Red Coats

Context:

The Boston Massacre took place on March 5, 1770, after years of growing anger in Boston over the presence of British soldiers sent to enforce unpopular laws and assert control over the colony. That night, townspeople confronted a British sentry, and when more soldiers arrived, tensions quickly escalated as civilians were struck, threatened, and faced armed troops in their own streets. Without clear orders, the soldiers opened fire into the crowd, killing three men instantly and mortally wounding two others, an act many saw as reckless and unnecessary. The shooting shocked the colony, reinforced fears of military tyranny, and became powerful evidence that British rule relied on violence rather than justice, fueling resistance and strengthening the push toward independence.