The event that directly sparked the Boston Massacre was a British soldier standing guard fired at colonists during an argument. This incident escalated from verbal insults and objects being thrown by the crowd, leading to the soldiers panicking and firing into the crowd.
Read the selection from your American History textbook and then respond to the question below.
On the night of March 5, 1770, a crowd gathered outside the Boston customs house. Colonists shouted insults at the “lobsterbacks,” as they called the red-coated British who guarded the building. Then the Boston crowd began to throw snowballs, oyster shells, and chunks of ice at the soldiers.
The crowd grew larger and rowdier. Suddenly, the soldiers panicked. They fired into the crowd. When the smoke from the musket volley cleared, five people lay dead or dying. Among the first to die were Samuel Maverick, a 17-year-old white youth, and Crispus Attucks, a free black sailor.
Colonists were quick to protest the incident, which they called the Boston Massacre.
What event directly sparked the Boston Massacre?
(1 point)
Responses
An African American sailor shot and wounded a British soldier.
An African American sailor shot and wounded a British soldier.
A British soldier standing guard fired at colonists during an argument.
A British soldier standing guard fired at colonists during an argument.
A crowd of British troops dared the colonists to shoot them.
A crowd of British troops dared the colonists to shoot them.
Colonists spread negative propaganda about British troops.
1 answer