Boston: The Power Keg of the American Revolution 8.4a Analyze causes of the American Revolution, including mercantilism, (the Stamp Act, Tea Act, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, writs of assistance, quartering of troops, and the Intolerable Acts.) 8.4b Explain the roles played by significant individuals during the revolutionary period, including Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, King George III, Thomas Jefferson, Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Paine, and George Washington. 8.13c Analyze the causes and effects of economic differences among different regions of the United States at selected times in U.S. history.
Background Following the Townshend Acts and colonial protests, British officials felt that they were losing their colonies troops arrived in Boston in the fall of 1768.
Tensions rise The British soldiers were poorly paid, and they took off duty jobs in Boston Harbor, for less pay than colonists.
Colonists grow even angrier, yelling insults at the soldiers in the street. Lobsters for sale! Go back to Britain! Bloody redcoat! Bloody, no good, YANKEE!
Tensions boil over In front of the Custom House, on March 5, 1770, Crispus Attucks and fellow dock workers, were insulting a soldier QUIT TAKING OUR JOBS! Quit being an idiot!
More soldiers show up, led by Captain Prescott, to control the crowd, that is growing rapidly. Many new arrivals are bringing clubs.
Prescott yells at his men to hold their fire, and tells the crowd to leave and go home. Someone throws a large stone, hitting a soldier in the head.
The soldiers raise their guns as a show of force, hoping the colonists disperse. Prescott repeats his order not to fire.
Someone in the crowd yells... FIRE!!
Crispus Attucks and four others lay dead
The Sons of Liberty Respond The Sons of Liberty are quick to publish their account of the events, which they call “the Boston Massacre.” Paul Revere created the etching to the right.
Massacre Defined by Webster’s dictionary as a “wholesale slaughter” Is this accurate to what happened in Boston?
Prescott on trial Prescott and his men were arrested and put on trial for murder. John Adams (cousin of Samuel Adams and future 2 nd president of the USA) defended them in court. The law should be deaf to the clamors of the populace.
Not guilty? Thanks to the defense of John Adams, the jury found Prescott and his men not guilty. They believed that they acted in self defense.
Compare and Contrast Using what you know about the Boston Massacre, which of these two pictures do you believe is most accurate? What makes your choice more accurate than the other? Picture APicture B