Boston’s Freedom TrailBoston’s Freedom Trail

One of our One of our favoritefavorite Sons of Sons of LibertyLiberty

The initials on the coffins are those of massacre victims:Samuel Gray

Samuel MaverickJames CaldwellCrispus Attucks

They are missing Patrick Carr (he died after this newspaper was printed)(Library of Congress, American Memory Collection)

The site of the BOSTON MASSACREThe site of the BOSTON MASSACRE

Paul Revere’s Engraving of the Boston Massacre

What REALLY What REALLY Happened?Happened?

The “Massacre” of March 5, 1770 began as a The “Massacre” of March 5, 1770 began as a quarrel between a whig-makers apprentice quarrel between a whig-makers apprentice ((Edward GarrickEdward Garrick) and a British Officer () and a British Officer (Captain Captain Lieutenant John GoldfinchLieutenant John Goldfinch).).

Garrick accussed Goldfinch of not paying his Garrick accussed Goldfinch of not paying his master’s bill (for the wig). master’s bill (for the wig).

A British soldier (A British soldier (Hugh WhiteHugh White) got in on the ) got in on the discussion and said that Goldfinch was a good discussion and said that Goldfinch was a good man/gentleman and he would pay for it.man/gentleman and he would pay for it.

Garrick responded that there were Garrick responded that there were no good menno good men left in his regimentleft in his regiment

White got angry with this statement and struck White got angry with this statement and struck the young apprentice with the butt of his rifle in the young apprentice with the butt of his rifle in his earhis ear

Garrick howled for help and returned with a Garrick howled for help and returned with a large and unruly crowdlarge and unruly crowd

What Really Happened IIWhat Really Happened II Someone rang the bells of a nearby church Someone rang the bells of a nearby church

drawing MORE people to the scenedrawing MORE people to the scene ------------------ White called for backup and was joined by White called for backup and was joined by

his his Captain John PrestonCaptain John Preston Crowd swelled (Accounts say 40-60, some Crowd swelled (Accounts say 40-60, some

say 400…)say 400…) Chunks of snow, ice, sticks, rocks, oyster Chunks of snow, ice, sticks, rocks, oyster

shells were flung at the soldiersshells were flung at the soldiers Taunting by calling the British “Lobsters” Taunting by calling the British “Lobsters”

and other derogatory namesand other derogatory names The unruly colonists continued to get closer The unruly colonists continued to get closer

to the British soldiers…They antagonized to the British soldiers…They antagonized the British by saying things like “Come on the British by saying things like “Come on you rascals, you bloody backs, you lobster you rascals, you bloody backs, you lobster scoundrels, fire if you dare…”scoundrels, fire if you dare…”

Soon, after a confusion of snowballs, ice Soon, after a confusion of snowballs, ice chunks, and coal rained down on the chunks, and coal rained down on the

British soldiers, someone shouted "fire" British soldiers, someone shouted "fire" and five Americans were fatally and five Americans were fatally wounded.  Trial testimony never wounded.  Trial testimony never

definitively answered the question of who definitively answered the question of who shouted "fire" and who fired the fatal shouted "fire" and who fired the fatal

shots.  In 1949, however, with the long-shots.  In 1949, however, with the long-delayed publication of notes of Thomas delayed publication of notes of Thomas

Hutchinson, it was revealed that Hutchinson, it was revealed that Montgomery admitted to his lawyers that Montgomery admitted to his lawyers that

it was he who started the Boston it was he who started the Boston Massacre.  Hit in the chest and knocked Massacre.  Hit in the chest and knocked to the ground by a club wielded by one of to the ground by a club wielded by one of the rioters, Montgomery responded, he the rioters, Montgomery responded, he

said,  by shouting "Damn you, fire!"  said,  by shouting "Damn you, fire!"  Montgomery fired first, then the other Montgomery fired first, then the other

soldiers followedsoldiers followed.. {Courtesy of University of Kansas Law School }{Courtesy of University of Kansas Law School }

AftermathAftermath

When all was said and done:When all was said and done:-Crispus Attucks (Native American -Crispus Attucks (Native American and African descent)and African descent)-Samuel Gray-Samuel Gray-James Caldwell-James Caldwell-Samuel Maverick-Samuel Maverick-Patrick Carr-Patrick Carr

**Were dead.**Were dead.

Boston Massacre Boston Massacre AftermathAftermath

John Adams John Adams defendeddefended British soldiers on British soldiers on trial for the massacre (One trial for trial for the massacre (One trial for Captain Preston – October 1770. Another Captain Preston – October 1770. Another trial for soldiers- December 1770)trial for soldiers- December 1770)

Preston and 6 of the British soldiers were Preston and 6 of the British soldiers were declared innocent declared innocent

2 of the British soldiers were declared 2 of the British soldiers were declared guilty of manslaughter;guilty of manslaughter; Branded on their thumbsBranded on their thumbs Discharged from military serviceDischarged from military service

The massacre served as ‘anti-British’ The massacre served as ‘anti-British’ propaganda propaganda Fear struck in the hearts Fear struck in the hearts of the colonistsof the colonists

Facts about the Facts about the Boston Tea Boston Tea PartyParty

It occurred between 7 and 10 pmIt occurred between 7 and 10 pm 90,000 POUNDS of tea in 342 containers were thrown overboard90,000 POUNDS of tea in 342 containers were thrown overboard Each container had a weight of up to 400 poundsEach container had a weight of up to 400 pounds ONE MILLION DOLLARS worth of tea was estimated to have ONE MILLION DOLLARS worth of tea was estimated to have

been destroyedbeen destroyed The ships were named the Dartmouth, the Eleanor and the The ships were named the Dartmouth, the Eleanor and the

BeaverBeaver It happened at Griffin’s Wharf in Boston which no longer exists It happened at Griffin’s Wharf in Boston which no longer exists

due to landfills that occurred in the 19due to landfills that occurred in the 19thth century century George Hewes; a Boston shoemaker recalls the event:George Hewes; a Boston shoemaker recalls the event:

““We then were ordered by our commander We then were ordered by our commander to open the hatches and take out all the to open the hatches and take out all the chests of tea and throw them overboard…chests of tea and throw them overboard…In about three hours from the time we In about three hours from the time we went on board, we had thus broken and went on board, we had thus broken and thrown overboard every tea chest to be thrown overboard every tea chest to be found on the ship, while those in the other found on the ship, while those in the other ships were disposing of the tea in the ships were disposing of the tea in the same way, at the same time”- George same way, at the same time”- George HewesHewes

The End!The End!