The Boston Massacre
...he first act that was passed by the British Government was the Sugar Act. This act, passed by parliament in 1764, laid down tariffs on certain imports such as molasses and sugar. This alarmed the Colonists. It was the first act that was specifically designed to raise taxes, not just to channel trade through Britain. The Sugar Act was imposed on the colonists during a time of postwar depression. This made the Colonist even more worried and aware of Britain's impending power over them. The next act that Britain imposed over the Colonist was the Stamp Act. This act required stamp taxes to be put on most legal documents and printed material. Colonists had to pay the tax if they wanted to buy a newspaper or even needed a will drawn up. Taxes were even charged to those who bought things such as playing cards and paper. This act hurt many colonists. The heaviest burden though fell on businessmen who used more legal documents than most ordinary people. "Never before had a revenue measure of such scope been proposed for the colonies. The act also required that tax stamps be paid in sterling, which was scarce." The Stamp Act immediately fell under close scrutiny of the Colonists. One of the more notable pamphlets protesting the Stamp Act was, The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved, written by James Otis Jr., an attorney from Massachusetts. This pamphlet looked at the ideas of James Otis Jr. and stated his thoughts that Americans were "entitled to all the natural, essential, inherent, and inseparable rights" that the British people had, including the right not to be taxed without consent. Otis also stated along with many other people in the colonies during that time that Parliament should not be allowed to tax the Colonies because they were not represented in Parliament. Another protester of the Stamp act was Patrick Henry who stated to the American people, "No taxation without representation." This put Parliament under extreme pressure. Colonial legislature petitioned Parliament to repeal the act along with The Stamp Act Congress and the Sons of Liberty. Mass meeting were held in order to gain favorable movement against the act and delegates were sent an intercolonial congress. Under so much opposition, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766. The Colonists were joyous that the Stamp Act was repealed but knew that the British were still going to tax them. They saw that the British had passed other acts that raised taxes, such as the Townshend, Declaratory, and Coercive Acts. Another act that outraged the Colonists was the Quartering act. This act gave the right for British troops to be quartered in the homes of the colonists against their consent. All of these acts along had made the feelings in the colonist grow more towards hostility and rebellion more than ever before. This assumption makes it easy to understand why the colonist acted in such ways as they did. It led to such events as the Boston Tea Party and The Boston Massacre. The Boston Massacre, as it was labeled, took place on the fifth day of March in 1770. Fire bells rang out and alerted the townspeople of a fire. Many people fled to see exactly where the fire had taken place. This brought many people into the streets along with many British soldiers. Soldiers of the 29th Regiment, commanded by Captain Preston, who were stationed at the Customs House, began to get taunted by the numbering people amongst them. A crowd emerged among them and solid snowball began to fly through the air. Soldiers began to dodge snowballs and throw their bayonets.7 Several snowballs pelted the officers and among the hustle a single shot was fired. This shot led to a number of shots that were released into the crowed. When the smoke cleared three people lay dead with two more to die, one on the following day, and eight more wounded. The men who lay wounded: Samuel Gray, killed on the spot by a• ball entering his head. Crispus Attucks, a mulatto, killed on the spot, two• balls entering his breast. James Caldwell, killed on the spot, two balls• entering his back. Samuel Maverick, 17 years old, mortally wounded, he died• the next day. Patrick Carr, mortally wounded, died on the 14 day of• march. Christopher Monk, 17 years old, dangerously wounded.• John• Clark, 17 years old, dangerously wounded. Mr. Edward Payne, merchant,• standing at his door, wounded. John Green, dangerously wounded.• Robert• Patterson, dangerously wounded. David Parker, dangerously wounded. Captain Preston and seven of his soldiers were then arrested and tried for the crimes. Why did the fire bells ring out without there bring a fire? Why did so many people commune at the Customs House? These questions were looked at during Capt...