Annotated Bibliography on Captain Thomas Preston’s Account of the Boston Massacre
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Annotated Bibliography on Captain Thomas Preston’s Account of the Boston Massacre
Presto, T. (1770). Captain Thomas Preston’s Account of the Boston Massacre. Digital history
How the Author’s perspective explores the Political and the Social Challenges presented to American Colonists affected by Britain Taxation for the Period of 1763-1775
Political and social challenges are explored by the author through the depiction of how the colonialist affected the Britain taxation for the period of 1763 to 1775. The British government aimed at taking control of the Boston and inflicted the forced taxation (Presto, 1770). Therefore, there are several ways through which the author explores the social and political challenges which affected the British taxation.
The Use of propaganda never worked to Enforce Taxation
Preston, T (1770) in his research depicts that the arrival of his majesty in Boston created obnoxious condition to his troops. The British had used all the propaganda and the armed forces to weaken the Boston regime. Also, they aided the desertion through the use of impunity, untruths and erosion of the evidence. However, the departure of his majesty according to Preston broke with greater violence hence acquainting people of their intentions. As such, one of the regiment heard the cries of the people through justice mechanism (Presto, 1770). The regiment alerted the soldiers to take care of themselves and trust their arms to an extent of self-protection. The inhabitants of the region grew stronger day by day creating stiff rebellion against the British taxation. Also, the disputes had occurred between the townspeople and the soldiers but the judiciary never supported the government move to deploy the soldiers. As a result, the magistrates never employed the move to protect the government interest. Every single quarrel could therefore not be prevented by the soldiers ho were after attaining their self-interest.
Increasing Hatred between the Townsmen and the Army
The hatred between the inhabitant and the troop had taken shape in Boston. The move made the government to deploy more soldiers to enable them capture the town for the control of trade from the benefit from taxation. The soldiers who were implementing the government move to control the town continued to get beaten by the town residents early morning and late hours. The inhabitants continued to assemble and attack the troop through the notion that the collected taxes were not benefiting their people (Presto, 1770). According to Preston, during his time of captainship, he repaired many broken machineries which made the entire soldiers to work swiftly against the rebelling townsmen. The direction of the arm officers was to murder he townsmen but the captain decided to use his intelligence y aver the continuing rebellion against the rule that was more of collecting forced taxes from the people of Boston.
Continuous Revolution against the Government Policy and the Army
The struggle between the armed officers and the townsmen continued to take the shape as the townspeople acquired the energy to revolt angst the monarchy and the move to collect the taxes. As soldiers continued with their fights, the number of gtownspeole death increased but their stand remain at fighting against the forced taxation (Presto, 1770). Moreover, the captain was given the responsibility to order more men to fight against the rebellion but the government move to the uprising bored no fruit. Increasingly, the soldiers strategized their moves even though they knew they would lose the war.
Shoot to Kill Policy Intensified Rebellion
Increasing fights between the soldiers and townspeople crated a move b the soldiers to use the order of shoot to kill. Many townspeople were killed leading t the misery of all the Boston residents. However, they never related the fight against the forced taxation and the alienation of lands by the soldiers. Continuous fight made the captain who was Preston to review the increasing death of townspeople (Presto, 1770). The review depicted the act against the law by the soldiers committing the atrocities of killing the residents for failing to abide by the taxation policies. Though the use of the 14th, 29th and the 4th regimen, the captain managed to quell the uprising.
Conclusion
After quelling the uprising, the government called the commissioners who appeared before the judges to issue the warrant of the apprehended soldiers. However, the witnesses against the atrocities gave a false statement that the order ease given by the captain to fire. However, the hearing and the judgment found that the captain was innocent. Therefore, the challenges faced by the army never allowed them o inflict the taxation in Boston as required by the Monarch.
