USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Boston Massacre was a street fight that occurred on March 5, 1770, between a “patriot” mob, throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks, and a squad of British soldiers. Several colonists were killed and this led to a campaign by speech-writers to rouse the ire of the citizenry.

Detailed explanation-2: -The other soldiers began firing a moment later, and when the smoke cleared, five colonists were dead or dying-Crispus Attucks, Patrick Carr, Samuel Gray, Samuel Maverick and James Caldwell-and three more were injured.

Detailed explanation-3: -Most of the soldiers ended up being acquitted, including Thomas Preston, who was found innocent because he never ordered the shots. Two soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter, and their hands were branded with “M” as their punishment. The incident fueled the anger of colonists like Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.

Detailed explanation-4: -On March 5, 1770, a crowd confronted eight British soldiers in the streets of the city. As the mob insulted and threatened them, the soldiers fired their muskets, killing five colonists.

Detailed explanation-5: -More than 2, 000 British soldiers occupied the city of 16, 000 colonists and tried to enforce Britain’s tax laws, like the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts. American colonists rebelled against the taxes they found repressive, rallying around the cry, “no taxation without representation.”