The Colonist Start to Become Rebels

     Today in class, we learned about the Boston Massacre. But before I start to talk about that, I should tell you what events lead to the Boston Massacre. The colonists were angry that they were being taxed without representation in England. So, the colonist kept getting angry with the British. Meanwhile, the British soldiers were not in a good state. They had low wages and no one really liked them. So, they were trying to fit in with society. They were trying to find a second job and competing for women. The colonist were already angry with the British soldiers, but when they found out that the soldiers were stealing their jobs, they were mad.  Now we get to the Boston Massacre. One evening, a soldier was working his second job and his shift was almost over. But before it ended, a drunk man came up to him. The two exchanged so words and the conversation got heated. The soldier then hit the man with the butt of his gun. After this, a crowd started to appear. Six other soldiers came to help the soldier who was surrounded. The crowd started to club, hit, and throw stuff at the soldiers. So, the soldiers acted in self-defense and shot into the crowd. Crispus Attucks was the first one to die in the massacre. In all, 5 people died and others injured. The governor then had a trail for murder against the soldiers. In the end, the soldiers acted in self-defense. The king then started to realize he was losing control of the colonies. So, he lighted the Townshend Act buy removing taxes on most stuff, but tea. On top of that, he also passed a law saying you have to buy the tea from the British. So, the colonist boycotted the British goods. In December 1773, the Boston Tea Party happened. Led by Samuel Adams, 50 people stormed 3 British ships filled with tea. They dumped the tea overboard and dumping tea in those days was rebellious. So, the British punished the colonists by banning public meetings, closing Boston Harbor, and sent more British soldiers to the colonies. The colonists called this the Intolerable Acts.