Which statement best summarizes John Adams' beliefs about defending the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre? (1 point) He was honored to serve his country in the defense for the trial and completely agreed with the verdict. He was disappointed to have to defend the British soldiers and disagreed with the verdict. He willingly defended the British soldiers but did not agree with the verdict. He was proud of his service, but felt the trial was unfair because the jurors were not from Boston.

The Boston Massacre, that took place on March 5, 1770, was part of a series of events that took place during the American Revolution between 1765 and 1783.

John Adams, a further U.S President was request to defend captain Preston and the soldiers involved in the confrontation. With other renowned lawyer of the time, Josiah Quincy II, he lead the case resulting in the acquittal of captain Preston and six other soldiers; the other two soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter.

Three years after the trial, in his autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams volume 2 he established: "he Part I took in Defence of Cptn. Preston and the Soldiers, procured me Anxiety, and Obloquy enough. It was, however, one of the most gallant, generous, manly and disinterested Actions of my whole Life, and one of the best Pieces of Service I ever rendered my Country" proving he was proud to take the case, and then "Judgment of Death against those Soldiers would have been as foul a Stain upon this Country as the Executions of the Quakers or Witches, anciently. As the Evidence was, the Verdict of the Jury was exactly right" showing that we completely agreed with the verdict.

Reference: Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, Volume 2

1771–1781

John Adams

Edited by L. H. Butterfield

Leonard C. Faber

Wendell D. Garrett