The Boston Massacre | The Shot Heard ’Round the World

Although some import taxes were lifted, violence led to more distrust between Great Britain and the colonies. The British Parliament rescinded the taxes on sugar, lead, paint, and paper on March 5, 1770. Coincidentally on that same day in Boston, however, a deadly clash erupted. A colonial crowd had been harassing a British sentry guarding the Custom House. British soldiers responded and fired into the crowd, resulting in the deaths of five Boston civilians — an event known as the Boston Massacre.

Although seven soldiers were charged with murder, only two were convicted at trial — of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Two years later, in 1772, rumors that colonial judges were to be paid by the Crown, rather than by the colonies, led the city’s selectmen to form the first Committee of Correspondence to coordinate colonial responses to British policies. 

As students watch the video, they consider the short-term and long-term consequences of the Boston Massacre.