Who Was To Blame For The Boston Massacre Analysis

Many people misunderstood the Boston Massacre and believe it was all the British soldiers’ fault, but they would be wrong. The Boston Massacre took place on March 5th, 1770 and resulted in the deaths of 5 Colonists. Thirteen soldiers were put on trial for the murders of those five colonists, but it wasn’t all their fault. The Colonists were responsible for the Boston Massacre because they attacked the British, they were yelling fire, and they were not being truthful. The Colonists attacked the British by trying to murder a soldier, throwing snowballs, and clubs. Then the Colonists tried to look blameless by not fighting back, and not putting Crispus Attucks in the photo. But in order to understand the Boston Massacre, you need to understand the whole story. The Colonists were responsible for the Boston Massacre because they were antagonizing the British. For instance, the Colonists were trying to murder a soldier who was standing at his post. Captain Thomas Preston of Britain was there that night
William Tant, a Bostonian who witnessed the event states, “…the people still continued in the street, crying ‘fire, fire, and be damned’” (Document 2). The Colonists were shouting fire in the street which could have easily confused the British soldiers since they are taught to fire on command. Captain Preston claims that he never told or intended the soldiers to fire so he shouldn’t be the one to blame. This is portrayed when Captain Preston explains, “On my asking the soldiers why they fired without orders, they said they heard the word fire and supposed it came from me. This might be the case as many of the mob called out fire, fire, but I assured the men that I gave no such order” (Document 4). Captain Preston is holding the Colonists responsible for the soldiers firing their guns because they were the ones chanting fire in the street and the soldiers thought it was