Station A:

Boston Massacre

What happened at the Boston Massacre?

The Boston Massacre began the evening of March 5, 1770 with a small argument between British Private Hugh White (a soldier) and a few colonists outside the Custom House in Boston on King Street. The argument began to escalate as more colonists gathered and began to harass and throw sticks and snowballs at Private White. Soon there were over 50 colonists at the scene. The local British officer of the watch, Captain Thomas Preston, sent a number of soldiers over to the Custom House to maintain order. However, the sight of British soldiers armed with bayonets just aggravated the crowd further. They began to shout at the soldiers, daring them to fire. Captain Preston then arrived and tried to get the crowd to disperse. Unfortunately, an object thrown from the crowd struck one of the soldiers, Private Montgomery, and knocked him down. He fired into the crowd. After a few seconds of stunned silence, a number of other soldiers fired into the crowd as well. Three colonists died immediately and two more died later from wounds - meaning a total of five dead.

This text is Copyright © Ducksters. http://www.ducksters.com/history/american_revolution/

Several members of the colonial mob came out of this location. A tavern is another word for bar, so they would have been drinking.

BOSTON CITIZENS

Location of the event in Boston.

Known as the Boston Massacre or Bloody Massacre to the colonists and the “Incident on Kings Street” to the British.

After the event: Five men were killed in the incident. Captain Preston and four of his men were cleared of all charges in the trial that followed. Two others were convicted of manslaughter, but were sentenced to a mere branding of the thumb. The lawyer who represented the British soldiers was none other than patriot John Adams.

This party in proceeding from Exchange lane into King street, must pass the sentry posted at the westerly corner of the Custom House, which butts on that lane and fronts on that street. This is needful to be mentioned, as near that spot and in that street the bloody tragedy was acted, and the street actors in it were stationed: their station being but a few feet from the front side of the said Custom House. The outrageous behavior and the threats of the said party occasioned the ringing of the meeting-house bell near the head of King street, which bell ringing quick, as for fire, it presently brought out a number of inhabitants, who being soon sensible of the occasion of it, were naturally led to King street, where the said party had made a stop but a little while before, and where their stopping had drawn together a number of boys, round the sentry at the Custom House. whether the boys mistook the sentry for one of the said party, and thence took occasion to differ with him, or whether he first affronted them, which is affirmed in several depositions,-however that may be, there was much foul language between them, and some of them, in consequence of his pushing at them with his bayonet, threw snowballs at him, which occasioned him to knock hastily at the door of the Custom House. From hence two persons thereupon proceeded immediately to the main-guard, which was posted opposite to the State House, at a small distance, near the head of the said street. The officer on guard was Capt. Preston, who with seven or eight soldiers, with fire-arms and charged bayonets, issued from the guardhouse, and in great haste posted himself and his soldiers in front of the Custom House, near the corner aforesaid.

Anonymous Account of the Boston Massacre, 1770

THE FATAL FIFTH OF MARCH, 1770, CAN NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. The horrors of THAT DREADFUL NIGHT are but too deeply impressed on our hearts. Language is too feeble to paint the emotions of our souls, when our streets were stained with the BLOOD OF OUR BRETHERN; when our ears were wounded by the groans of the dying, and our eyes were tormented with the sight of the mangled bodies of the dead. When our alarmed imagination presented to our view our houses wrapt in flames, our children subjected to the barbarous caprice of the raging soldiery; our beauteous virgins exposed to all the insolence of unbridled passion; our virtuous wives, endeared to us by every tender tie, falling a sacrifice to worse than brutal violence, and perhaps, like the famed Lucretia, distracted with anguish and despair, ending their wretched lives by their own fair hands...– Dr. Joseph Warren, "Oration commemorating the anniversary of the Boston Massacre," (March 5, 1772)

Obituary: Crispus AttucksBorn: 1723Birthplace: Framingham, MADied: 5-Mar-1770Location of death: Boston, MACause of death: Gunshot wounds to the head and bodyGender: MaleRace or Ethnicity: BlackCitizenship: Born in the Americas as a slave, escaped at age 27

Attucks, an escaped slave, was present in a crowd of protesters in Boston when they were fired on by British troops on 5 March 1770. Four whites -- Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, Samuel Maverick, and Patrick Carr -- and one black, Attucks, were killed in the event, now termed the Boston Massacre. Traditionally he is considered the first man killed in the American Revolution.

Station B:

Boston Tea Party

What happened at the Boston Tea Party?

Was it a big, fun party with tea? Not really. There was tea involved, but nobody was drinking it. The Boston Tea Party occurred on December 16, 1773. The Boston Tea Party was a protest by the American Colonists against the British government. They staged the protest by boarding three trade ships in Boston Harbor and throwing the ships' cargo of tea overboard into the ocean. They threw 342 chests of tea into the water. Some of the colonists were disguised as Mohawk Indians, but the costumes didn't fool anyone. The British knew who had destroyed the tea.

This text is Copyright © Ducksters.http://www.ducksters.com/history/boston_tea_party.php

Griffin’s Wharf - Boston, Massachusetts

Incited by the Sons of Liberty, over 5,000 people gathered at the Old South Meeting House, the largest public building in Boston at the time, on December 16, 1773, to decide what was to be done about the tea and to plan the Boston Tea Party.

Eyewitness Account by a Participant

It was now evening, and I immediately dressed myself in the costume of an Indian, equipped with a small hatchet...and a club, after having painted my face and hands with coal dust in the shop of a blacksmith, I repaired to Griffin's wharf, where the ships lay that contained the tea.

When we arrived at the wharf...they divided us into three parties, for the purpose of boarding the three ships which contained the tea at the same time....

We then were ordered by our commander to open the hatches and take out all the chests of tea and throw them overboard, and we immediately proceeded to execute his orders, first cutting and splitting the chests with our tomahawks, so as thoroughly to expose them to the effects of the water.

In about three hours from the time we went on board, we had thus broken and thrown overboard every tea chest to be found in the ship... We were surrounded bv British armed ships, but no attempt was made to resist us.

We then quietly retired to our several places of residence, without having any conversation with each other, or taking any measures to discover who were our associates; nor do I recollect of our having had the knowledge of the name of a single individual concerned in that affair, except that of Leonard Pitt, the commander of my division, whom I have mentioned. There appeared to be an understanding that each individual should volunteer his services, keep his own secret, and risk the consequence for himself. No disorder took place during that transaction...

-- George Hewes

It’s about representation, Not free tea!Eyewitness Account by a Participant - His job was to prevent people from

taking the tea instead of destroying it.

During the time we were throwing the tea overboard, there were several attempts made by some of the citizens of Boston and its vicinity to carry off small quantities of it for their family use. To effect that object, they would watch their opportunity to snatch up a handful from the deck, where it became plentifully scattered, and put it into their pockets.

One Captain O'Connor, whom I well knew, came on board for that purpose, and when he supposed he was not noticed, filled his pockets, and also the lining of his coat. But I had detected him and gave information to the captain of what he was doing. We were ordered to take him into custody, and just as he was stepping from the vessel, I seized him by the skirt of his coat, and in attempting to pull him back, I tore it off; but, springing forward, by a rapid effort he made his escape. He had, however, to run a gauntlet through the crowd upon the wharf nine each one, as he passed, giving him a kick or a stroke.

Another attempt was made to save a little tea from the ruins of the cargo by a tall, aged man who wore a large cocked hat and white wig, which was fashionable at that time. He had sleightly slipped a little into his pocket, but being detected, they seized him and, taking his hat and wig from his head, threw them, together with the tea, of which they had emptied his pockets, into the water. In consideration of his advanced age, he was permitted to escape, with now and then a slight kick.

The next morning, after we had cleared the ships of the tea, it was discovered that very considerable quantities of it were floating upon the surface of the water; and to prevent the possibility of any of its being saved for use, a number of small boats were manned by sailors and citizens, who rowed them into those parts of the harbor wherever the tea was visible, and by beating it with oars and paddles so thoroughly drenched it as to render its entire destruction inevitable.

-- George Hewes

In an effort to hide their true identities, many of the Sons of Liberty attempted to pass themselves off as Mohawk Indians because if caught for their actions they would have faced severe punishment. Reports from the time describe the participants as dressed as Mohawks or Narragansett Indians. The disguise was mostly symbolic in nature. The act of wearing “Indian dress” was to express to the world that the American colonists identified themselves as “Americans” and no longer considered themselves British subjects. Others have claimed that they were mocking the fact that it was East India Trading Company Tea that they were dumping.

East India Trading Company Damage Report:

•9,659 British pounds worth of damage in 1773 currency

•340 chests destroyed - weighing 46 tons

•3 Ships vandalized - Beaver, Dartmouth, and Eleanor

•Current estimated value = $1,700,000 dollars

•Cups of tea that will never be brewed = 18,523,000

Propaganda such as this song would be distributed around the colonies promoting what a patriotic event the Boston Tea Party was by the Sons of Liberty.~Source found by Sean Anderson

Station C:

Intimidation and illegal acts

What are Intimidation and Illegal Acts?

The intent of many illegal acts done by colonists was clearly to intimidate (frighten or terrify). Usually British officials like tax collectors were the targets so they would not want to do their jobs or to keep people from supporting British taxes.

Tar and Feathering-Dabbing hot tar on bare skin could cause painful blistering and efforts to remove it usually resulted in pulling out hairs or even skin. The use of solvents to loosen the tar was also unpleasant in the extreme, especially when a substance like turpentine came in contact with burned skin.Tar was readily available in shipyards and feathers came from any handy pillow. Though the cruelty stopped short of murder, the tar needed to be burning hot for application. The aim was to inflict enough pain and humiliation on a person to make him either conform his behavior to the mob's demands or be driven from town.

Effigy- A roughly made model of a particular person (similar to a dummy), made in order to be damaged or destroyed as a protest or expression of anger. Usually hung outside from a tree this was usually used to intimidate British officials and their families.

Destruction of property- Houses, businesses, boats, etc. were ransacked, destroyed, or even burned to the ground in order to intimidate or cause a loss of money through loss of property.

http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_stampact.html

Transcription of the above notice:[Stop!] [Stop!] [Stop!] No:

Tuesday-Morning, December 17, 1765

THE True-born Sons of Li-berty, are desired to meet under LIBERTY-TREE, at XII o'Clock, THIS DAY, to hear the public Resignation, under Oath, of Andrew Oliver, Esq; Distributor of Stamps for the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay.

A Resignation ? YES.

A Bad Day for Andrew Oliver

Drawing of the effigy hung outside Andrew Oliver’s house the same morning.

Drawing of Andrew Oliver’s house being ransacked and burned that night.

This

means

he qu

it

This is Propaganda, not an actual event, but some Tax Officials on rare occasions were forced to drink scalding hot tea or, even worse, hot vinegar that would burn going down and coming back up as you vomited it out.

Reenactment of Tar & Feathering-Shows that a brush could be used to paint the tar on the victim. Sometimes the victim would be allowed to keep their clothes on.

Embarrassment Factor-Mobs would often put the tar and feathering victim or effigy on a pole so they could parade them around town for more people to see.

Specific eye witness evidence of Tar and Feathering

In the spring of 1766, John Gilchrist, a Norfolk merchant and ship-owner, came to believe that Captain William Smith had reported his smuggling activities to British authorities. In retribution, Gilchrist and several accomplices captured Smith and, as he reported, "dawbed my body and face all over with tar and afterwards threw feathers on me." Smith's assailants, which included the mayor of Norfolk, then carted him "through every street in town," and threw him into the sea. Fortunately, Smith was rescued by a passing boat just as he was "sinking, being able to swim no longer."

As the focus of tar and feathers shifted from informers to loyalists, the practice became more violent. In 1775, a physician named Abner Beebe was blistered by the hot tar poured upon him. The mob then "carried [him] to an Hog Sty & rubbed [him] over with Hogs [sic] Dung. They threw the Hog's Dung in his Face, & rammed some of it down his Throat."(6) In 1776, a Charleston mob committed a even grizzlier execution. According to the local paper:

http://revolution.h-net.msu.edu/essays/irvin.feathers.html#1

The most vicious tar-and-feathers attack in Revolutionary America was carried out on a Comptroller for the Customs Service named John Malcolm in Boston on 25 January 1774. Malcolm was not only stripped and covered with tar and feathers but, a Customs Commissioner wrote, he was also “punched wth. a long pole, beaten with Clubs, led to liberty tree, there whipt with Cords, and tho’ a very cold night, led on to the Gallows, then whipt again.” That official’s sister added, “They say his flesh comes off his back in Stakes.” As proof of his suffering Malcolm sailed for London with scraps of skin that had fallen off his body, some with tar and feathers still attached. It’s notable, however, that Malcolm made that voyage because he didn’t die. The victim of America’s worst pre-Revolutionary assault with tar and feathers lived for another fourteen years in England.https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/12/5-myths-tarring-feathering/

Medical Report:

1) Victim shows 1st to 3rd degree burns covering a majority of the body due to the tar.

2) Some of the victim’s hair and epidermis (skin) has also been detached when tar was removed - noted as flesh wounds below.

X - Burns

0 - Flesh wounds

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August 14 in 1765, the British official charged with administering the hated Stamp Act was hung in effigy from an elm tree near Boston Common. A small group of merchants and master craftsmen had staged the prank, but soon a large crowd gathered to vent their anger at the British interference with colonial affairs. Over the next weeks, the great elm emerged as the place in Boston for protest meetings. People of all classes — including unskilled laborers, slaves, and women, who were normally excluded from official town meetings — flocked to "Liberty Tree" to post notices, hear speeches, and hold outdoor meetings. The practice caught on, and with opposition to British rule mounting, Liberty Trees were soon found in many colonial towns.

http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=236

HMS Gaspee revenue schooner (tax boat) burnt with tax money on it. No colonists

took any of the money off of the boat before it was burnt.