BOSTON MASSACRE
by Kristi Meacham
When the British first arrived in Massachusetts on October of 1768 the people of Boston started to culminate tension against them. The Bostonians treated them as invaders and taunted them through name calling, spitting, fighting, etc. Bostonians gained control of the soldiers and kept them from doing work. During the next 18 months tension mounted between the colonists and the soldiers. Some say the Boston Massacre is a direct result of the Townshend Act.
On March 5, 1770, Captain Thomas Preston led his soldiers to the Customs House (the office in which the soldiers went to state what jobs they have done). They were met by angry civilians who were chanting "Fire and be damned!!". Preston tried to order his men "Don't fire!!", but through all the commotion the soldiers couldn't hear him and opened fire into the crowd killing three men instantly, with another two dying later. Another five were wounded but not killed.
The trial for Captain Preston was held on October 24-30, 1770. He was tried for murder in Boston. The future US president John Adams defended Preston and acquitted him of the charges. He was able to prove that Preston did not command the soldiers to fire into the crowd. His trial was separated from the soldiers due to the fact that he was a captain.
The trial for the soldiers occurred on November 27- December 14, 1770. Like Preston's trial, theirs was delayed by 8 months after incident so that emotions could cool down. The soldiers were also tried for murder. The result was that 6 soldiers were acquitted on the grounds of self defense, but 2 were found guilty of manslaughter because of the overpowering evidence that they fired into the crowd.
The two soldiers found guilty of manslaughter were punished by having M's branded onto their thumbs. The punishment would have been more severe except the soldiers (to escape execution) prayed the "benefit of the clergy". The benefit of the clergy was used in medieval times for people who could read. Clergyman were accepted into a court and the soldiers had to read Psalm 51, verse 1 out of a bible. That was known as the "neck verse" because if they read the verse correctly their necks were saved. If they read it correctly they would not die but they might still be punished. The M's were branded on their thumbs so that if they were ever tried for anything again they could not use the benefit of the clergy.
My opinion on all the facts I have presented to you is that the Boston Massacre was very interesting. One of my favorite things to research was the benefit of the clergy because it was so interestingly unfair. It is certainly not unfathomable to me that people were unfair like that. Another interesting thing was that the Bostonians were treating the soldiers so poorly and the soldiers were being treated poorly by Britain also. They weren't being payed enough and so they had to find other jobs and not many people were willing to hire them. All in all I am glad that I had this topic.
On March 5, 1770, Captain Thomas Preston led his soldiers to the Customs House (the office in which the soldiers went to state what jobs they have done). They were met by angry civilians who were chanting "Fire and be damned!!". Preston tried to order his men "Don't fire!!", but through all the commotion the soldiers couldn't hear him and opened fire into the crowd killing three men instantly, with another two dying later. Another five were wounded but not killed.
The trial for Captain Preston was held on October 24-30, 1770. He was tried for murder in Boston. The future US president John Adams defended Preston and acquitted him of the charges. He was able to prove that Preston did not command the soldiers to fire into the crowd. His trial was separated from the soldiers due to the fact that he was a captain.
The trial for the soldiers occurred on November 27- December 14, 1770. Like Preston's trial, theirs was delayed by 8 months after incident so that emotions could cool down. The soldiers were also tried for murder. The result was that 6 soldiers were acquitted on the grounds of self defense, but 2 were found guilty of manslaughter because of the overpowering evidence that they fired into the crowd.
The two soldiers found guilty of manslaughter were punished by having M's branded onto their thumbs. The punishment would have been more severe except the soldiers (to escape execution) prayed the "benefit of the clergy". The benefit of the clergy was used in medieval times for people who could read. Clergyman were accepted into a court and the soldiers had to read Psalm 51, verse 1 out of a bible. That was known as the "neck verse" because if they read the verse correctly their necks were saved. If they read it correctly they would not die but they might still be punished. The M's were branded on their thumbs so that if they were ever tried for anything again they could not use the benefit of the clergy.
My opinion on all the facts I have presented to you is that the Boston Massacre was very interesting. One of my favorite things to research was the benefit of the clergy because it was so interestingly unfair. It is certainly not unfathomable to me that people were unfair like that. Another interesting thing was that the Bostonians were treating the soldiers so poorly and the soldiers were being treated poorly by Britain also. They weren't being payed enough and so they had to find other jobs and not many people were willing to hire them. All in all I am glad that I had this topic.
Towns people: "Stop the taxes!!!" Captain Preston: "Hold Fire!!!" Soldiers: "Fire?"
QUESTIONS
1. How many people were killed instantly?
1. 5
2. 3
3. 7
2. Who defended Captain Preston during his trial?
1. John Adams
2. Abraham Lincoln
3. George Washington
3. What was the punishment for the two soldiers convicted of manslaughter?
1. They were sent to prison.
2. They lost the right to be soldiers.
3. M's were branded onto their thumbs.
1. How many people were killed instantly?
1. 5
2. 3
3. 7
2. Who defended Captain Preston during his trial?
1. John Adams
2. Abraham Lincoln
3. George Washington
3. What was the punishment for the two soldiers convicted of manslaughter?
1. They were sent to prison.
2. They lost the right to be soldiers.
3. M's were branded onto their thumbs.