March fifth, 1770 was a gruesome culmination of high tensions between the British forces and colonists inhabiting Boston. There is no doubt that this was one of the most appalling displays of bloodshed in history; but who is to blame for the instigation of this deplorable event? I believe that it was the British soldiers of the 29th regiment who initiated the Boston Massacre. Although the soldiers were somewhat provoked by the crowd on king street and by the ropewalk workers, the soldiers had a responsibility, and were duty-bound to keep peace, not to kill innocent civilians. The British also had an irresponsible, hot headed motive behind their fighting and firing: revenge. If the British hadn't sought out revenge on the Bostonians for the ropewalk fights, the bloody events that followed may never have happened.
The 29th regiment was known for its inexperienced and volatile soldiers. Governor Hutchinson himself even deemed the soldiers of the 29th as "such bad fellows that it seems impossible to restrain them from firing upon an insult or provocation."
This engraving by Paul Revere, portraying the Bost...
Women at British Army Auxiliaries - Stretcher Bear...
The print was copied by Revere from a design by He...With this in mind, it seems all too clear that the soldiers of the 29th regiment would commit such a treachery as firing upon innocent civilians; even though there may have been no or little provocation. Although the soldiers dealing with the crowd on King Street certainly had a right to fear their angry adversaries, they had no justifiable reason to fire into the crowd, since no soldier was hurt by the people in the crowd. Basically speaking, the soldiers should've been disciplined enough to "hold fast" until the mob calmed down.
The British soldiers of the 29th regiment were not only easily aggravated, but they were also very vengeful, as well as devoid of respect for the Bostonian colonists they encountered. It is because...