Primary Analysis of Boston Massacre (Two Sources)

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Amy Eason HIS 131-D8 February 14, 2013 Boston Massacre Analysis On March 5, 1770 an event occurred that would be in history books for centuries to come. With the political and social peace of colonial Boston under tremendous strain the people began to rise up against Parliament with anger, exasperation and embarrassment as their principal emotions. What is today known as the Boston Massacre is the result of the rising tension among the people of Boston due to the enforcement of the Townshend Acts in 1767 (Boston). Through the analysis of two very different accounts of the Boston Massacre: one being “An Anonymous Account of the Boston Massacre” from a 1849 reprint of A Short Narrative of the Horrid Massacre in Boston and the other being “Captain Preston’s Account of the Boston Massacre (1770) it is apparent that each is biased on the opinion of the writer, but both indicate the harsh political and social environment of colonial Boston. Looking first at the anonymous account, it is very descriptive of the events both leading up to the massacre and the massacre itself. The author has many accounts from what is believed to be the inhabitants of Boston at the time of the event and the author itself can be reasoned to be a journalist of some sort. Being a civilian of Boston, it is apparent that the author, was very irritated about the presence of the British troops stating that their being there was contrary to the people inclination, spirit of Magna Carta, and the Bill of Rights (Anonymous). It was believed that the soldiers were causing unnecessary trouble to the town and were both disrespectful and cruel to the people in return causing a negative attitude adopted towards them. In this case, the author considered the soldiers were to blame for the instigation of the massacre. The people of Boston were continually picked upon which created an immense tension
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