10. Some alleged the 1770 Boston Massacre was deliberately arranged by Patriots to incite civil unrest and aid their cause against the British
A confrontation on March 5, 1770, the Boston Massacre – also known as the Incident on King Street – served as a rallying cry for Patriots throughout the Thirteen Colonies and spurred nationalist support against British rule. Following a period of tense relations between civilians and quartered British soldiers, an angry mob surrounded a sentry and began verbally abusing him. Reinforced by eight colleagues, the situation escalated rapidly, with stones, clubs, and snowballs thrown at the soldiers. Responding suddenly without orders, the nine soldiers opened fire upon the hostile crowd, killing five and wounding six more.
Although later arrested, only two were convicted of manslaughter, receiving reduced sentences, whilst the rest were acquitted under the dutiful representation at trial by John Adams. Becoming a symbol of the oppression imposed upon the colonies by the British, exploited by Patriot propagandists like Paul Revere, the Boston Massacre would inspire a generation to rise up in rebellion just five years later. However, despite seemingly an action born of circumstance, fear, and human error, it has been suggested the incident was an early example of a false-flag attack. Either deliberately provoked or covertly arranged, this conspiracy theory alleges the massacre was orchestrated by Patriots to generate outrage and discontent against the British, providing popular support for their cause.