Tension on King Street: The Boston Massacre
On the cold night of March 5, 1770, the snowy streets of Boston, Massachusetts, were filled with anger. For over a year, British soldiers had occupied the city to enforce unpopular tax laws passed by Great Britain's Parliament. Many colonists resented having armed troops living among them. The soldiers competed with local workers for jobs, and arguments between colonists and guards broke out almost every day. This growing frustration was about to boil over.
The trouble started outside the Custom House on King Street, where British taxes were collected. A lone British sentry stood guard as a small group of colonists began shouting insults at him. Within minutes, the crowd grew larger and more daring. People threw snowballs, chunks of ice, and oyster shells at the guard. Fearing for his safety, the sentry called for help. Captain Thomas Preston and seven other soldiers marched to the scene with loaded muskets and fixed bayonets.
- resented:
- Felt bitter, hurt, or angry about something considered unfair.
- sentry:
- A soldier stationed at a post to keep watch and guard against danger.
- bayonets:
- Blades attached to the ends of rifles or muskets for hand-to-hand fighting.
- chaos:
- A state of complete disorder and great confusion.
- casualty:
- A person injured or killed in a battle, accident, or war.
- engraving:
- A picture made by carving a design onto a hard surface and printing it onto paper.
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- 1Why were British soldiers stationed in Boston before the confrontation took place?
- 2What two everyday reasons caused anger and frustration between the colonists and the soldiers?
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About this explanatory article passage for 4th Grade
“Tension on King Street: The Boston Massacre” is a explanatory article reading passage about Boston Massacre, written for 4th Grade. It takes about 2 minutes to read (306 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.