One evening in Boston, colonists gathered in growing resentment towards the British soldiers who enforced laws and taxation upon the colonists. Outside the Customs House, where taxes were collected, Captain Preston and his troops gathered in response to the growing group of rowdy colonists. According to Preston’s account, he stood in front of his men and tried to reason with the group of colonists when a snowball came from the crowd towards his soldiers. Immediately, one soldier fired and the shout “Fire” was heard, but Preston said it was not him. Another witness claims he did not see Preston say it, but did not rule out the possibility.
The patriots reacted passionately after this skirmish occurred, writing poems and inscribing pictures about this “Boston Massacre,” putting Preston at blame. However, according to Preston’s testimony, he was not guilty.
Clearly both sides played a part. More important than who was at fault, this incident shows the growing tension between the Colonists and the red coats before the Revolutionary War began.
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