The Boston Massacre P2

Last week I talked about the Townshend Acts (1767), which placed additional taxes on common items the colonists imported from Britain that the Americans believed was more taxation without consent or representation and opposed it.

Samuel Adams authored the official response of the Massachusetts legislature, calling the Acts a violation of the “natural and constitutional rights” of the Americans. That document urged a return to the principle of local control of taxation and called for the other states to boycott the newly taxed goods.

British officials ordered Massachusetts to retract its response, but by a 92-17 vote, the legislature rejected that demand. Crown-appointed Governor Francis Bernard then dissolved the legislature, resulting in widespread protests from citizens. The British sent several regiments of soldiers to Boston, believing this show of force would quell tensions, but it had the opposite effect.

In March of 1770, a British soldier on patrol along Boston’s King Street heard a young American insult a British officer. In response, the soldier smacked him on the head with his musket. When the boy cried out in pain, citizens rushed to investigate. Tempers mounted and insults were exchanged. The growing crowd began to throw rocks at the soldier, daring him to shoot them. When word of the altercation reached British Captain Thomas Preston, he dispatched several soldiers, who ran toward the crowd with fixed bayonets. They formed a defensive line and barked orders at the assembly.

Content Sourced From The American Story: The Beginnings by David Barton and Tim Barton.