Early in the C17th, Puritans were leaving Europe for the American colonies, centred in New England and soon the Puritans were able to control most of the colonies' activity there. Each war or colonial expansion left Britain’s finances struggling, so new taxes were levied to bolster the treasury. Alas for Boston, British King George III and Parliament taxed the colonies without representation. So when resistance emerged, locals gathered at Boston’s Old Meeting House to challenge British rule.
British infantry men
The British needed facilities. Boston Common was bought in 1634 as a militia training field and later British soldiers used the Boston Common as their camp. And a brick, two storey Faneuil Hall was rebuilt in Georgian style in 1763. Its first floor served as a market place and the second floor contained a large hall used for meetings.
The British needed facilities. Boston Common was bought in 1634 as a militia training field and later British soldiers used the Boston Common as their camp. And a brick, two storey Faneuil Hall was rebuilt in Georgian style in 1763. Its first floor served as a market place and the second floor contained a large hall used for meetings.
Regiments of British troops occupied Boston in Sept 1768, after citizens had resisted British taxes levied on goods like tea and paper to pay for the costly French and Indian War. Sent to enforce these taxes and keep the peace, the 1000 soldiers were heavily resented by Bostonians as an affront to their local autonomy. From the beginning of the occupation, conflicts periodically flared up between British soldiers and townspeople, and by early 1770, fights had become regular. The presence of Irish and black British soldiers occupying Boston further inflamed white, Protestant Bostonians, many of whom held slaves and had fought against French Catholics in the French and Indian War.
On 5th March 1770, clashes between locals and soldiers broke out across Boston. This Boston Massacre was a turning-point in relations between Americans and British authorities. British Capt Thomas Preston soon arrived at the scene with six grenadiers and formed a semicircle in front of the square, fully armed. And as the church bells pealed, more citizens filled the streets to join in and hurled rubbish at the British. Suddenly a projectile hit the rifle of one grenadier Private Hugh White, causing him to mistakenly discharge his musket. As a crowd began to gather, shouting insults and throwing snowballs, White called for reinforcements. Other grenadiers shot into the crowd as people ran for cover but 5 townspeople were killed.
On 5th March 1770, clashes between locals and soldiers broke out across Boston. This Boston Massacre was a turning-point in relations between Americans and British authorities. British Capt Thomas Preston soon arrived at the scene with six grenadiers and formed a semicircle in front of the square, fully armed. And as the church bells pealed, more citizens filled the streets to join in and hurled rubbish at the British. Suddenly a projectile hit the rifle of one grenadier Private Hugh White, causing him to mistakenly discharge his musket. As a crowd began to gather, shouting insults and throwing snowballs, White called for reinforcements. Other grenadiers shot into the crowd as people ran for cover but 5 townspeople were killed.
After the shooting, Capt Preston ordered his soldiers to retreat, fearing retribution. The crowd continued to grow, with some Bostonians attending to the wounded and others brought muskets anticipating a wider fight. Preston soon ordered much of the 29th Regiment to the Custom House.
Gov Thomas Hutchinson, senior British administrator in Massachusetts Bay, feared that endless thousands of colonists would flood into Boston to expel the British regiments from town. Indeed important Bostonians demanded the troops’ removal immediately. Seeking to pacify the locals, Hutchinson arrested Capt Preston and the grenadiers, and demanded a trial.
Gov Thomas Hutchinson, senior British administrator in Massachusetts Bay, feared that endless thousands of colonists would flood into Boston to expel the British regiments from town. Indeed important Bostonians demanded the troops’ removal immediately. Seeking to pacify the locals, Hutchinson arrested Capt Preston and the grenadiers, and demanded a trial.
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Old State House, Boston
The cobblestone ring in front marks the site of the massacre
Word of the massacre was unhappily received in London. America-supporters in Parliament expressed a minority view when they urged the withdrawal of soldiers from Boston, but the opposite occurred - more soldiers were sent to the mutinous colonies. Parliament hoped that more British aggression would succeed.
When the final negotiations failed, Samuel Adams gave the signal that started the Boston Tea Party Dec 1773. The Sons of Liberty led the way, dumping hundreds of chests of tea into Griffin's Wharf harbour. To punish the locals for the Tea Party, British soldiers destroyed the pews and pulpit in Old South. When tensions began to rise again in 1773 and 1774, Bostonians responded more forcibly than in 1770.
Paul Revere’s wooden house, where he lived from 1770-1800, was built in North Square Boston. Here he did his famous patriotic night ride, to warn the Lexington and Concord residents of the British Redcoats. Patriot's Day is celebrated in the state to remember those events. With its huge front gate, the Granary Burying Ground was the site for notable Revolutionary people, including 3 signers of the Declaration of Independence: John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine and Samuel Adams. Also Paul Revere, Peter Faneuil and the Boston Massacre victims.
The grenadiers stood trial in Boston, well defended by future Pres John Adams. Only two of the soldiers were found guilty, and both eventually received light punishments. Thus the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party provided two of the issues that sparked revolutionary feelings and solidified the threat of British military occupation in Bostonians’ minds.
British forces actually arrived in Boston in May 1775. In June, colonial soldiers were sent onto the Charlestown Peninsula to occupy Bunker Hill. This became the first major battle of the American Revolution (1775–1783), reinforcing local desire for independence from the British crown.