Boston Massacre, 1770: Why John Adams Defended the Soldiers

amina_readsBoston Massacre, 1770: Why John Adams Defended the Soldiers

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Summary

Why did John Adams defend the Boston Massacre soldiers? Follow the shooting of 5 March 1770, competing public narratives, eyewitness testimony, and the trials that followed.

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Served as prosecutor
Robert Treat Paine prosecuted Captain Preston and the soldiers in the Boston Massacre trials.
SourcesWikipedia Wikipedia
Joined the defense
Josiah Quincy II joined John Adams in defending the British soldiers accused after the Boston Massacre.
SourcesWikipedia Wikipedia
Fueled colonial tensions
Opposition to the Townshend Acts increased tensions over British authority and the presence of troops in Boston before the massacre.
SourcesWikipedia Wikipedia
Shooting occurred nearby
The Boston Massacre took place on King Street near Boston’s Old State House.
SourcesWikipedia Wikipedia
Mobilized public opposition
Samuel Adams used the Boston Massacre and public mourning for its victims to mobilize opposition to British rule.
SourcesWikipedia Wikipedia
Published influential engraving
Paul Revere published an engraving of the Boston Massacre that promoted the Patriot account of the shooting.
SourcesWikipedia Wikipedia
Victim of the shooting
Crispus Attucks was one of the five people killed by the shooting in the Boston Massacre.
SourcesWikipedia Wikipedia
Captain tried separately
Thomas Preston commanded the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre and was tried separately on the allegation that he ordered them to fire.
SourcesWikipedia Wikipedia
Defended the accused
John Adams defended Captain Thomas Preston and the British soldiers tried after the Boston Massacre.
SourcesWikipedia Wikipedia

SourcesWikipedia Wikipedia authors and history CC BY-SA 4.0 Historical reference source

Facts