In front of the Old State House, a circle of cobblestones commemorates the Boston Massacre. At this site, tensions between the colonists and British soldiers erupted into violence on March 5, 1770. A minor dispute between a young apprentice and a British sentry turned into a riot. Soldiers came to the aid of the British and were met by an angry crowd of colonists who hurled snowballs, rocks, clubs, and insults. The soldiers fired into the crowd killing five colonists. Samuel Adams and other patriots called the event a "massacre".

« previous

next »