eyewitness-accounts-boston-massacre-1770/#:~:text=I%20was%20going%20off%20to,people%20in%20general%20cried%20fire.%E2%80%9D)

## Samuel Adams and The Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty was a group of Boston citizens that would instigate problems between the American colonist and the British as an extreme form of protest or civil disobedience. Led by Samuel Adams, a strong opponent of British rule, the goal of this organization was to create conflict between the colonial government and the British crown. In the lead up to the trial of the Boston Massacre the group passed out misleading articles and illustrations of the events to further stoke the flames of dissent between the colonists and the occupying British forces.

***Use this [link](https://www.history.com/news/sons-of-liberty-members-causes) for more information on the Sons of Liberty.***

## Identify The Propaganda
Can you spot the differences between these two pictures and why the Sons of Liberty depiction is considered propaganda?
### Sons of Liberty Depiction of the Events

### Accurate Depiction of the Events
## John Adams and the Boston Massacre Trial
Due to the growing hatred and violence against the British and loyalists it was nearly impossible for the British soldiers to find representation for the Boston Massacre trial. Ironically, John Adams, the cousin of Samuel Adams and a local lawyer, decided it was his duty to defend the innocent regardless of his feelings about the British government and their occupation of Boston.

- **[Read this article](https://www.history.com/news/boston-massacre-trial-john-adams-dan-abrams) for a greater understanding of John Adams and his decision to defend the British soldiers.**
- **[Read this article](https://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-16-1-a-john-adams-and-the-boston-massacre-trials) to see the results of the trials.**

## The Verdict is in!
Now that you and your group have the full story of the Boston Massacre you must submit your findings to Google Classroom.