Road to Revolution:
Boston Massacre
Propaganda: What is propaganda? Propaganda is something that will help or harm a cause or individual.
Historical Background: In the early 1760s tension began to rise between the colonists and those remaining loyal to the British. This occurred as a result of several actions by the British. The Proclamation of 1763 that restricted movement of the colonists was resented. The colonists also did not like the fact that the British were controlling the colonial legislatures and that they did not have representation in Parliament. They also resented the power of colonial governors and the taxes that were levied on them to offset the cost of the French and Indian War. The British sent soldiers to the colonies to keep order, especially to Massachusetts where there had been a lot of unrest. The soldiers were sent to help with the enforcement of the Townshend Acts of 1767. In 1768, there were 4,000 British troops in Boston when the population of Boston was only 20,000 at that time.
One night, on March 5, 1770 this tension ended up in an incident now called “The Boston Massacre”. There are numerous accounts of what happened that night. As a result of the incident, five civilians died. Three died that night and two others died later. The people who died were: Crispus Attucks, an African American, Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, Samuel Maverick, and Patrick Carr. Some say the incident was a British response to a mob rioting while other contend the soldiers attacked the colonists who were just minding their own business. The event was popularized after Paul Revere made an engraving entitled “The Bloody Massacre in King Street”. He used it as propaganda to capitalize on colonial resentment of the British. Other historical accounts and the trial itself portray a different depiction of the events. Of the nine British regulars charged during the two Boston Massacre trials, two were found guilty and Preston and six other were acquitted.
By using various primary sources in an interactive setting, you will use the historical thinking skills of sourcing, close reading, contextualization, and corroborating to understand different historical perspectives of a specific event.
1. Answer these question on the google doc provided after making a copy. Google Doc
2. With your partner, read the primary sources regarding the Boston Massacre from an article by the Boston Gazette and the London Chronicles .
Comparing the articles to images:
With your partner you will be comparing the articles to the 4 images we analyzed yesterday.
B. The London Chronicles
3. Your group will be assigned an except from trail testimony from a witness of the Boston Massacre. You will have to answer the following questions ONLY FOR THE PERSON YOU WERE ASSIGNED.
1. What point of view did their person have? Who do they think was at fault?
2. What words did they use to make you think that?
A. A. Testimonies
One night, on March 5, 1770 this tension ended up in an incident now called “The Boston Massacre”. There are numerous accounts of what happened that night. As a result of the incident, five civilians died. Three died that night and two others died later. The people who died were: Crispus Attucks, an African American, Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, Samuel Maverick, and Patrick Carr. Some say the incident was a British response to a mob rioting while other contend the soldiers attacked the colonists who were just minding their own business. The event was popularized after Paul Revere made an engraving entitled “The Bloody Massacre in King Street”. He used it as propaganda to capitalize on colonial resentment of the British. Other historical accounts and the trial itself portray a different depiction of the events. Of the nine British regulars charged during the two Boston Massacre trials, two were found guilty and Preston and six other were acquitted.
By using various primary sources in an interactive setting, you will use the historical thinking skills of sourcing, close reading, contextualization, and corroborating to understand different historical perspectives of a specific event.
1. Answer these question on the google doc provided after making a copy. Google Doc
2. With your partner, read the primary sources regarding the Boston Massacre from an article by the Boston Gazette and the London Chronicles .
Comparing the articles to images:
With your partner you will be comparing the articles to the 4 images we analyzed yesterday.
- You will need to find 2 similarities to any of the four images we analyzed above; 2 from both articles, 4 total.
- How are these accounts the same?
- How are they different? Two examples for each.
- You will also need to determine what side the articles are supporting, the colonist or the British soldiers. Who is responsible for the Boston Massacre?
- Based off the information given in both articles, explain whether you feel the colonist were responsible or the British; answer in a paragraph, 4-5 sentence.
B. The London Chronicles
3. Your group will be assigned an except from trail testimony from a witness of the Boston Massacre. You will have to answer the following questions ONLY FOR THE PERSON YOU WERE ASSIGNED.
1. What point of view did their person have? Who do they think was at fault?
2. What words did they use to make you think that?
A. A. Testimonies