This trial is being held in defense of Captain Thomas Preston, who is being charged with the murder of five colonial Englishmen and assault regarding the order to fire weapons. John Adams, with the help of Josiah Quincy, will represent the defendant, and Samuel Quincy, along with Robert Treat Paine, will represent the prosecution. In this case of British Soldiers versus American colonists, Captain Preston pleads not guilty.
By 1770, there were approximately 600 redcoat soldiers of the British army residing in Boston. They were cursed upon by native Bostonians and called "lobsters" in reference to their bright red uniforms. The people of Boston believed that the soldiers were sent to take away their freedom. Samuel Adams was even caught saying that he feared the soldiers would try to massacre Boston's population of 16,000.
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