How many civilians died in the Boston Massacre?
March 5, 1770 — Five civilians died during the outbreak of violence that occurred today in Boston — a battle that historians consider to be the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
The skirmish started as a street fight between a patriot mob throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks at a squad of British soldiers. A riot ensued after 50 citizens attacked a British sentinel. British officer Captain Thomas Preston called in additional soldiers, who were also attacked.
Eventually, the British soldiers fired into the mob, killing 3 on the spot — including a black sailor named Crispus Attucks, ropemaker Samuel Gray, and a mariner named James Caldwell. Eight others were wounded and two died later (Samuel Maverick and Patrick Carr).
A town meeting was called demanding the removal of the British and the trial of Captain Preston and his men for murder. At the trial, John Adams and Josiah Quincy II defended the British, which led to their acquittal and release. Samuel Quincy and Robert Treat Paine were the attorneys for the prosecution.
Two of the British soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter, and soon after the Royal Governor evacuated the occupying army from the town of Boston. This led to armed rebellion throughout the colonies.
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