The Massacre at Boston on March 5, 1770, was the culmination of growing ferment that began in 1761 when James Otis sounded the famous watchword: "Taxation without representation is tyranny."
Throughout the next nine years Great Britain continued to attempt to regulate the life of the colonies, and the people of Boston grew more and more restive.
The Massacre itself came after a day of rumor, threat and alarm, as British soldiers menaced the citizenry who had gathered in the streets, and used swords, bayonets and clubs against youths who taunted them. Finally the redcoats opened fire, killing five citizens.
The Infamous Boston Massacre shows the temper of the ordinary people of the town and what led them to the extremes of protest. It was an event in history that in certain ways parallels some current-day protests.
In telling the story of this historic day and night, which was for a while as celebrated as the Fourth of July would later become, Mr. Smith transports the reader directly to the scene, making history come alive.
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