The anonymous account of the Boston Massacre presents a complex perspective on the events leading up to the tragic incident.
While it does depict the initial aggression from the crowd—snowballs, rocks, and sticks being thrown at the British soldiers—it doesn't explicitly state that the colonists fired on the soldiers in self-defense.
The account, however, does provide context that supports the characterization of the British soldiers as aggressors and the victims as martyrs.
It describes the soldiers as being provoked by the crowd's actions, leading to their firing into the crowd, resulting in the death of five individuals.
This portrayal aligns with the idea that the British response was excessive and unjustified, painting the soldiers as perpetrators and the victims as innocent casualties.
Moreover, the account acknowledges the underlying tensions stemming from Boston's occupation and competition for jobs, attributing a level of hostility between the colonists and the British forces.
This background supports the notion that the overall atmosphere was charged with animosity and conflict, contributing to the volatility of the situation that eventually erupted into the tragedy of the Boston Massacre.
While the anonymous account provides a narrative that frames the British soldiers' actions as a response to provocation, it doesn't explicitly confirm that the colonists fired on the soldiers in self-defense.
Instead, it offers a multifaceted portrayal that supports both the idea of aggressive actions by the soldiers and the underlying tensions between the colonists and the occupying forces.