BOSTON MASSACRE

by Scott C. Waring


BOSTON MASSACRE:

The Boston Massacre may be called the thing that started the greater event of the American independence, the Boston Tea Party. What led to this event was the general feeling of anger growing in the colonies towards the unfair tax collectors of the England. This handful of officials had taken all powers of the England upon themselves, and was collecting taxes in the name of England. These officials refused to send the money to England. Instead they kept it for themselves.

Also, there was a law called, the Stamp Act, which was famous for its bad name. The settlers had a very strong hatred towards this Act. When the colonists rose to fight, the British congress changed the Act in a letter, but kept its meaning. It made the Townshend Duties. This was a change over the earlier Stamp Act. It put tax money on all things coming into America. So, the Stamp Act had not changed.

Just when the dust seemed to have settled over the problem, the Boston Massacre happened. It changed the whole problem. It encouraged new fighting against the England, and made the way for the settlers to make an event of greater importance, the Boston Tea Party. There was some fighting against the Townshend Act, when ships carrying imported wine were taken from the ships owner. They took the ship because the owner of the ship did not want to pay taxes.

On March 5, 1770, as the people were waiting for a chance to fight, a group of boys had an argument with a single guard of at a customs house in Boston. The guards became very angry. They were led by Capt. Thomas Preston. The guards picked up their rifles and shot at the boys. In the shooting, five settlers, including a Black, were killed. Iin the trial that, the person most responsible, Capt. Preston was let go. He was defended by the brilliant lawyer, John Adams. Adams became the second president of the United States of America.