Boston Massacre23

Although he never wavered in his devotion to colonial rights and early commited himself to independence as an unwelcome last resort, Adam's innate conservatism made him determined in 1770 that the British soldiers accused of the Boston Massacre receive a fair and ethical hearing. He defended the soldiers at their trial. He also spoke out repeatedly against mob violence and other signs of social disintegration.




More recent scholars, however, have found evidence of a more discerning Boston public that was appreciative of Britidh restraint and disapproving of provocative mob actions. Evidence of the latter view was found in the relative quiet that descened on the community after the fuenral.

Later, 35 year old John Adams risked the disapproval of his friends and neighbors by defending the British soldiers in a highly publicized trial.

Although John Adams was loyal to the American cause he may have supported the British troops in stopping a group of unruly colonists that day in Boston. John Adams loyalist ties to British realized that the rioters were belligerent and supported the British troops keeping the situation under control which he supporteed in his summation and testimony. May not have been caught up in all the political progpaganda of Paul revere's engraving. May have taken a logical approach to what happened that day at the Boston Massacre. You must remember that John Adams himself was a member of Boston's elite and a well respected man in New England he did not support much of the lower classed negative assumptions of the British Parliament. And when the Boston Massacre occurred, he may not have immediately taken the Americans side, but may have examiend the evidience throroughly and realized the that the Briths were only protecting themselves in a riotous situation. In fact, john Adams did not support the opinion that The Boston Massacre was actually a massacre at all, but more of a riot.

Several accoutns of what happened at the Boston Massacre were illogical and inaccurate. Such as the account of robert goddard..