The royal governor made the rules for the colony but only with the approval of the king, to make sure the rules were being followed he sent british soldiers. By early 1765, Parliament had passed a law named the "Quartering Act". The colonists would provide housing and supplies to british soldiers. The troops were there to protect the colonists and the land, but the colonists realized that the presence of the soldiers were to spied on them and meant to keep them from disobeying the king and the laws. Some soldiers would stayed at the colonists home. In cities like Boston they built encampments for the british troops. The colonists were not particular content with the soldiers presence.
The soldiers didn't got enough money because part of their money was sent to their families in England. So they had to look for jobs in the New World and the colonists didn't like that because they took job opportunities form them. In March 5, 1770 the Boston Massacre occurred, 5 colonists were killed. The colonists were drunk and went to throw snowballs and rocks to a soldier, the soldier ran to the camp for help. The colonists followed him and attacked the other soldiers, Their captain told them not to shoot at them but one of them didn't obey him and shoot at the colonists.
A day after, this murder was called the Boston Massacre. The colonists of Boston were horrified and shocked that such a horrible massacre took place at their city. They all wanted justice. One man had the thinking that these soldiers were not going to be treated fairly under all the circumstances and things they've all done. This man was John Adams, this man was a lawyer who thought that the laws of lands were made for equality and fairness for all the citizens. He was able to persuade the jury of citizens that the soldiers were only self defending against the mob. All the charges were dismissed except on two soldiers. These two soldierseach had a brand placed on their thumbs so everyone could know they comitteda crime.
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