Important Facts About the Boston Massacre That You Need to Know

The Boston Massacre was a significant pre-revolutionary conflict that took place on March 5, 1770. In this fight, British soldiers killed many people while being attacked by a mob in Boston. British troops invaded the city and fired at the mob, and killed five American civilians. It was known as a bloody riot that occurred on King Street in Boston. It started as a street skirmish between the US and a British soldier which turned into a chaotic slaughter. The fight encouraged anti-British predilection and rooted for the American Revolution. What happened after the Boston Massacre. Here are the most important 1770 Boston Massacre facts to expand your history knowledge.

What was the Boston Massacre?

The Boston situation was filled with tension in early 1770. Over 2000 British troops seized the city of 16,000 colonists and attempted to execute British tax laws such as Townshend Acts and Stamp Act. US colonies protested against the taxes they discovered. These laws could restrict their freedom, “no taxation without representation.” A clash between soldiers and colonists and also between patriot colonies and colonists loyal to Britain (loyalists) appeared common. To fight against taxation, people destroyed stores that sell British goods and also threatened shopkeepers and their customers. 

A mob of patriots damaged a loyalist’s shop on February 22. Ebenezer Richardson, a customs officer who lived close to the shop, tried to disperse the crowd by firing a gunshot through the window of his home. His gunfire killed an 11-year old boy Christopher Seider that made the patriots angry. After some days, a riot broke out against the local workers and British soldiers. It ended any bloodshed but contributed to the bloody incident that was yet to come.

What Caused the Boston Massacre?

The heavy military troops were entered that caused tension in Boston following the Townshend Acts that was implemented in 1767. The Townshend Acts were tax laws on paper, tea, glass, lead, and paint. The tax was increased to fund the salaries of judges and governors to maintain their loyalty to Great Britain. The colonies were against the law and opposed the increase of tax that violated their rights. Protests began in Boston and the British soldiers let their troops enter the city to maintain the rule in their colonies. Clashes between British soldiers and colonists occurred regularly following the Boston Massacre.

Who Won the Boston Massacre?

On March 5, 1770, The Boston Massacre started in the evening with a simple discussion between British Private Hugh White and colonists near the Custom House in Boston on King Street. As a result of the argument, people gathered and started to throw sticks and snowballs at Private White. Soon, it became a big fight, captain Preston appeared and tried to disperse the crowd. Unfortunately, someone threw an object from the crowd, hit one of the soldiers, and knocked him down. He fired a shot that made the crowd silent and other soldiers were also fired into the crowd. Three colonists were killed and two more died later who were in critical conditions. How did the Boston Massacre end? Following the incident, the crowd dispersed. 13 people were arrested. British troops were eliminated from the city.

Unknown Facts about Boston Massacre

• It began as a street fight.
• More Than 4,000 British troops invaded the city among 20,000 residents.
• The tax increase caused tension in the city.
• During the victim’s funeral, half of the population of Boston attended.
• One of the victims turned into an anti-slavery icon.
• The Boston Massacre was depicted in the engraving by Paul Revere.
• The Boston Massacre is reenacted every year.
• Benjamin Franklin predicted the incident in 1768.