The Boston Massacre

On March 5, 1770, five years before the battles of Lexington and Concord and six years before the Declaration of Independence was signed, in the city of Boston soldiers opened fire on Boston citizens killing four men and injuring many others.  What really happened?  Why did the soldiers shoot?  Did the soldiers fire the first shot?  Who was to blame for this massacre?  The citizens of Boston believed that this event demonstrated British hatred for America.  Were they right?

In this project you will look at and read five primary documents: (1) an engraved broadside created by Paul Revere, (2) an engraving based on the testimony of the British soldiers who went on trial for murder, (3) an account of the event from the Boston Gazette newspaper, (4) an eyewitness account of the massacre, and (5) a transcript from the trial of the soldiers.  Because of this testimony, two soldiers were judged guilty of manslaughter but the soldiers were judged NOT GUILTY of murder.

Begin reading these documents in class today.  Complete the reading TONIGHT for homework.
Use the passwords you were taught to access the documents you must read.

Revere's Engraving
Click on the picture for a larger view.
(1) Paul Revere created this hand-colored print titled
"The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King-Street Boston
on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Reg."
The depiction of the event and a poem printed below the print blames the British Army. 
Transcript Versian
(2) This print was created from the testimony of a witness
at the murder trial of the soldiers.
It is very different from Paul Revere's drawing.  Try to find as many differences as you can.
(3) Report of the event from the Boston Gazette from March 12, 1770,
just a week after it occurred.
Click here to read about the document.
Click here to read the document.
(4) An eyewitness account.
Click here to read about the document.
Click here to read the document.
(5) Testimony from the soldiers' murder trial.
Click here to read about the document.
Click here to read the document.

Use Inspiration to map out the ideas you've discovered about the Boston Massacre.  Begin your Inspiration idea map this way...
Inspiration Example

When you're done, add your name and print out your idea web.  Give your web to your teacher for a grade.  Next print out your web as an outline and use it for an essay using Microsoft Word.  This essay will have four parts...
Part I
 Explain what happened at the Boston Massacre.  Include all the facts you know.  About three sentences.
Part II
 Explain the American view.  Include everything you learned about how Americans felt about the event.  Include what you learned from Paul Revere's engraving.  About four or five sentences.
Part III
 Explain the British view.  Explain what the British soldiers said happened.  Include what you learned from the illustration based on the courtroom testimony.  About four or five sentences.
Part IV
 Based on everything you read and the pictures you examined, explain what you think really happened.  Be sure to write who you think was really at fault, the Americans or the British.  Also write whether or not you think it was right that the British soldiers were found not guilty at their murder trial.  About four or five sentences.

When you're done, spell check AND proofread your essay.  Print out your essay and give it to your teacher for a grade.  Be sure to finish by your teacher's deadline.  Use the library in the morning, during lunch, or after school if necessary to make the deadline.  You can also email your Word document home and complete it at home.  Have your parents read your essay and get their advice on how you can make your essay better.

Click here to go back to the Freshman Writing Class web page.