Colonists Reactions To The Boston Massacre

Colonists’ Reactions to the Boston Massacre The Boston Massacre has become a well known event leading to the United States’ independence. However, the reaction of the colonists was inflated throughout the history books. Colonists that were not close to those who perished during this “massacre” were not immediately affected by this event. However, the Patriots saw this event as an opportunity for a rallying cry against the British. The Patriots brought the colonists together to eventually push for independence. The British themselves were not trying to disturb the poor lower classes because they knew that those people would be harder to maintain the peace of. The Boston Massacre ultimately had a great effect on all of those living in the colonies. In reality, the killing of five people was not a massacre. However, by calling this event the

Boston Massacre, the colonists were able to portray the British in a negative light. It helped bring more sympathy and support to the colonial cause. The colonists used this to their advantage. (MRKIRSCHNER & MKOREN, 2015)

However, most of the colonists were in grievance over the gentlemen that died in that “massacre”. John Adams words at the funeral of Christopher Seider said the following “This shows there are many more lives to spend, if wanted, in the service of their country. It shows… that the ardour of the people is not to be quelled by the slaughter of one child” (Thompson, Oct 2015). Although Seider was not a part of the Boston Massacre he was the first American to die for the cause of the American Revolution. At just eleven years of age Seider was a hero according to a report at his funeral “all the friends of Liberty may have an opportunity of paying their last respects to the remains of this little hero and first martyr to the noble cause” (Thompson, Oct