Analytical Essay The Boston Massacre is one of the most controversial events in American history that occurred in Boston before the American Revolution. Certainly, it has a fundamental role in the development of America as a nation, which led it to have a huge motivation for revolution. A heavy British military presence and having very high taxes in the country were some of the main reasons that made Boston citizens very irritated. Thus, there were already many disagreements and tensions between inhabitants and the British that could have led to the Massacre. In this essay, I will carefully analyze three primary sources, and compare these to the interpretation given by HBO’s John Adams. In my view, these sources can be …show more content…

His description of the Boston Massacre portrays the Bostonian citizens as violent. Captain Preston was informed about the attacks of the citizens and rushed to Kings Street, where all of them gathered together. He claims that inhabitants were using cruel and horrible threats against soldiers and actually intended to murder some of them. Although Preston knew intentions of citizens, he did not order his soldiers to load their guns and was standing between them and the mob. He also mentions that giving order of fire would have proven him to be no officer because the citizens were standing really close to charged Bayonets. Further in the letter, Preston clarified why his soldiers actually fired at inhabitants. So, he claims that the mob was throwing heavy clubs and snow balls at soldiers, which put their lives in eminent danger. Moreover, as Preston indicates, citizens were constantly shouting “fire,” which made his soldiers to suppose that it was an order, which came from their captain. Preston also prevented his soldiers from shooting people who assembled again to take away the dead bodies. “I am, tho’ perfectly innocent, under most unhappy circumstances, having in reason to expect, but the loss of Life, in a very ignominious manner…” (Preston, 113). In my opinion, these words clearly illustrate his honest feelings and deep desire of being judged in a fair manner. Thus, one of the most credible and accurate arguments for me were the ones of Captain Thomas