Boston Massacre The Boston Massacre was not really a massacre at all because only five people were killed. It was a considered a massacre because the British government's authority was not going to be tolerated. The name Boston Massacre was invented by speechmakers and used to stir the anger of the crowds. This event occurred on March 5, 1770. This whole thing started just because a group of citizens were revolting against having to pay taxes. A …showed first 75 words of 327 total…

…showed last 75 words of 327 total…is "The law shall have its course. I will live and die by the law." Captain Thomas Preston and 8 British soldiers, Corporal William Wemms, James Hartigan, William McCauley, Hugh White, Matthew Kilroy, William Warren, John Carrol, and Hugh Montgomery were tried for murder and defended by John Adams and Josiah Quincy. Two British solders, Kilroy and Montgomery, were branded on the hand with an "M" and dismissed from the army, the others were all acquitted.