Boston Massacre Dbq

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On March 5, 1770 There was a shooting in Boston where british soldiers killed 5 colonists known as the boston massacre. Document D is Captain thomas preston going on trial for murder after the boston massacre. The boston massacre was not a massacre because there were only 4 colonists killed with other colonists attacking british troops with clubs. The soldiers were later put on trial for murder of the colonists even though most reliable sources say colonists fought back. With both sides fighting against each other it would be a brawl rather than a massacre. The first reason the event was not a massacre is because during the shooting only 4 colonists were killed. By definition this is not enough people to killed to be called a massacre …show more content…
This would make it more of a brawl rather than a massacre where it would be innocent people killed unjustly. The evidence that supports the subclaim is In document D when captain preston says, “They immediately surrounded the sentry (guard) posted there, and with clubs and other weapons threatened to execute their vengeance on him.”. This quote is preston describing what the colonists were doing and stating the fact that they had clubs. This evidence supports the subclaim because it shows the colonists were originally threatening the british and the british were just defending. It also shows how the british were not the ones to start the fight instead they finished it.

The boston massacre was not a massacre because both colonists and british soldiers were fighting against each other. After hearing of quotes from captain preston who was at the boston massacre it is clear it was a brawl or fight. The boston massacre was important because it can teach us to not repeat history and settle things much more efficiently. It can also show how people back then in the 1700s most likely altered the truth creating propaganda. Clearly the boston massacre was no massacre but was that we can all learn