Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was one of the most important events that have ever taken place in Colonial America. It sparked the start of the Revolutionary War, which caused many of those loyal to Britain to rally with those who wanted freedom, and it was considered a turning point for many colonists, to fight the British. Life back then was hard. The colonists had tried to rebel and as a result; the British Parliament passed many acts that negatively affected the colonist’s everyday lives. Some of these acts were the Townshend Acts. They were passed as a means of generating income for colonial administration. The Townshend acts placed taxes on paper, lead, paint, and tea imported into the colonies. A boycott engineered by the colonists …show more content…
At the end of March 1770, just three weeks after the Boston Massacre, a grand jury indicted Captain Preston and his Soldiers as well as four civilians accused Murder for firing from the window of the Customs House into the crowd. If the soldiers were found guilty, each could face the death penalty. Their trial was delayed eight months before it finally took place. At trial Captain Preston and his soldiers still could not find a legal representative counsel as they approached several lawyers without success. John Adams agreed to head their defense and be their attorney. Captain Preston was tried and found not guilty of murder. The eight soldiers accused of murder were tried separately from Captain Preston. Six of the eight soldiers were found not guilty on the grounds of self defense. The other two soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter because of evidence they fired into the crowd. As their punishment, the two soldiers were branded on their thumbs and discharged from the military permanently.
Even though Captain Preston and his men were found not guilty, the Revolutionary War had already begun. Many of the Loyalists, the people who were loyal to Britain, had already sided with the Patriots, the people who wanted freedom. The Patriots then rebelled against Britain even more, they went to war with them, a war that would soon be known as the Revolutionary War. After many battles were fought, and many men from both sides had died, the patriots eventually won the Revolutionary
The Boston Massacre was one of the most important events that have ever taken place in Colonial America. It sparked the start of the Revolutionary War, which caused many of those loyal to Britain to rally with those who wanted freedom, and it was considered a turning point for many colonists, to fight the British. Life back then was hard. The colonists had tried to rebel and as a result; the British Parliament passed many acts that negatively affected the colonist’s everyday lives. Some of these acts were the Townshend Acts. They were passed as a means of generating income for colonial administration. The Townshend acts placed taxes on paper, lead, paint, and tea imported into the colonies. A boycott engineered by the colonists …show more content…
At the end of March 1770, just three weeks after the Boston Massacre, a grand jury indicted Captain Preston and his Soldiers as well as four civilians accused Murder for firing from the window of the Customs House into the crowd. If the soldiers were found guilty, each could face the death penalty. Their trial was delayed eight months before it finally took place. At trial Captain Preston and his soldiers still could not find a legal representative counsel as they approached several lawyers without success. John Adams agreed to head their defense and be their attorney. Captain Preston was tried and found not guilty of murder. The eight soldiers accused of murder were tried separately from Captain Preston. Six of the eight soldiers were found not guilty on the grounds of self defense. The other two soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter because of evidence they fired into the crowd. As their punishment, the two soldiers were branded on their thumbs and discharged from the military permanently.
Even though Captain Preston and his men were found not guilty, the Revolutionary War had already begun. Many of the Loyalists, the people who were loyal to Britain, had already sided with the Patriots, the people who wanted freedom. The Patriots then rebelled against Britain even more, they went to war with them, a war that would soon be known as the Revolutionary War. After many battles were fought, and many men from both sides had died, the patriots eventually won the Revolutionary