Research Paper On The Boston Massacre

On March 5, 1770 a specific event took place that had impacted many lives. This event is known as the Boston Massacre. The Boston Massacre was considered to be a street fight that took place when a mob started to throw snowballs, stones and sticks at a squad of British soldiers. In the end, five colonists resulted in death. This was caused by the developing tensions in the American colonies that had been growing ever since the Royal troops had first appeared. I believe that the Boston Massacre was an act of self-defense. I say this because, the British soldiers’ lives were under threat and had to use equal force. In addition, a massacre is when many are killed and it consists of an innocent/defenseless side. In the Boston Massacre, both sides were not defenseless. This was not murder either because, this event was not planned or was meant to happen. The British soldiers weren’t intending to kill these colonists. Lastly, manslaughter wouldn’t be reasonable because, the British soldiers killed these colonists in act of defense/protection.
Self-Defense means the defense of one's person or interests, especially through the use of physical force. Self-Defense involves when
another side is the aggressor, coming at you. Also, it’s to use equal force when a person feels their life is under serious danger/threat. During the Boston Massacre, the colonists were the ones that had approached the British troops. They began this tragedy with the throwing of sticks, snowballs and stones. The British troops had no intention to kill at the beginning, but needed to do what had to be done in order to maintain their safety. The troops had felt their lives were under threat, and had to defend themselves. It started off with a mob of colonists that had intentionally surrounded the British soldiers. They started to holler threats and throw things. These British soldiers, decided that eventually their lives would be put at risk if they had not attempted to do anything. They opened fire and ended up killing five colonists and injuring others. However, this was not because they wanted to in the first place. The colonists were the ones who were putting the troop’s lives at threat and they needed to do something. This was an act of self-defense; not massacre, murder or manslaughter.
Adding onto the previous reason, both sides were not defenseless. They both could have easily injured one another. This being said, it was not a “massacre”. Massacres are when many people ranging from hundreds through thousands are killed. This incident had only killed 5 colonists. It was also not planned or had consisted of a side which was completely innocent. I can prove this because, if the British troops had intended to kill the colonists- they would’ve done it earlier and killed many more. They killed these colonists because, it could’ve put their lives at serious risk if they hadn’t. Thus, acting in the right of self-defense.
I believe that the Boston Massacre was an act of self-defense.
I say this because, self-defense is the defense of one’s person or interests, especially through the use of physical force. What took place on March 5, 1770 is an example of self-defense. The British troops were under serious threat by a mob of colonists who were throwing various things and screaming threats at them. In result, the British troops acted by opening fire and ended up killing five colonists. This clearly shows that the British soldiers had to take action and defend themselves. This shooting was not planned and had only took place because of how the colonists behaved. There are endless reasons why this event was an act of self-defense rather than a massacre, murder or manslaughter. Boston Massacre? More like Boston
Self-Defense!