Teach
03-05-2017, 10:03 AM
Pushing. Shoving. Heckling. Menacing. Jostling. March, 2017? No, 1770. Today is the anniversary of “The Boston Massacre,” March 5, 1770.
In those days, 247 years ago, on what was then King Street in Boston, a taunting crowd of agitated bystanders began harassing the British squad of soldiers who were guarding The Customs House (The British regulars, much to the dismay of most in the crowd, had been quartered in Boston since 1768). The crowd, estimated at its height to be between three and four-hundred, began shouting, “Bloody-backs!” “Lobster-backs!” all the while hurling snowballs and stones at the British soldiers.
Well, push came to shove. The British fired a volley of musket-shots into the crowd. Three members of the crowd died instantly, two others would die later.
At the trial (the British were defended by John Adams, future president, and Josiah Quincy), eight British soldiers, including Capt. Thomas Preston, were accused of manslaughter. Six British soldiers, including Preston, were acquitted. Two others were found guilty and were given “a slap on the wrist”. The two were branded on the thumb with the letter “C” (the “C” stood for clergy). That meant they could read the Bible. They were then released.
In retrospect, one thing is for certain. This violent incident served as a rallying point for American patriots. Patriot leaders organized a funeral procession for the five who were killed. Paul Revere produced a vivid engraving showing the British soldiers mowing down the citizens of Boston. In subsequent years, there were re-enactments.
In hindsight, was this this event that started The American Revolution? Some will says it was. Others say it was: The Boston Tea Party. While others will say it was: Concord & Lexington. Still others: the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Whatever your opinion. About a dozen years later, America was a free and independent nation.
In those days, 247 years ago, on what was then King Street in Boston, a taunting crowd of agitated bystanders began harassing the British squad of soldiers who were guarding The Customs House (The British regulars, much to the dismay of most in the crowd, had been quartered in Boston since 1768). The crowd, estimated at its height to be between three and four-hundred, began shouting, “Bloody-backs!” “Lobster-backs!” all the while hurling snowballs and stones at the British soldiers.
Well, push came to shove. The British fired a volley of musket-shots into the crowd. Three members of the crowd died instantly, two others would die later.
At the trial (the British were defended by John Adams, future president, and Josiah Quincy), eight British soldiers, including Capt. Thomas Preston, were accused of manslaughter. Six British soldiers, including Preston, were acquitted. Two others were found guilty and were given “a slap on the wrist”. The two were branded on the thumb with the letter “C” (the “C” stood for clergy). That meant they could read the Bible. They were then released.
In retrospect, one thing is for certain. This violent incident served as a rallying point for American patriots. Patriot leaders organized a funeral procession for the five who were killed. Paul Revere produced a vivid engraving showing the British soldiers mowing down the citizens of Boston. In subsequent years, there were re-enactments.
In hindsight, was this this event that started The American Revolution? Some will says it was. Others say it was: The Boston Tea Party. While others will say it was: Concord & Lexington. Still others: the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Whatever your opinion. About a dozen years later, America was a free and independent nation.