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Opposing Viewpoints on Boston Massacre

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Opposing Viewpoints on Boston Massacre

 

 

 

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Introduction

The Boston Massacre that occurred on March 5, 1770, remains one of the famous incidents in American history. There was much confusion on the incidence, especially who was responsible for the fault that saw chaotic mobbing and manslaughter. Surprisingly, to date, the issue has been a topic of debate. According to Doug Linder description, he says that “Whatever side one takes in the debate, all can agree that the Boston Massacre stands as a significant landmark on the road to the American Revolution.” Correspondingly, the aftermath of incidence (Boston Massacre Trials) is vital to the United States history. The paper is set to explore the various opposing viewpoints on the Boston Massacre.

Opposing Viewpoints on Boston Massacre

From the Boston Massacre Trials, we can get various perspectives in the stories narrated. After the regretful event, Captain Thomas Preston, together with eight soldiers, were arrested and tried before a court of law. However, Preston and his soldiers were tried independently. As such, this brought conflicting pieces of evidence as the defense of the Preston led by John Adams argued that the Captain did not order the soldiers to fire their guns. On the other side, Josiah Quincy, who led the soldiers’ defense, claimed that the soldiers were ordered by the Captain to fire. Thus, it was difficult for the prosecution as their goal was to ascertain whether the soldiers retaliated or Captain Preston issued an order to fire. Despite various convincing witnesses against Preston, he pleaded not guilty. Correspondingly, John Adams was able to cast doubt to the jurors. Eventually, Preston was acquitted of all charges. In his tactic, John Adams concluded the defense by indicating that, “if an assault was made to endanger their lives, the law is clear, they had a right to kill on their own defense; if it was not so severe as to endanger their lives, yet if they were assaulted at all, struck and abused by blows of any sort, by snow-balls, oyster-shells, cinders, clubs, or sticks of any kind; this was a provocation.…” After eight weeks, the soldiers were tried.  From the book by Kidder and Adams, there were many who came as witnesses. However, out of the eight soldiers, only two were found guilty of manslaughter as the remaining six were fully acquitted. The soldiers were sentenced to death. However, they opted to have their thumbs branded. The ruling created diverse and mixed reactions, not only in Boston and America at large. As such, it formed the basis for subsequent revolutions.

As I was getting together materials for these trials, I discerned different perspective on this subject. In my sources (History of the Boston Massacre, March 5, 1770: Consisting of the Narrative of the Town, the Trial of the Soldiers: and a Historical Introduction Containing Unpublished Documents of John Adams, and Explanatory Notes and “The Boston Massacre Trials Account”) in most parts depict what happed without bias. They only give a description of what happened during trials without including their thoughts or opinions. However, in my final material state of biasness can be pointed out explicitly in remarks where the author wrote, “The Boston Massacre Trials”. Nevertheless, Wroth and Hiller state that Samuel Adams inaccurately labelled the incident as the “Boston Massacre.”  Moreover, the author penned, “It was clear that Preston and the men could not hope for a fair trial until the town’s passions had been greatly reduced.”  In this author’s statement, I tend to think that, he sided with the soldiers and not colonist.

My interest was initially captured in this topic because I was curious to know more about trials; so, I didn’t have any expectations relating sentences with solders. Meanwhile, I was ignorant of the massacre, and I presumed solders were only incarcerated or executed. I was astonishingly delighted that these trials came to an end this way. Many would believe sentencing was lenient, but I would disagree. According to what I have read, I tend to believe solders were only undertaking self-defense. I understood that other aspects were leading to this dispute, but in this explicit instant, the soldiers were overwhelmed by many numbers greater than them.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, this research didn’t alter my stand but rather confirmed my feelings and felt this problem was executed justly.  Furthermore, I concur with John Adams words about these trials that, “Judgment of Death against those Soldiers would have been as foul a Stain upon this Country as the Executions of the Quakers or Witches, anciently. As the Evidence was, the Verdict of the Jury was exactly right.” Every time when talking about this Boston massacre, it is significantly good to talk about the trials. It thought-provoking to hear how thoughts of people differ about this incident even after all that long. I can contemplate these trials, and the massacre was the foundation of the revolution.

 

Bibliography

Kidder, Frederic, and John Adams. History of the Boston Massacre, March 5, 1770: Consisting of the Narrative of the Town, the Trial of the Soldiers: and a Historical Introduction Containing Unpublished Documents of John Adams, and Explanatory Notes. Albany, NJ: J. Munsell, 1870.

Linder, Doug. An Account of the Boston Massacre of 1770 and Subsequent Trials, 2001. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bostonmassacre/bostonaccount.html

Wroth, Kinvin, and Hiller Zobel. “The Boston Massacre Trials.” American Bar Association Journal 55 (4AD): 329. (1969)

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