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Examples Of What Really Happened At The Boston Massacre

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What Really Happened At The Boston Massacre?
Over the course of centuries, disputes amongst people have been prevalent throughout American history. As a result of the human tendency to disagree with each other, outburst of wars, massacres, and riots often occurred. An example of this is Boston Massacre, in which took place over two centuries ago, on March fifth, 1770. The Boston Massacre, also referred to as the Incident on King Street was a street fight that broke out between colonial residents and British Soldiers. One of the most common misconceptions about this event, roots form it's name. The Boston Massacre was not truly a massacre, in fact it only resulted in five deaths. It was more of a chaotic riot that arose from enraged colonist. …show more content…

Also, some witnesses claim to have heard Captain Preston give the order to fire. As Benjamin Burdick noted in his deposition in source C, he asked one of the British soldiers if he would fire. The soldier’s response was yes, followed by an intimidating push towards Burdick with his bayonet. Evidently, Preston had previously arranged plans for his soldiers to fire at the colonist, which may prove his guilt. The soldier would not have responded yes unless, this was an order given by the captain, before hand. They were fully aware of the consequences that came along with disobeying a captain’s order. In order to avoid punishments, soldiers were often obedient and loyal to their …show more content…

But many witness statements are biased and unreliable due to the amount of chaos during the time of the event. Peter Cunningham asserts he's pretty positive Captain Preston told the soldiers to prepare and fire (Cunningham Source C). However, giving an order to prepare to fire is completely from an order to actually fire. Surrounded by about 100 others yelling “fire”, Wyatt and the British soldiers claim to he have heard Preston’s order (Source B & C). This claim is highly implausible. How would they be able to distinguish Captain Preston’s voice, amongst several others yelling the exact same word, in a riot? Also, it was very dark and several people were moving around. It is not assured that Person, whom they believe has Preston was actually

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How Did Captain Thomas Contribute To The Boston Massacre

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Personal accounts from Daniel Cornwall and Matthew Murray show that Preston did not give any order. Murray testified that “[he] heard no order given… [and] was looking at the Captain when the [gun] was fired” (Matthew Murray). Cornwall attested “[he] was within two yards of [Preston]… [and] was looking at him [but did] not hear any order”

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Captain Thomas Preston: Necessary Or Justified?

1400 Words | 6 Pages

The reality of what truly happened that night are ambiguous; some witnesses claim that Captain Thomas Preston ordered the soldiers to fire into the crowd while others say that he did not. After reviewing the testimonies given by witnesses, it is unquestionable that Captain Thomas Preston was innocent since witnesses place the Captain in the front of the soldiers, one of the soldiers is observed being hit by an object resulting in his firing of the first shot and

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How Is Thomas Prestons Guilty

672 Words | 3 Pages

Many people were left dead. Many witnesses of the Massacre have stated that indeed it was Mr. Preston who ordered his soldiers to fire. According to Daniel Calef, “…Heard

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Thomas Preston: Innocent Or Guilty In The Events Of The Boston Massacre

1366 Words | 6 Pages

Clearly, multiple people physically saw the face of Mr. Preston or was standing in nearly the same space and those very people adamantly testified that he did not call the commands to fire but rather some unknown individual did. It would be rather hard to believe that Preston really did say the words to fire when multiple

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Boston Massacre Quotes

177 Words | 1 Pages

The Boston Massacre was not called ‘The Boston Massacre’ at first. The original name, was in fact the ‘State Street Massacre’. Another name they had called it was the ‘Bloody Massacre on King Street,’ and Paul Revere was the one who had originally called it the ‘Bloody Massacre on King Street.’ Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott all played a major role in The Boston Massacre. Paul Revere went down in History as the one to ride his horse around the Boston and warn people the British were coming.

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Crispus Attucks A Symbol For The Boston Massacre

447 Words | 2 Pages

The Boston Massacre was a very important event that happened in American history. It took place on the evening of March 5,1770. The Boston Massacre led to the American Revolution. My Monument will represent the musket that shot a black man named Crispus Attucks. Crispus Attucks was a symbol for abolitionists.

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Eyewitness Testimonies In The Boston Massacre

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Preston’s account of the incident further elaborates on the the mob which, with their weapons and taunts, was obviously a threat. Preston clearly states that he felt that he and his soldiers were in

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Captain Thomas Preston: The Boston Massacre

408 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout our lives, we drive tough times and empower the goods. We learn and examine events of history that we never picture could happen in our life. These Historical events teach us lessons that stick with us until the very last day. The Boston Massacre left many casualties and people wounded.

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Civil War: The Bloody Massacre

330 Words | 2 Pages

On March 5th 1770, British Soldiers shot and killed five colonists and injured 10 of them. The tragic event was nicknamed “The Bloody Massacre”, but the colonists were at fault because they were the ones that provoked the soldiers, they attacked the soldiers, and they created a chaotic scene. First reason why the colonists were at fault is because they are the ones that provoked the soldiers. (Paragraph 2 of page 155 from the book United States History Colonization through Reconstruction written by Michael B. Stoff and James West Davidson) “A crowd gathered…colonists shouted insults.”

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The Boston Massacre: Self-Defense Or Self Defense?

158 Words | 1 Pages

he infamous street fight that took place in Boston, Massachusetts is referred to as The Boston Massacre. The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770. The riot started when a few young boys began to throw stones and rocks at British soldiers who were guarding the Customs House. The crowd around the boys started to grow larger and larger, and then people from the crowd begun to join the boys, throwing ice at the soldiers and taunting them. The soldiers then fired, killing five colonists.

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The Boston Massacre: The Incident On King Street

735 Words | 3 Pages

The Boston Massacre is an event most Americans and British students learn about over the course of their education. In America, we learn that British soldiers fired upon innocent civilians, although this may not have been the case. British historians have referred to the Boston Massacre as the "Incident on King Street". After looking over the "Captain Thomas Preston 's Account of the Boston Massacre", as well as "Boston Massacre Trial Depositions" I believe that American historians should refer to the "Boston Massacre" as the "Incident on King Street". The definition of a massacre refers to an unnecessary and random killing of a large number of individuals.

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Essay On The Boston Massacre

558 Words | 3 Pages

The Boston Massacre was a street fight that occurred on March 5, 1770, between a “patriot”. They were throwing sticks, snowballs, and trash at a group of British troops. The loyalists got very annoyed with the patriots so they shot into the mob killing five. The riot began when around 50 colonists attacked a British sentinel. A British officer called in for additional troops

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Boston Massacre Dbq

659 Words | 3 Pages

He has been labeled as an accountable witness that was there from beginning to end. He watched them leave from their post and walked behind them all the way down to the Customs House where there were plenty of colonist gathered. Most of Wyatt’s statement relates back to what Paul Revere depicted in his etching. However, Revere forgot to add the part where the colonist was provoking the situation. According to the statement that Wyatt gave, “lads had sticks in their hands, laughing, shouting, huzzaing, and crying fire” (Document 5.6, 154).

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The Boston Massacre: The Cause Of The American Revolution

764 Words | 4 Pages

If the following events didn’t take place we wouldn’t have America. In my opinion the Boston Massacre was one of the very main causes to why the Road to Revolution took place. The reason I believe this was an important cause because it was, “ the first episode which resulted in the loss of life.” It is stated that, “Four Bostonians were killed when Redcoats fired into an angry mob.”

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What Are The Long Term Causes Of The American Revolution

625 Words | 3 Pages

The Boston Massacre took place on March 5th, 1770. During the Boston Massacre the colonies decided to take action and attack a group of british soldiers. This was the start of the protest as the British were becoming aware of the american colonists act of interrogation. Later on on December 16th, 1773 the Boston Tea party had occurred. The American colonist were not pleased to find out that they were only allowed to buy tea from the british.

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