The Boston Massacre.

History grade 7
Objectives
We will talk about the events leading up to the American revolution.

The Boston Massacre was a bloody incident in the American History that created
anti British sentiment among the colonists.

Sentiment: feeling
Boston on the map
The British Crown tries to raise revenues.
After the Seven Years War against the French the British coffers were drained. The
government in Britain imposed tighter controls on North American colonies to raise revenues
(money, income).
However, custom officials found it difficult to to collect taxes, as the colonists were
becoming increasingly disobedient.
Britain is sending troops to Boston.
Britain sent troops to Boston to impose order. The arrival of British soldiers in 1768
heightened already existing tensions.
Over the next two years Boston existed in a state of virtual British military occupation.
One in three men was a redcoat (nickname for British soldier).
In March 1770 British officials ordered the removal of all occupants of the Manufactory
House in Boston, so it would be used as a garrison for British soldiers.The Manufactory
House was a shelter for ill and homeless people. The residents of the shelter put up
fierce resistance.
Locals confronted the army and at some point they managed to single out a British
soldier. They started throwing snowballs and sticks at him, his panicked comrades
rush to his rescue and when push came to shove they open fire at unarmed
civilians.
Five Bostonians were killed and several others were wounded.
Victims of the Boston Massacres

Among the victims was Crispus Attucks. A sailor of

African and Native American descent, and free man.
Who’s gone down as the first casualty of the
American Revolution.
The public was outraged, Boston Gazette, a Bostonian newspaper published an image of the massacres
which intensified anti British sentiment.
Pro British loyalists promoted an alternative narrative accusing the agitators in the
crowd of deliberately provoking British troops to open fire.
Your Opinion:

In your opinion, was the Boston Massacre really a massacre? Who do you think was at fault
for the incident?
Glossary
Casualty: injured, harmed

Confront: put up a fight

Justify: prove that something is right

Intensify: become stronger

Loyalist: someone who doesn’t question policy or the government

Agitators: rebel

push came to shove: urgent situation

Repeal a law: revoke, take it back