USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Late in the afternoon of March 5, 1770, British sentries guarding the Boston Customs House shot into a crowd of civilians, killing three men and injuring eight, two of them mortally.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Boston Massacre began the evening of March 5, 1770 with a small argument between British Private Hugh White and a few colonists outside the Custom House in Boston on King Street. The argument began to escalate as more colonists gathered and began to harass and throw sticks and snowballs at Private White.

Detailed explanation-3: -Though it was no more than a riot, Americans named it the Boston Massacre to show everyone the dangers of having troops stationed among colonists. This was done mostly for freedom, and so the lives of colonial citizens would no longer be harmed.

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: -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.