Five colonists were shot dead in Boston in which locals are now calling a “massacre.” This incident occurred after protests and riots erupted over the Townshend acts, which are tariffs placed upon manufactured British goods imported into the 13 colonies.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives sent a petition to King George III asking for him to repeal these acts. They additionally encouraged other colonists to protest these acts, claiming they were a violation of their rights. Many colonists are under the belief that the King is unfairly taxing them, and they have no ability to argue against these taxes due to a lack of representation in the British parliament.
The actual incident occurred at the Boston Custom House on King Street when a large crowd gathered around and started taunting and yelling at the British soldiers stationed outside. The colonists allegedly started throwing objects at the British soldiers.
People at the scene reported the objects to be “snowballs” and potentially other small objects such as “rocks and pebbles.” Eventually, the British soldiers fired into the crowd killing five people and injuring several others.
Crispus Attucks, 47, Samuel Gray, 52, James Caldwell, 17, Samuel Maverick, 17 and Patrick Carr, 30, are among those killed by the British soldiers.
Many citizens of Boston expressed their concerns to the Antagonist that the slaughter of the five colonists may lead to a revolution.
