Let's look at the facts:
On March 5 1770:
A fight broke out in Boston... |
There were Casualties...After the smoke cleared 5 colonialist were found dead and 3 injured. Among the dead were: Crispus Attucks, Patrick Carr, Samuel Gray, Samuel Maverick, and James Caldwell.
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Both sides are telling different stories.The tensions between the British troops and the colonists had been mounting for some time. A fight was inevitable...
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Now Take a Closer look at the different Stories:
The BritishClaimed that a large group of already angry colonists instigated a fight with a lone Hugh White standing sentry outside the customs house. More soldiers came out of the building to try and stop the fight but by the time they got there it was too late.
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The ColonistsA local newspaper claimed youths were walking down a street when they came across British soldiers firing at the walls. When they were asked to stop they attacked the children and a fight ensued.
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The Trials
Four civilians were arrested after they were thought to have fired guns from the windows of the Customs House. They were acquitted December 13th.
The entire 29th regiment was accused of Murder. This included their Captain, Thomas Preston. The trials didn't start until October 1770. Eventually the jury acquitted six of the eight soldiers but Hugh Montgomery and Mathew Kilroy were charge with manslaughter. Instead of death both were branded. If either were involved in any future issues their punishment would be swift and nonnegotiable. Captain Preston, was accused of giving the order to fire but was acquitted due to differing testimonies. The court official reason though that there was 'reasonable doubt'. |
How does propaganda affect events?This is an image drawn by Paul Revere it was entitled The bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770. This is a false portrayal of the actual events. Crispus Attucks, an African American sailor was among the first to fall. In this image he is not present. Why was he not present considering he was named as a hero in the revolutionary cause? Was there other motives for creating false images for the people?
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