* boston massacre* help please proof read

can you please help proof read this and let me know if it is ok. thanks

The incident that led to the American Revolution was called The Boston Massacre. On March 5, 1770 British soldiers fired on a group of unarmed American Colonist killing 5 men and wounding 6 others. The townspeople and the soldiers had many conflicts due to the British government. They moved troops to Boston to help officials collect taxes and to maintain order in 1768. The “massacre” that was started by a group of men and boys after being yelled at by soldiers and one being clubbed over the head by a solider. Snowballs and other stuff where thrown at the soldiers who returned with firing their guns. This is now what we know as the Boston Massacre.


The Boston Massacre was started on Kings street. A young apprentice wig maker named, Edward Garrick, was yelling at Capt. John Goldfinch, a British soldier about a bill he was late on. Edward had actually paid it earlier that day. An hour later Edward still being vocal was then called over by Private Huge White and then he clubbed Edward on the head. Edward Garrick later returned with more townspeople shouting insults at the sentry and throwing snowballs. Private White then sent a messenger to the main guard for reinforcements. Capt. Thomas Preston sent out a corporal and 6 privates, all grenadiers of the 29th Regiment of Foot. Capt. Preston soon followed.


As the commotion continued, Private Huge Montgomery was struck down by a thrown club. He fired his gun as he hit the ground yelling fire. The British soldiers the all began to fire. James Caldwell, Samuel Grey and Crispus Attucks all died instantly. Samuel Maverick dies the following day. Patrick Carr dies 2 weeks later. 6 others where injured. The next day all the troops where moved from the center of town to a fort on a harbor island.


Months later a trial was held in Suffolk County courts. Capt. Preston and the soldiers where arrested. John Adams, Josliah Quincy the second and Robert Auchmuty acted as the defense attorneys. Sampson Salter Blowers investigated the jury pool, which was chosen from towns outside if Boston to avoid any favoritism. Boston hired Massachusetts Solicitor General Samuel Quincy and a private attorney Robert Treat Paine to handle the prosecution. Preston was acquitted after the jury felt he had not been the one to order the troops to fire. In a second trial the jury acquitted 6 of the soldiers. 2 privates, Montgomery and Matthew Killroy where found guilty of manslaughter.


In conclusion Samuel Adams and his Whig colleagues called the killings “The Boston Massacre” They did this not for the size of the killings but for the British governments policy of maintaining troops to enforce laws enacted by the Parliament over the objections of local legislatures.

Message edited 5/3/2007 2:22:24 PM.