Lesson 13:Joseph Warren An American Hero

A “Horrid Massacre” in BostonThe colonists and British officials became more andmore angry with each other. Street fights started betweencolonists and British soldiers. Joseph Warren helped plansome actions against the British.On March 5, 1770, in Boston, a crowd of angrycolonists surrounded a British guard. Other Britishsoldiers arrived to help the guard. The townspeopleshouted insults. They threw snowballsand oyster shells at the soldiers. One soldiershot into the crowd. The fight grew. Moreshots were fired. British troops arrived on thestreet like water gushing from a pump. Thecolonists finally retreated. But three colonistslay dead in the snow. Two more colonistswould soon die from their wounds.After that, the colonists had a townmeeting. They chose Warren to join a newcommittee. This committee would talk withBritish officials. The British knew that Warrenwas an important colonial leader. They worriedhe might tell the colonists to become violent.The meeting was held. The committeeconvinced the British to remove their troops.8