Boston Massacre Case

Hiller B. Zobel presents a different aspect of the known story of The Boston Massacre. He also included historical research to give more info on why it was caused, why it wasn't stop, and supports of it. Zobel's main purpose is to take away the myth, of what really happen on March 5th, 1770, to show it was a mere incident, instead of a pre meditated killing form the British. With that included he gives details on all the intolerable acts, all of which stirred up anger in Boston. Also, the violence that was used by Boston's radical elements to try to counter these acts. Also explains why the British soldiers were in Boston in the first place.

Here starts off on explaining the events that happen before the massacre, such as the French and Indian War of which he stated "American enemies were the savages who threatened the western settlements, and thus, incidentally, the investments of the seaboard land speculators" (page 5). As well as the new royal representatives they received after the war such as, Francis Bernard "a roast beef of a man with influential connections, arrived in Boston on August 2, 1760" (page 6) and replacement of Chief Justice Stephen Sewall, Thomas Hutchinson "Hutchinson brought not merely a wide acquaintance with the ways of merchants, but a lifetime of thinking of public problems... Serving his countrymen...solution of those problems" (Page 10). The purpose of this was a mere introduction, as well as a foreshadowing of what the British were going to start on.

Chapters three through fifth-teen are all the events right before the Boston Massacre, such as the violence over the Sugar Act duties, and the Stamp Act duties in America. Information gathered about the Stamp Act was included "taxes of up to £10 would have to be paid for pre-stamped paper...papers used in clearing ships from harbors, college diplomas, bonds, and deeds for land,...pamphlets, newspapers" (page 25). The action of the Americans was also stated "in 1764, a rudimentary nonimportation association had been formed...a special type of violent nonviolence. Forbear the importation, or consumption, of English goods...to eat no lamb... forms The Stamp Act Congress"(Page 26). Another event was the Liberty Riot, which was explained in great detail "a mob attacked them with clubs, stones, and brickbats. Harrison, badly battered about the chest managed to keep his legs and escape...Hallowell knocked to the ground and left there, covered in blood...mob then surrounded Hallowell's house, breaking windows and trying to force an entry" (Page 75).

Because of those events, and many others, it led the British to establish troops in Boston, which led to even more drastic occurrences such as the Quartering Act, and to be known as the Coffee House Brawl. The Quartering Act was a law passed by the British government to were the American colonist need to house British soldiers "On August 31, troops from London, of which was led by Captain William Sheriff, were to head for Boston and to be in two regiments, one in the castle, and the other in town...if the town-based soldiers should be insulted and threatened, then the Castle regiment would move to town...Bernard and shirreff also worked out details of housing the new troops." (Page 89). The Quartering Act was an important factor towards the Boston Massacre due to the high rise of anger, which was expressed by the colonist "Words from the Boston Gazette cause Bernard to consider seriously for the first time the real possibility of a bloody opposition to the soldiers' arrival...Benjamin Franklin said three years earlier about soldiers sent to America, that they will not find a rebellion; they may indeed make one."(Page 91). After the troops have finally arrived, many troubles and incidents occurred, such as the Coffee House Brawl, which was a Brawl in a British coffee house against Sons Of Liberty member James Otis and British Commissioner John Robinson "About seven o'clock in the evening, carrying his new cane, Otis walked into the British Coffee House...Among the bystanders who watched Otis as he entered the main room were Captain Brabazon O'Hara, Captain Jeremiah French...But Otis was looking for the tall figure of Robinson" (Page 148). His main purpose on why he gave so much information