Making History: A Guided Exploration of Historical Inquiry

What do I see in the source that helps me understand my topic?

Now I get to consider trial testimony from the Boston Massacre.  First-person accounts are as close as we can get to 'being there.'  However, people often disagree about what they see and hear even if they are at the same event. 

I'll start with the deposition (testimony that is written down and given to a court) given by Captain Preston, the officer in charge the night of the Boston Massacre, during his own trial.  I highlight sections that I think are important or interesting as I read the document.   

(Text Digital Source:  The Boston Massacre Trials.  Click on the link if you would like to read more of this deposition)
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It is [a] matter of too great notoriety to need any proofs that the arrival of his Majesty's troops in Boston was extremely obnoxious to its inhabitants....  One of their justices, most thoroughly acquainted with the people and their intentions, on the trial of a man of the 14th Regiment, openly and publicly in the hearing of great numbers of people and from the seat of justice, declared "that the soldiers must now take care of themselves, nor trust too much to their arms, for they were but a handful; that the inhabitants carried weapons concealed under their clothes, and would destroy them in a moment, if they pleased."  This, considering the malicious temper of the people, was an alarming circumstance to the soldiery.   Since which several disputes have happened between the townspeople and the soldiers of both regiments….   

On the 2d instant two of the 29th going through one Gray's ropewalk, the rope-makers insultingly asked them if they would empty a vault.  This unfortunately had the desired effect by provoking the soldiers, and from words they went to blows. …The insolence as well as utter hatred of the inhabitants to the troops increased daily.…

On Monday night about 8 o'clock two soldiers were attacked and beat…. About 9 [o'clock] some of the guard came to and informed me the town inhabitants were assembling to attack the troops….    In my way there I saw the people in great commotion, and heard them use the most cruel and horrid threats against the troops.   In a few minutes after I reached the guard, about 100 people passed it and went towards the custom house where the king's money is lodged.   They immediately surrounded the sentry posted there, and with clubs and other weapons threatened to execute their vengeance on him.   ….  This I feared might be a prelude to their plundering the king's chest.   

I immediately sent a non-commissioned officer and 12 men to protect both the sentry and the king's money, and very soon followed myself to prevent, if possible, all disorder….   [The soldiers] soon rushed through the people, and by charging their bayonets in half-circles, kept them at a little distance. ….  The mob still increased and were more outrageous, striking their clubs or bludgeons one against another, and calling out, come on you rascals, you bloody backs, you lobster scoundrels, fire if you dare, G-d damn you, fire and be damned, we know you dare not...

They advanced to the points of the bayonets, struck some of them and even the muzzles of the pieces, and seemed to be endeavouring to close with the soldiers.… one of the soldiers having received a severe blow with a stick, stepped a little on one side and instantly fired, on which turning to and asking him why he fired without orders, I was struck with a club on my arm, which for some time deprived me of the use of it, which blow had it been placed on my head, most probably would have destroyed me. 

On this a general attack was made on the men by a great number of heavy clubs and snowballs being thrown at them, by which all our lives were in imminent danger, some persons at the same time from behind calling out, damn your bloods-why don't you fire.  Instantly three or four of the soldiers fired, one after another, and directly after three more in the same confusion and hurry.  The mob then ran away, except three unhappy men who instantly expired ….  The whole of this melancholy affair was transacted in almost 20 minutes.

What do you think? 

What does this document tell you about what made the soldiers shoot the colonists?  Check Pedro, Hali and Monty for ideas on how to find and understand information from this type of source. 

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Summary:
Historical inquiry process continues with:

• Collecting  evidence 
• Evaluating the evidence
• Discussing how the evidence addresses your critical question