American Revolution in Massachusetts

Boston Massacre Memorial, Boston Common

Incident
British soldiers fired into a mob on King Street, killing 5 and injuring 6 others.

Causes
British soldiers had been stationed in Boston since 1768 to protect and support officials whose job it was to enforce the unpopular Townshend Acts, which levied taxes on items imported to the colonies from England. The presence of the soldiers came to be resented by many over time, causing a great amount of tension between the soldiers and the locals.

Private Hugh White was on guard duty outside the Custom House when he got into an altercation with Edward Garrick, a young wigmaker’s apprentice. After White struck Garrick in the head with his musket one of Garrick’s companions began arguing with him. The argument drew an increasingly large crowd to the area and White eventually found himself surrounded by an agitated mob, and sent runners to get reinforcements from the nearby barracks. Seven soldiers and an officer arrived to support him and all were subjected to verbal harassment and had various small objects thrown at them. The crowd refused to disperse when ordered and when one soldier was knocked down after an object struck him, the soldiers fired into the crowd despite not receiving any command to do so.

Effects
Three civilians were killed instantly, two more would later die of their injuries. Crispus Attucks, supposedly the first to be killed, was of African and Native American descent and would later become an icon in the abolitionist movement.  Eight soldiers, one officer, and four civilians were arrested and charged with murder. John Adams represented the soldiers during the trial. Six soldiers were acquitted; two were convicted of manslaughter and given reduced sentences, which included branding on their hands. The civilians were all acquitted.

The event was heavily propagandized by some of the leading Patriots almost immediately, in order to draw support to the anti-British cause. Massacre Day was observed in Boston on the anniversary of the incident from 1771 until 1783. In modern times, reenactments are organized by the Bostonian Society nearly every year on or near the anniversary.