mar 5, 1770 - Road to Revolution Boston Massacre

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On the evening of March 5, 1770, Private Hugh White was the only soldier guarding the King’s money stored inside the Custom House on King Street. Angry colonists joined him and insulted him and threatened violence. At some point, White fought back and struck a colonist with his bayonet. The colonists then pelted him with snowballs, ice and stones. Bells started ringing throughout the town (usually a warning of fire), and male colonists flooded into the streets. White eventually fell and called for reinforcements, so Captain Thomas Preston arrived on the scene with several soldiers and took up a defensive position in front of the Custom House. The violence escalated, and the colonists struck the soldiers with clubs and sticks. Reports differ of exactly what happened next, but after someone supposedly said the word “fire,” a soldier fired his gun, although it’s unclear if the discharge was intentional. Once the first shot rang out, other soldiers opened fire, killing five colonists and wounding six.

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