Crispus Attucks (center in this illustration) is believed to have been the first person killed in the Boston Massacre.

Illustration by Shane Rebenschied; Ross Warner/Alamy Stock Photo (Red Coats); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)

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Common Core: RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, RH.6-8.9, WHST.6-8.4, WHST.6-8.9, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, RI.6-8.9, W.6-8.4, W.6-8.9, SL.6-8.1

NCSS: Time, Continuity, and Change • Individuals, Groups, and Institutions • Power, Authority, and Governance • Global Connections

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FLASHBACK

The Road to Revolution

Trouble was brewing in Boston more than 250 years ago—and it would forever change the course of history.

March 2022
By Tricia Culligan

Click here to take a Prereading Quiz before you read this article.

As You Read, Think About: Why did the colonists want independence?

On February 22, 1770, a cold wind whipped through Boston, Massachusetts. But the bitter chill didn’t stop an angry mob from gathering outside a local shop that was selling British goods. Among the protesters was 11-year-old Christopher Seider. 

A man named Ebenezer Richardson lived near the shop. He was a loyalist—a colonist who was loyal to King George III of Great Britain. Richardson tried to break up the protest, but the crowd quickly turned against him. They yelled and hurled stones as they chased him into his home. 

Moments later, a gunshot rang out—Richardson had fired into the crowd. Christopher fell to the ground and died later that night. His death would help spark the American Revolution (1775-1783)—and lead to the formation of a new nation.

On February 22, 1770, a cold wind whipped through Boston, Massachusetts. But the bitter chill did not stop an angry mob from gathering outside a local shop that was selling British goods. Among the protesters was 11-year-old Christopher Seider. 

A man named Ebenezer Richardson lived near the shop. He was a loyalist. That means he was a colonist who was loyal to King George III of Great Britain. Richardson tried to break up the protest. But the crowd quickly turned against him. They yelled and hurled stones. They chased him into his home.

Moments later, a gunshot rang out. Richardson had fired into the crowd. Christopher fell to the ground and died later that night. His death would help spark the American Revolution (1775-1783) and lead to the formation of a new nation.

Rising Tensions 

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

At the time of Christopher’s death, Massachusetts was one of the 13 American Colonies ruled by Great Britain (see map, right). Seven years earlier, in 1763, the British had won a long war against France, and years of fighting had left Britain with a huge amount of debt. To raise money, the British imposed a series of taxes on the colonists, who were charged extra fees for goods such as sugar, glass, tea, and paper.  

Many colonists were outraged. After all, they had no representatives in the British government and therefore no say in such taxes. Their rallying cry became “No taxation without representation!” Many colonists were fed up with what they said was the king’s tyranny. Why should they have to answer to someone who had never set foot in America?

To help enforce its taxes and other unpopular policies, Britain sent troops to the Colonies in 1768. About 2,000 soldiers were stationed in Boston—a city of about 16,000 people—where they were supposed to help keep the peace. Instead, there were constant arguments in the streets between soldiers and the townspeople who rejected British rule—known as patriots. To protest the taxes, many colonists also boycotted goods shipped from Britain and harassed merchants who ignored the boycotts—like the owner of the shop where Christopher had been protesting.

At the time of Christopher’s death, Massachusetts was one of the 13 American Colonies ruled by Great Britain (see map, right). Seven years earlier, in 1763, the British had won a long war against France. Years of fighting had left Britain with a huge amount of debt. To raise money, the British imposed a series of taxes on the colonists. Colonists were charged extra fees for goods such as sugar, glass, tea, and paper.

Many colonists were outraged. They had no representatives in the British government, so they had no say in such taxes. Their rallying cry became “No taxation without representation!” Many colonists were fed up with what they said was the king’s tyranny. Why should they have to answer to someone who had never set foot in America?

To help enforce its taxes and other unpopular policies, Britain sent troops to the Colonies in 1768. About 2,000 soldiers were stationed in Boston, a city of about 16,000 people. The soldiers were supposed to keep the peace. Instead, there were constant arguments in the streets between soldiers and the townspeople who rejected British rule—known as patriots. To protest the taxes, many colonists also boycotted goods shipped from Britain. And they harassed merchants who ignored the boycotts, like the owner of the shop where Christopher had been protesting.

“Breaking Point”

News of Christopher’s death spread across Boston like wildfire. Thousands of people came together to grieve at a huge public funeral. That grief quickly turned to anger—and pushed hatred of the British to dangerous new levels.

“In Boston, things were at a breaking point,” explains historian Nat Sheidley.

Violence would erupt again on March 5, 1770, about a week after the funeral. On that cold, moonlit night, a teenage boy shouted insults at a British soldier, who responded by striking the boy with his musket. 

Soon, a mob gathered and began throwing ice, snowballs, and stones at the soldier. More British troops arrived, but they were badly outnumbered. Then suddenly—bang! In the scuffle, one of the soldiers fired his gun into the crowd. After a few seconds of shocked silence, more soldiers fired. In all, five colonists were killed.

News of Christopher’s death spread across Boston like wildfire. Thousands of people came together to grieve at a huge public funeral. That grief quickly turned to anger. And it pushed hatred of the British to dangerous new levels.

“In Boston, things were at a breaking point,” explains historian Nat Sheidley.

Violence would erupt again on March 5, 1770. That was about a week after the funeral. It was a cold, moonlit night. A teenage boy shouted insults at a British soldier. The soldier responded by striking the boy with his musket.

Soon, a mob gathered and began throwing ice, snowballs, and stones at the soldier. More British troops arrived. But they were badly outnumbered. Then suddenly—bang! In the scuffle, one of the soldiers fired his gun into the crowd. There were a few seconds of shocked silence. Then more soldiers fired. In all, five colonists were killed.

The Boston Massacre was a turning point in the colonists’ fight for independence.

No Looking Back

That incident, which became known as the Boston Massacre, was a key turning point in the colonists’ fight to be free from British rule.

“Afterward, there was no way to make peace within the British Empire,” says Sheidley.

Indeed, tensions with Britain continued to build over the next five years. In 1775, the first shots of the American Revolution were fired at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. The colonists’ long fight for independence had officially begun—and a new nation would soon be born.

That incident became known as the Boston Massacre. It was a key turning point in the colonists’ fight to be free from British rule.

“Afterward, there was no way to make peace within the British Empire,” says Sheidley.

Indeed, tensions with Britain continued to build over the next five years. In 1775, the first shots of the American Revolution were fired, at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. The colonists’ long fight for independence had officially begun—and a new nation would soon be born.

 SKILL SPOTLIGHT: Comparing Primary Sources 

Two Takes on the Boston Massacre 

Within days of the events in Boston on March 5, 1770, British soldiers and American colonists each raced to tell their version of the confrontation. The British soldiers often blamed the colonists for the violence. However, many of the colonists—who had long been angry about British rule—saw things differently. To them, the soldiers were the ones at fault. The two documents below offer different perspectives on the Boston Massacre. Consider how each portrays that event, then answer the questions that follow.

Account From Captain Thomas Preston, a British Commander

On April 28, 1770, the British newspaper The London Chronicle published an article explaining the incident from the perspective of Captain Thomas Preston, a British commander. Captain Preston was the leader of the soldiers who patrolled Boston at the time. 

On April 28, 1770, the British newspaper The London Chronicle published an article explaining the incident from the perspective of Captain Thomas Preston, a British commander. Captain Preston was the leader of the soldiers who patrolled Boston at the time. 

“... I saw the people in great commotion, and heard them use the most cruel and horrid threats against the troops. ... They immediately surrounded the sentinel A posted there, and with clubs and other weapons threatened to execute their vengeance upon him. I was soon informed by a townsman [that] their intention was to carry off the soldier from his post and probably murder him. ... I immediately sent a non-commissioned officer B and twelve men to protect both the sentinel and the King’s money C, and very soon followed myself, to prevent, if possible, all disorder. ... They soon rushed through the people, and, by charging their bayonets D in half circle, kept them at a little distance. ... The mob still increased and were more outrageous, striking their clubs or bludgeons, one against the other and calling out, ‘Come on you rascals, you bloody backs, you lobster E scoundrels; fire if you dare. ...’"

“... I saw the people in great commotion, and heard them use the most cruel and horrid threats against the troops. ... They immediately surrounded the sentinel A posted there, and with clubs and other weapons threatened to execute their vengeance upon him. I was soon informed by a townsman [that] their intention was to carry off the soldier from his post and probably murder him. ... I immediately sent a non-commissioned officer B and twelve men to protect both the sentinel and the King’s money C, and very soon followed myself, to prevent, if possible, all disorder. ... They soon rushed through the people, and, by charging their bayonets D in half circle, kept them at a little distance. ... The mob still increased and were more outrageous, striking their clubs or bludgeons, one against the other and calling out, ‘Come on you rascals, you bloody backs, you lobster E scoundrels; fire if you dare. ...’"

A This is another word for a watchman or a guard.

B This term refers to a low-level officer, such as a sergeant.

C The confrontation took place near a building called the Custom House, where money belonging to the British government was stored.

D A bayonet is a long knife that is attached to the end of a firearm and used as a weapon in battle.

E British soldiers were sometimes referred to as “lobsters” because of their red uniforms.

A This is another word for a watchman or a guard.

B This term refers to a low-level officer, such as a sergeant.

C The confrontation took place near a building called the Custom House, where money belonging to the British government was stored.

D A bayonet is a long knife that is attached to the end of a firearm and used as a weapon in battle.

E British soldiers were sometimes referred to as “lobsters” because of their red uniforms.

Questions

1. According to Preston, what did the colonists do to the British troops?

2. How does Preston describe the colonists’ actions? Include at least two examples.

3. How does Preston’s account compare with the description of the events in the article above?

1. According to Preston, what did the colonists do to the British troops?

2. How does Preston describe the colonists’ actions? Include at least two examples.

3. How does Preston’s account compare with the description of the events in the article above?

Account From Paul Revere, a Colonist

About three weeks after the Boston Massacre, a prominent colonist named Paul Revere began distributing this engraving of the confrontation. The image was widely circulated throughout the Colonies—and helped fuel animosity toward the British and increase support for independence.

About three weeks after the Boston Massacre, a prominent colonist named Paul Revere began distributing this engraving of the confrontation. The image was widely circulated throughout the Colonies—and helped fuel animosity toward the British and increase support for independence.

Shutterstock.com (Paper); via Wikipedia (Engraving)

A The engraving is titled “The Bloody Massacre.”

B This building is the Custom House, but Revere has labeled it “Butcher’s Hall.” How might that have influenced public opinion at the time?

C These are the names of the people killed or wounded in the confrontation.

A The engraving is titled “The Bloody Massacre.”

B This building is the Custom House, but Revere has labeled it “Butcher’s Hall.” How might that have influenced public opinion at the time?

C These are the names of the people killed or wounded in the confrontation.

Questions

1. Describe what is happening in this engraving.

2. Who are the attackers in this scene? Who are the victims? How can you tell? Cite specific details in the image as evidence.

3. How does this scene differ from the one described by Preston in The London Chronicle? When studying history, is it important to examine multiple perspectives of an event? Why or why not?

1. Describe what is happening in this engraving.

2. Who are the attackers in this scene? Who are the victims? How can you tell? Cite specific details in the image as evidence.

3. How does this scene differ from the one described by Preston in The London Chronicle? When studying history, is it important to examine multiple perspectives of an event? Why or why not?

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U.S. History

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