Essay On The Boston Massacre

480 Words2 Pages

The Boston Massacre, which took place in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 5, 1770, is a crucial event in American history. This occurrence was crucial to America's independence from Great Britain. Boston was a significant colonial location at the time and was governed by the British. To enforce the taxes levied on the colonies, the British placed troops in Boston. The colonists did not particularly like having the soldiers around since they felt oppressed by the British. The Boston Massacre was an important event that led up to America’s independence.

Tensions between the colonists and British soldiers peaked on the day of the Boston Massacre. A group of colonists started making fun of the soldiers and hurling snowballs at them. Things quickly …show more content…

Five people were killed when British soldiers opened fire on a group of unarmed colonists. Since they lacked weapons, the colonists posed little danger to the soldiers. The colonists were even more enraged by the British soldiers' use of lethal force. The Boston Massacre was viewed as a manifestation of British tyranny and a violation of the liberties of the colonists.

Another incident that occurred prior to the American Revolution was the Gaspee affair, which shares many characteristics with the Boston Massacre. A British ship named the Gaspee patrolled the waterways of Rhode Island to enforce British regulations and levies. A party of colonists from Rhode Island boarded the Gaspee in June 1772, seized the crew, and set fire to the vessel. Similar to the Boston Massacre, the Gaspee event was perceived as an act of resistance against British power.

The Gaspee affair and the Boston Massacre are two instances of colonial resistance to British power. These occasions contributed to the colonies' resistance to British oppression and ultimately resulted in their independence from Great Britain. The increasing sentiment for independence from Great Britain was influenced by the colonists' rage during the Boston Massacre and the Gaspee