The Boston Massacre was an event that took place on March 5,
1770. It was an small skirmish between British troops and Bostonians.
A group of Bostonian protesters were marching around the British
troops and a small object hit a British soldier. The British troops
reacted by firing shots into the assembly of citizens. These shots
killed five people, and the British soldiers were put on trial
for murder. Surprisingly, the British soldiers were defended by
John Adams, future president. Two of the several troops were found
to have committed manslaughter, and were branded, or burnt, on
the thumb as punishment. All the other soldiers got away without
any punishment. This led Samuel Adams to give people thoughts
directed against the British, which played a good part later on.
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