Both Thomas Preston and an anonymous account from March 13, 1770 report an event 8 days earlier observed among British colonists and soldiers residing in the Boston area. In 1767, Parliament enacted a series of laws within the colonies, better known as the Townshend Acts. Its provisions included taxes on tea, paint, paper, glass, and lead, the restriction of goods purchased by colonists to only those from their homeland, the direction of British troops toward the colonies and away from the Appalachian Mountains, and, finally, but not less important, grant warrants to assist officials to search and seize any contraband. These acts were generally detested by the colonists. They wrote letters, participated in boycotts, and resisted military forces sent to enforce the acts. A particular case of military resistance requires deeper analysis: namely the Boston “massacre”. The colonists' account of Boston's suffering should not be trusted because it is anonymous, exaggerated, and biased. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The anonymous account of the events that occurred in Boston, Massachusetts on March 13, 1770 is suspect and contains much discrimination against the British military. It was written 8 days after the event. Explicitly, the reader can see that this letter was intended to be received by other colonists, in an attempt to raise patriotic or anti-British morale and/or for the Crown to inspire sympathy and shame for the British troops. The narrative often refers to the troops as “violent” – often “assaulting” and “abusing” the settlers. The story acknowledges the “arguments and inconveniences” between the two parties. It neglects, however, to include what role they played or what violence was reciprocated by colonial men. This leads the reader to believe that the colonists were more or less innocent in this regard or that the colonists took no measures to defend themselves. The author writes his story as if calling for punishment of the British troops involved. He describes British troops as an unpleasant people who were “difficult [to access] on official business” and displayed “arrogant behavior which made them disgusting to the people in general”. As the hatred between the two sides escalated from words to shots and even musket fire, the account lists all the settlers who had been wounded or killed. The anonymous author is careful to call them “His Majesty's subjects” to inspire feelings of compassion for the colonists in readers. The above-mentioned account is a misrepresentation of British troops and is primarily aimed at undermining their reputation within the colonies. Captain Thomas Preston, in his account of March 5, 1770, describes an equally hostile situation. However, it would appear that the British troops were on the defensive while the colonists were on the offensive. His account was recorded on the same date as the anonymous document, March 13, 1770. After reading Captain Preston's account, one might infer that he wrote in hopes of gaining the sympathy of the Loyalist colonists or even to get the patriots to understand the British troops . 'difficult situation. He repeatedly emphasizes that “[his] intention was not to act offensively, but the opposite.” Upon arriving in the Boston colony, Preston points out the "mischievous character of the people" against himself and his troops. Preston impresses the audience with how "the inhabitants constantly taunted and abused the soldiers." The colonists' "utter hatred" of the troops led them to plan an event at the height of violence and terror, in which they would attack British troops.