Robert Tate (FIRST REPLY)
RE: Topic 4: The Boston Massacre – A Massacre or a Terrible
Tragedy?
1.
COLLAPSE
On March 5th, Monday evening, on the streets of Boston, there was a
terrible tragedy. This tragedy happens at the hands of the British soldiers
illegally quartered at the State house. The soldiers quartered at the State
house were given permission to be on those premises by Governor Bernard. Again,
this is not a legal practice and is contrary to the Magna-Carta, contrary to the Bill of Rights
where it says keeping a standing army within the kingdom during peace time is
against the law (The Anonymous account of the Boston Massacre March 5 1770
article). It is obvious after hearing the accounts by multiple people involved
that the soldiers were intent upon making problems with the people of Boston
for no apparent reason. According to sources from the street, several of the
soldiers were in the streets of Boston causing problems with locals and
injuring some of them when they decided to pick a fight at the local rope-walk.
After the soldiers were bested several times by the locals and good number of
soldiers had massed, they went about the streets abusing other locals
indiscriminately (The Anonymous account of the Boston Massacre March 5 1770
article).
It is then said, after the
soldiers, had been abusing locals, they ended up in the street armed and
confronting those locals. An altercation then ensued where the soldiers opened
fire on the locals and eleven people were either killed or injured. Locals
claim Cpt. Preston of the 29th regiment was the Officer of the
night and it is said that he gave the order for his soldiers to fire into the
unarmed crowd.
Cpt. Preston's account
of the encounter was quite different. The Captain claims that some of his
soldiers involved in the altercation at Gray's rope-walk ended with both
parties taking their share of the hurt. He also claims all was quieted for the
most part after that. Captain Preston account says he was informed that locals
were going going to plunder the King's money and murder the soldier guarding
it. A mob then attacks the soldiers with clubs and other weapons. Captain Preston's
claim is he never gave an order to fire and instead, the locals may have heard
one of the other locals give that command causing the soldiers to fire their
weapons. Shortly after that he turned himself in to the Sheriff (Captain
Preston's account of the Boston Massacre March 5 1770).
Discussion Response1
The
accounts that you have outlined are indeed correct, but I could say that
provocation ensued from both sides of the camps, the Bostonians and the British
Soldiers as well. The British soldiers had been sent to Boston to enforce the
taxation measures that the British colonial government had passed and since
there was no American representation in Boston, the soldiers were sent there to
enforce the law. There are various versions of the story, depending on who was
defending or accusing the other. First of all, the Bostonians were not happy
with the occupation of their city by about 2000 British soldiers who went about
brutalizing everyone indiscriminately. I believe that the main cause of the
Boston killings was triggered by the distaste and provocation of the people by
the ruthlessness of the British soldiers. One of the guards at the Customs,
Private White, is believed to have struck one of the protesters, Garrick
Edwards with his musket’s butt for insulting the commanding officer. The crowd
was becoming hostile and they hurled snowballs and other stuff to the soldiers.
Though unnecessary, I think the soldiers felt provoked and feared that the
angry crowd was going to attack them. We cannot ascertain that the crowd was
actually unarmed as they had other stuffs that they hurled at the soldiers, but
it is not a justification as to why the soldiers fired at the ‘unarmed’ crowd. It
is as a result of the death of the five Bostonians and the injury of other
three that the American Revolution was sparked which resulted to the expulsion
of the soldiers from Boston. This resulted into a massacre that the British
government ought to have been held responsible for as there were other ways to
tame the crowd. But the question is, what would the soldiers have done in such
a confrontation, considering the mob wanted to hurt them too?
Doggett, J., Bowdoin, J., Warren, J., &
Pemberton, S. (2010). A short narrative of the horrid massacre in
Boston: Perpetrated in the evening of the fifth day of March, 1770, by soldiers
of the 29th Regiment, which with the 14th Regiment were then quartered there :
with some observations on the state of things prior to that catastrophe.
Whitefish, Mont.?: Kessinger Pub.
17 hours ago
Natasha Piroozgar (SECOND
REPLY)
RE: Topic 4: The Boston Massacre – A Massacre or a Terrible
Tragedy?
It is with a heavy
heart that I write to my fellow Americans about the tragedy that took place
here in Boston, right outside of our homes. On March 5th, 1770 British soldiers
decided to partake in foolish and careless act at the expense of some of our
neighbors. The soldiers responsible for the murders were indeed stationed at
the state house. Although some of our fellow townspeople were causing riots and
rebelling about the British being here, that was no reason for any killings to
take place. There were better, lawful ways to handle this situation and I am
truly distraught. My heart weighs heavy for those who lost family members and
friends; for all of us for losing our neighbors.
It is true, they often
caused fights with the British soldiers and this day was like no other. A
simple, harmless fight. The British knew what the townspeople were like. They
knew that this was a daily thing. Yet, more and more British soldiers kept
arriving to the scene. The British soldiers reached out numbering totals and
continued to fight the townspeople, firing their weapons. The commander for the
British soldiers, on this day was Captain Preston. He reportedly is the one who
ordered the first shots into the crowd of protesters. He claims that both
parties (the civilians and his soldiers) had to deal with a tremendous amount
of hurt but we can all see the numbers and really understand that acts on our
people were unjust.
Discussion Response 2
I
do concur with your view of the Boston massacre and just like you sympathize
with the American people for the tragedy that happened in Boston in March 5,
1770. The accounts of the event and its repercussions could have been avoided
if the British soldiers had not provoked the Bostonians. Secondly, the Bostonians
were reckless to attack the British soldiers but at the same time, it was not a
just reason to fire at the unarmed crowd. I would say that captain Preston was
the one to blame for the massacre as he is believed to have been the one who
gave the firing order. However, how else would captain Preston have handled the
rowdy crowd who may have had the intent to kill his soldiers and storm into the
building? On the other hand, I do think that the Bostonians went too far in
hurling stones and snowballs at the soldiers thus making them panic and they
may have been trying to defend themselves from the frenzy crowd. I do agree
with you that this was a tragedy for the Bostonian victims and the claims that
the soldiers also got an equal hurt may be seen as a mockery to the families
who lost their lives. The unpopular taxation of the Bostonians was also one
reason to have the peaceful demonstrations against the British. However, this
was the first shedding of blood and the beginning of the American Revolution
which was won by the Americans in 1776 but no blood was shed at Boston ending
the eight year Boston-occupation by the British.
Boston. (2012). Short narrative of the horrid massacre in boston.
Place of publication not identified: Rarebooksclub Com.
All this brings us to
the simple conclusion that the events that took place in Boston, Massachusetts
were a flat out massacre, not a terrible tragedy. The British soldiers did not
accidentally fire their weapons. The fired their weapons with intent, intent to
kill our fellow townspeople for simply speaking their minds in the streets.
Although we carry this anger with us, I hope that we can all put that aside and
forgive these soldiers. It does not mean we have to let go of the hurt they
have caused by committing these horrible acts but we can forgive as our Lord
has forgiven us. We can go forward by doing to others as we want done to
ourselves and remember that no matter what our thoughts, God has the ultimate
judgment on these men. Although I am angry with their actions, I pray salvation
and eternal life on their souls. May God also give eternal life to the ones we
have lost.
Discussion Response 3
It
is interesting on how many angles the Boston Massacre can be looked at. To some
length, I do concur with you that this was a massacre while to some; I see it
as a tragedy for both teams. The Bostonians and the British troops were at
fault for the ensued tragedy or even massacre. However, the biggest blame would
fall on the British troops for the indiscriminate shooting. In such frenzy, it
would have been easy for the British soldiers to retaliate as a result of the
hurling of stones, snowballs and other objects. However, the ordering of
indiscriminate shooting depicts a massacre, looking from a Bostonian view,
while from the British view it was a tragedy, as they were compelled to shoot
in self-defense. How else would the Bostonians have shown that they were sick
and tired of the British oppression and mistreatment? I do conquer with you that there is need to
heal this wound by forgiving the soldiers and use the situation as a lesson for
a similar future confrontation. When comparing the two teams and the weapons
they wielded, it could then be said that this was a massacre. All in all, I
would fall in the same page with you on the issue of letting go the bitterness
and forgiving the soldiers who were involved in the tragedy.
Boston. (2012). Short narrative of the horrid massacre in boston.
Place of publication not identified: Rarebooksclub Com.
1 day ago
Zach Evanson (THIRD REPLY)
RE: Topic 4: The Boston Massacre – A Massacre or a Terrible
Tragedy?
It was a bloody heavy
hearted day in the streets of Boston. On today, March 5th the streets of Boston, Massachusetts would face tremendous
devastation. it seems as if cooler heads don't always prevail. With british troops being stationed locally to protect and
support the crown appointed colonial officials, who were called to enforce
unpopular parliamentary legislation. We all knew the relationship struggles
between the population and British soldiers were a working progress so to
speak. However, On this particular Monday evening, things would take a turn for
the worse. A mob was formed around a British sentry, who was subject to foul
language, verbal abuse, and harassment. It is reported that eight other
soldiers came to support their fellow troop. The harassment increased at a
rapid rate. The mob continued with verbal threats and began throwing snowballs
at the soldier. It was at a particular moment after, things would change
forever.
A spontaneous shot was fired into the mob crowd, killing 3 people
instantly. The soldiers continued to fire there weapons and one by one, bodies
hit the floor. It is reported up to eleven confirmed people have been killed or
severely injured. Captain Preston was the commanding officer in charge at the
time of this outrage. He reportedly ordered the shots to be fired into the
crowd of civilians and protestors. In an effort
to demonstrate the impartiality of colonial courts, two Patriot leaders, John
Adams and Josiah Quincy, volunteered to defend Captain Preston and his men.
The prosecution went on to produce little evidence and Captain Preston
and six of the soldiers were acquitted of all charges. Two other soldiers were
found guilty of manslaughter. Soldiers will be removed from Boston in the upcoming month. It is important that we
recognize the victims and all of the innocent blood that was shed today and
always remember this day, The Boston Massacre, A terrible Tragedy.
Discussion Response 4
Remembering
the Boston fatalities and the injured is a very important aspect. It is
saddening to remember the fateful tragedy that befell some of the Bostonians
leading to the death of their people and injuries. The British sentry may have
acted foolishly by shooting at the crowd, but the shooting is not justified for
it led to loss of innocent lives, or rather unarmed citizens. The action by
Captain Preston of ordering the shooting of the crowd was reckless and he
should have been held responsible. However, to the disbelief of the justice
system, he and six other soldiers were acquitted of the charges and only two
soldiers were implicated and sentenced. Really,
was the acquittal fair? It was the Captain who ordered the killings, yet two of
his junior soldiers are charged with manslaughter? Irrespective of the
injustice, the two parties would be blamed for what ensued on March 5, 1770 at
Boston. It would also mark the first drop of blood for the American Revolution.
It is good to remember the massacre and sympathize with the affected members,
but it was also the start of a great cause that changed the American history,
leading to the evacuation of British soldiers from Boston.
Doggett, J., Bowdoin, J., Warren, J., &
Pemberton, S. (2010). A short narrative of the horrid massacre in
Boston: Perpetrated in the evening of the fifth day of March, 1770, by soldiers
of the 29th Regiment, which with the 14th Regiment were then quartered there :
with some observations on the state of things prior to that catastrophe.
Whitefish, Mont.?: Kessinger Pub.
2 days ago
Robert Tate (4th
reply, these are students replying to OTHER posts)
RE: Topic 4: The Boston Massacre – A Massacre or a Terrible
Tragedy?
Dear Mr. Editor, I
read the story of what you wrote about what had happened on March 5th between
the British soldiers and the local towns people. I have a few questions about
your information. I did hear about the soldiers making problems for the locals but
I was unaware that my fellow Bostonians had decided to riot. Who started or was
leading this riot? I think we the people would like to know this because, in my
view, if that was the case then we should look into whether or not that person
or people were the root cause of what happened. Additionally, I had heard only
of eleven people total being killed or injured combined. Could you please tell
the rest of us who else was killed and/or injured? I believe both sides a part
in what happened and we should all, as a community, get to the bottom of it.
Especially since I feel like you and I heard mostly, two different versions of
this event.
-
I’m posting the thread below to which the student was replying
to.
-
5 days ago
5 days ago
Kyle Weed
RE: Topic 4: The Boston
Massacre – A Massacre or a Terrible Tragedy?
-
COLLAPSE
March 5th, was a Monday evening,
on which a horrible tragedy ripped through the streets of Boston. This massacre happened because of the
carelessness of the British soldiers
stationed at the state house. This all became about because the townspeople decided to riot against
the brutish soldiers and bring the fight to them. However
the British were egging on the locals by bothering them
for no reason at all. The locals would pick fights with the soldiers but only
the fights they could handle. They only did it when there were a few soldiers
to take on. For a while, the locals were winning. They took it upon themselves
to want to be able to finish the job. However the British crowd of soldiers grew and grew until the soldiers way outgrew the
locals and massacred them in cold blood. The first was only a little fight but
then it grew to where the soldiers opened fire on the locals murdering eleven
people and injuring others. The captain in charge that very night
was aCaptain preston and he gave the order to fire into the crowd of
unarmed people. Now there are many different ways. The account of the captain,
the one who gave the order to fire into the crowd made it seem like there was
fighting on both sides and both came away injured. There were many
instances where it would have been important to know why the
soldiers did what they did. However, the captain felt if his men were
just protecting themselves and that there were many reasons to why the
massacred as it is called became a the his
massacre. Captian also claims that within the craziness of the night
that the locals said something that his men heard as an order to fire and that
is how this all happened. because he did nothing wrong. He was
just in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, there are so many
reasons believe other accounts other than his because he
knows he was wrong but cannot admit it because he killed innocent
civilians who did nothing to deserve it. No matter whose account is right we
can come to the cyclone using that either way it was a
massacre because innocent blood was shed and there was no
need for it if only there was a little more of paying attention going
on no would have died. However, the captain turned himself
in becasue of what he had done.
-
Kyle Weed (5th reply, this is also another reply
to a student FROM a student)
-
RE: Topic 4: The Boston Massacre – A Massacre or a Terrible
Tragedy?
-
COLLAPSE
-
The Boston massacre is something that people don't always think
of as a huge moment in history. There are so many different ways
to look at the Boston massacre. Some people
beelive that it was a massacre and some believe that it was
an accident. I really like you take on this it was interesting to see it from a
different perspective. Like you said you don't really think
it about it from a perspective of a little boy or
even a citizen. And while it is horrible to see people killed and injured over
this horrible tragedy people sometimes fail to realize that this was a defining
moment in history that sometimes gets overlooked in the grand scheme of things.
There are so many times where people forget history and this is a moment
that shouldn't be forgotten. I really like the way you
portrayed it giving the reader a new perspective to see it through.
Discussion
Response 5
It
is great to looks at the Boston Massacre in two perspectives. First of all, the
Bostonians were in a riot and were confronting the British soldiers. However, I
believe that this was not a reason as to why the British soldiers should have
shot at the rioting group. I believe the riots were triggered by the injustices
the British soldiers were inflicting on Americans. First of all, they had
imposed taxes on the Bostonians; secondly, the British soldiers were reported
to have been brutalizing Americans indiscriminately. I find these compelling
reasons for the riot but I cannot find any for the shootings at the unarmed
crowd. We could argue that they were hurling stones at the soldiers, but that
does not guarantee execution of somebody. I therefore think that this was a
tragedy, but it was provoked by the Bostonians for confronting the British
soldiers with stones and snowballs, it was probable for such a tragedy to occur
when dealing with such a large crowd and when under executive orders to protect
the premises. Would you agree with me that confrontation and violence was inevitable?
Soon or later someone would have died as the Americans were ready to attain
their freedom from British insurgence.
Kjelle, M. M. (2013). The Boston Massacre.
-The
thread the student replied to.
Joseph Stewart
RE: Topic 4: The Boston Massacre – A Massacre or a Terrible
Tragedy?
There is one afternoon that Boston will never forget. It was the afternoon when
something very bad happened that killed about 5 people. This is not a big
number when talking about a type of war, but when anyone dies because they were
murdered, it is a tragedy. A young boy named Edward was stabbed, but he did not
die. You could only imagine the shock the boy was in going when this was
happening. Most people wake up in the morning with no fear or worry of danger,
but this changed Edwards life. Edward, of course, was not the only one in the
line of danger that afternoon. There was one man in the spotlight that
afternoon and his name was Captain Preston. He was there when the soldiers were
messing with the townspeople and doing what they shouldn't. He decided that he
would fire at the troops. He later was was in some kind of trouble, but he knew
that he was innocent. Why everything ends up in war or conflict is the
question. We had started a new colony and were trying to make a perfect place
to live freely and then soldiers come and harass and kill 5 and injure 6
people. Nobody asked for this to happen and it is a shame that it did. I cannot
stand to see innocent people killed or hurt, but it has been happening for
hundreds of year and it will continue into the future.
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