ID: 76114 Paper Type: Pages:

ID: 76114 Paper Type: Pages: 3 Topic: Boston Massacre Citation Style: MLA Bibliography: 4 Due: 2007-04-23 18:00:00 Worth: $27.00

Info: Who won the battle. Who were the key players Were there any casualties Cause and effect: what event led to this battle and what event resulted from this battle How did the battle contribute to the revolution. Boston Massacre

In 1770 increasing hostility and tension between the British military and Boston colonial civilians triggered an event that would be a spark that turned the colonists into patriots that would oppose British rule. The Boston Massacre was not necessarily a battle, but an inciting incident that Paul Revere was able to turn into a piece of propaganda against the British. It was thus a key event leading up to the Revolutionary War. The Boston Massacre was instigated by a smaller series of events taking place in a much bigger picture. There was tension between the American colonist and the British in the spring of 1770 (The Library of Congress 2007). The events of March 5th were thus of a much smaller consequence that turned into a historically significant event. The Boston Massacre was instigated by a young apprentice Edward Garrick who called to a British Officer that he was late paying a bill. Garrick continued to yell, and when called over to the customs house, Garrick was hit on the head by the British private outside. "Within minutes an unruly crowd of young men surrounded Montgomery and began hurling insults such as 'Bloody lobster back!'" (LINDER 2001). The crowd continued to grow and snowballs were thrown at the British soldier, Montgomery. Reinforcements were called for and more soldiers were called outside. The crowd of Bostonians jeered the British soldiers and threw snowballs at them (The Library of Congress 2007). More and more gathered to provoke the soldiers and sailors and dockworkers came and got directly in front and After Montgomery was hit with a club, supposedly someone yelled "fire" and the soldiers fired into the crowd. It was admitted that Montgomery told his lawyers that he started the Boston Massacre by yelling "Dan you, Fire!" as he fired and the other soldiers followed (LINDER 2001). The result was the death of four civilians, the first one Crispus Attucks, an African American sailor who would "become the first hero of the American Revolution" (The Library of Congress 2007). He was the most widely known victim. Another civilian died a few days after the events of March 5th. It appears that on the surface the British soldiers won this battle over the unruly colonists by being the only ones to inflict casualties. However, in the events that ensued after the Boston Massacre, in becomes apparent that the Bostonians were the true winners. The major players in this conflict, Garrick, Montgomery, and Attucks gave way to key players who had an impact in the ensuing events that let to a greater consequence of the battle known as the Boston Massacre. The Boston Massacre was caused by increased tension between the British government trying to control the colonies and raise taxes, and it only took one unruly colonist to turn into many more inciting a response from the British that would have lasting consequence on the American future. The Boston Massacre became a key contributor the revolution. The event in Boston "helped to unite the colonies against Britain" (The Library of Congress 2007). As an inciting event, it gave a direct reason for the colonists to oppose British imposition on their lives. This minor incident turned in a deadly attack that gave way to the beginning of the American Revolution. This is because another key player emerged that helped to spread the anti-British sentiment and contribute to the resulting action from the Boston Massacre. This player was Paul Revere, who 21 days after the Boston Massacre began selling color prints entitled, "The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street" (Achieving Early America). By selling the prints so quickly, Paul Revere cemented his status as an American Patriot and helped to spread the events of the Boston Massacre that went on to lead America towards independence. His engraving is very one sided in its depiction of the Boston Massacre, as it shows the British Redcoats ordered by a commander to mow down a group of Bostonians. However, historical accuracy was not Revere's primary concern. He instead wanted to spread the incident to the world and help to instigate a united colonial front against the British rule in the colonies. It is argued that "by popularizing the tragic event, Paul Revere's print became 'the first powerful influence in forming an outspoken anti-British public opinion,'" which makes Revere and important player in the event and the effects of the Boston Massacre (Achieving Early America). The Boston Massacre also spawned other key players in the ensuing events. Samuel Adams rose to be a patriot that demanded the British the British to leave. On March 6, 1770, he formed a committee to petition for the removal of British troops from Boston (LINDER 2001). He continued by promoting anti-British propaganda, and like Revere, used the event to further the colonial opposition to British rule. The Boston Massacre thus triggered John Adam's rise to well known patriot. The trial of the soldiers resulted in two being accused of manslaughter and six acquitted, which angered Samuel Adams. But his cousin, John Adams, defended the soldiers and although he faced criticism for his actions, John Adams considered it important and necessary to preserve American integrity by his proper defending of the soldiers (LINDER 2001). He would go on to be Vice President and America's second President, was he was able to overcome the initial public opposition to his defending of the British. In the end, the Boston Massacre was an early and leading inciter to the eventual American Revolution. It was a historical event that reflected the growing tension of the time and was a spark that led to a much greater flame was put into the hands of anti-British American colonialists. While the British soldiers may appear to have won the battle and succeeded in the ensuing trial, it was the anti-British American colonialists who clearly benefited from this event as it helped to ensure that the British impositions in Boston would not go ignored. Works Cited "Boston Massacre a Behind-the-Scenes Look At Paul Revere's Most Famous Engraving." Achieving Early America. 24 Apr. 2007 .