Boston Massacre- an attack on colonist civilians by British troops and all of its legal aftermath. The event led to the revolutionary war; troops fired into a rioting crowd.

What started it all?

A wigmaker apprentice, Edward Garrick, called to British Captain, John Goldfinch, that he was late in paying his barber's bill. Goldfinch knew that he had already paid his bill, so he ignored the boy. Hours later, a drunk Garrick remained vocal. Private Hugh White eventually had to club Garrick over the head to get him to finally shut his trap. Garrick's friend yelled and ran away, gathering more intoxicated locals; they began throwing rock-filled snowballs and litter. The mob got bigger and their voices got louder.

Who fired the first shot?

Private Hugh Montgomery was knocked down by a huge piece of ice. As he fell, he thought he heard someone yell, "Fire!"

He fired along with all the other soldiers, except for one. There were 11 people hit.

Killed Instantly:

Crispus Attucks- a former slave believed to be the very first killed.He worked as a sailor.

Samuel Gray- a rope maker

James Caldwell-mariner

Died The Next Day

Samuel Maverick- he was at the back of the crowd; he was hit by a ricocheting musket ball. He refused medical care and died of wound complications the following day.

Died Two Weeks Later

Patrick Carr- 30 year old man. He was an irish immigrant . He was buried on March 17, 1770, two weeks after the aforementioned event occurred, in the Granary Burying Ground, one of Boston's oldest burial grounds.

The Trial

8 british soldiers were charged.

John Adams was defense attorney.

6 acquitted.

2 found guilty of manslaughter.

Branded thumbs.

Outcome

Samuel Adams, one of Boston's radical leaders, insisted that Thomas Hutchinson, the British Royal Governor, withdraw troops from Boston.