Question

Anonymous Account of the Boston Massacre THE HORRID MASSACRE IN BOSTON, PERPETRATED IN THE EVENING OF THE FIFTH DAY OF MARCH, 1770, BY SOLDIERS OF THE TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT . . . In passing to this station the [British] soldiers pushed several persons with their bayonets, driving through the people in so rough a manner that it appeared they intended to create a disturbance. This occasioned some snowballs to be thrown at them which seems to have been the only provocation that was given. . . . Captain Preston is said to have ordered them to fire, and to have repeated that order. One gun was fired first; then others in succession and with deliberation, till ten or a dozen guns were fired; or till that number of discharges were made from the guns that were fired. By which means eleven persons were killed and wounded. Anonymous, 1770 Each of these statements is supported by this anonymous account of the Boston Massacre EXCEPT A) the colonists fired on the British in self defense. B) Captain Preston repeatedly ordered his soldiers to fire. C) the British soldiers charged at the colonists with bayonets. D) the only action the colonists took against the soldiers was to throw some snowballs.

Answer 1

I believe that the answer is A

Answer 2

Each of these statements is supported by this anonymous account of the Boston Massacre EXCEPT the colonists fired on the British in self defense. The British fired on the colonists, who were not armed with guns. This source indicates that the colonists threw snowballs at the soldiers, but only after being pushed by the soldiers' bayonets.