Boston Massacre Research Paper

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The Boston Massacre, which took place on March 5, 1770, was a pivotal event in American history that contributed to the growing tensions between the American colonists and the British government. The incident occurred when British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists in Boston, killing five people and injuring several others. The question of who was at fault for the Boston Massacre has been a topic of debate for centuries, with opinions varying on whether the blame lies with the British soldiers or the American colonists. In order to understand the events leading up to the Boston Massacre, it is essential to examine the historical context in which it occurred. In the years leading up to the incident, tensions between the American colonists and the British government had been steadily rising. The British …show more content…
On the other side, the British soldiers stationed in Boston also played a crucial role in the events leading up to the Boston Massacre. The soldiers were sent to the colonies to maintain order and enforce British laws, but their presence was met with hostility from the colonists. The soldiers were often involved in confrontations with the colonists, leading to escalating tensions between the two groups. The actual events of the Boston Massacre are still debated to this day, with conflicting accounts of what transpired on that fateful night. According to some eyewitnesses, a group of colonists began taunting and harassing the British soldiers, throwing snowballs and debris at them. In response, the soldiers fired into the crowd, leading to the deaths of five colonists. Others argue that the British soldiers acted in self-defense, claiming that they were provoked by the hostile actions of the colonists. Captain Thomas Preston, the officer in charge of the British soldiers, maintained that his men had only fired in response to being threatened by the