Exploring Perspectives of the Boston Massacre

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ExploringPerspectivesoftheBostonMassacreOverviewThroughtheexaminationofimagesandthecreationofroleplays,studentswillexplorethevariousperspectivesoftheBostonMassacre,understandinghowthiscontroversialdayinhistoryplayedapartintheoutbreakoftheAmericanRevolution.Grade8NorthCarolinaEssentialStandards• 8.H.1.1-Constructcharts,graphs,andhistoricalnarrativestoexplainparticulareventsorissues.• 8.H.1.2-Summarizetheliteralmeaningofhistoricaldocumentsinordertoestablishcontext.• 8.H.1.3-Useprimaryandsecondarysourcestointerpretvarioushistoricalperspectives.• 8.H.1.4-Usehistoricalinquirytoevaluatethevalidityofsourcesusedtoconstructhistoricalnarratives

(e.g.formulatehistoricalquestions,gatherdatafromavarietyofsources,evaluateandinterpretdataandsupportinterpretationswithhistoricalevidence).

• 8.H.1.5-Analyzetherelationshipbetweenhistoricalcontextanddecision-making.• 8.H.2.1-Explaintheimpactofeconomic,political,social,andmilitaryconflicts(e.g.war,slavery,states’

rightsandcitizenshipandimmigrationpolicies)onthedevelopmentofNorthCarolinaandtheUnitedStates.

• 8.H.2.2-Summarizehowleadershipandcitizenactions(e.g.thefoundingfathers,theRegulators,theGreensboroFour,andparticipantsoftheWilmingtonRaceRiots,1898)influencedtheoutcomeofkeyconflictsinNorthCarolinaandtheUnitedStates.

EssentialQuestions• WhateventsoccurredonMarch5,1770thatbecameknownastheBostonMassacre?• WhowasinvolvedintheBostonMassacreandinwhatwaydidtheyparticipateinand/orinstigatethe

events?• WhatroledidperspectiveandpropagandaplayintherecountingoftheeventsoftheBostonMassacre?• InwhatwaysdidtheBostonMassacreleadtotheoutbreakofrevolutioninthecolony?Materials• BostonMassacreImagefromColonialperspective,attached• BostonMassacreImagefromBritishperspective,attached• TheBostonMassacre,readingattachedDuration60minutes(additionaltimemaybenecessarybasedonhowmuchtimeallottedforpreparingandpresentingscenes)Procedure

TheBostonMassacre–MurderorSelfDefense?1. Asawarm-up,projectordistributecopiesoftheattachedBostonMassacreImage1(donotsharethetitle

oftheimagewithstudents).Pairyourstudentsandhavethemexaminetheimageanddiscuss/completethefollowing:• Summarizethecontentsofthisimage.Whatdoyousee(objects,people,actions,symbols,setting,

etc.)

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• Characterizetheactionsdepicted.Whatseemstobeoccurring?• Describetheattitudesandemotionsthatarerepresented.• Whenandwheremightthisbeoccurring?Whatevidencemakesyouthinkthis?

2. Oncepartnershavehadampletimetodiscuss,havethemreporttheirinterpretationoftheimagebacktoclass.Then,explaintostudentsthatthisimageisanengravingproducedbyPaulRevererepresentingwhatbecameknownastheBostonMassacre.Shareafewfactsregardingtheincident:• OnMarch5,1770abrawloccurredbetweenBritishsoldiersstationedatataxofficelocatedinBoston,

MAandcolonists.• DuringthistimetensionsbetweenBritishsoldiersandPatriotcolonistswererising.Colonistsyelled

insultsattheBritishguards,chaosbrokeout,andtheconfusioneventuallyledtotroopsdischargingtheirmuskets

• 4civilianswerekilledatthescene,andonediedaftertheincident.3. Askstudentstoconsiderthesefactsandreexaminetheimage.Discuss:

• Accordingtothisimage,whoappearstobetheaggressorsinthesituation?Whoappearstobethevictims?Whatevidencemakesyouthinkthis?

• IfthisimageweretheonlyinformationyouhadtoguideyouinrecountingthestoryoftheBostonMassacre,whatstorywouldyoutell?

4. Next,projectorhandouttheBostonMassacreImage2.Askstudentstoexaminethisimageandthen

compareittothefirst:• Whatdoyouseeinthisimage?Whatseemstobeoccurring?• Accordingtothissecondimage,whoappearstobetheaggressor?Whoappearstobethevictims?• HowdoesthisrepresentationoftheBostonMassacredifferfromthefirstimagethatweexamined?• WerethisimagetheonlyinformationyouhadtoguideyouinrecountingthestoryoftheBoston

Massacre,whatstorywouldyoutellthistime?

5. ExplainthataftertheeventoccurredonMarch5,1770,averyimportantquestionremainedtobesolved.Werethesoldiersprovokedtofireandactinginselfdefense;or,werethecolonistsmurdered?Askstudentstodiscusswhytwosuchdifferentimagescouldexistofthesameevent.Ensuretheclassmentionsthedifferenceinperspectives,andgooverthetermpropaganda.Explainthatpropagandaisatypeofmessageaimedatinfluencingopinionsand/orthebehaviorofpeople.Propagandamayprovideonlypartialinformationorbedeliberatelymisleading.Askstudentstodiscusshowthetwoimagesillustratepropaganda.

TheBostonMassacre–ExploringPerspectiveswithRolePlays

6. DividestudentsintogroupsandhandouttheattachedreadingontheBostonMassacre.TellstudentsthattheywillbereadingbackgroundinformationontheBostonMassacre,thenpreparingashortsceneabouttheeventfromtheperspectiveofthepersonassignedtothem.Giveeachgroupadifferentperspectivefromwhichtopreparetheirscene:

• JohnAdams• SamuelQuincyII• PrivateHughMontgomery• CaptainThomasPreston• CrispusAttucks• APatriotsailorinthecrowd

7. Tellstudentsthatafterreadingthehandout,theyshouldbeginwritingandpracticingtheirscene.

Teachersshouldsetguidelinesforthescenes,suchas:

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• YoursceneshouldillustrateaspectsoftheBostonMassacrefromtheperspectiveofthepersonassignedtoyourgroup.(Considerhavingyourassignedpersonserveasthemaincharacterinthescene.)

• Yourscenemaytakeplacebefore,during,oraftertheeventsoccurringonMarch5,1770.ConsidersharingaspectsoftheBostonMassacreothersmayoverlook.Thinkoutsidethebox!

• Yoursceneshouldlastaround5minutesandhaveabeginning,middle,andend.• ThepurposeofyoursceneistoshareinformationabouttheBostonMassacrefromthe

perspectiveofthepersonassignedtoyou.Thepurposeisnottobecomedic.Ensureeachofyoutaketheroleyouplayseriously,andmakethesceneasbelievableaspossible.

8. Oncestudentsarereadytoperform,gooveryourexpectationsforrespectfulaudiencemembers(listento

andwatchtheperformers,claploudlywhentheyarefinished,etc.)Instructstudentstotakenotesastheywatchthescenesbycreatingthefollowingchartonnotebookpaperandfillingintheappropriateinformation:

Listthehistoricalcharacterspresentinthescene:

Summarizetheeventsdepictedinthescene:

Fromwhoseperspectivewasthisscenebasedon?Whatevidencemakesyouthinkthis?

9. Onceallsceneshavebeenpresented,discuss:

• Inwhatwaysdidthescenesdiffer?Whydidtheydiffer?• Howcansuchdifferentperspectivesofthesameeventarise?• Basedontheeventsasyouhavelearnedthem,whoistoblamefortheBostonMassacre?• Doyouagreeordisagreewiththecourt’sdecision?Explain.• Whatactionsweretakentoensurethesoldiersreceiveafairtrial?Whydoyouthinkthiswas

necessary?• CharacterizeJohnAdams.Whatdoyouthinkofhisdecisiontorepresentthesoldiers?• IthasbeendebatedwhetherornottheBostonMassacreshouldbeclassifiedasa“massacre.”Does

thesituationmeritsuchaclassificationinyouropinion?Whyorwhynot?Whomighthavepushedforsuchaclassificationoftheeventandwhy?

• Whatcansuchadebateteachusaboutthewayhistoryisrecounted?• TheBostonMassacreisconsideredoneofthecausesoftheAmericanRevolution.Whymightthis

eventhaveinstigatedrevolution?CulminatingActivities• HavestudentscreateatimelineofeventsleadinguptoandcausingtheAmericanRevolution.Tell

studentsthattheirtimelinemustcontain:o 10-15eventstitled,inchronologicalordero A3+sentencedescriptionofeachevent,notingwhyitcontributedtocausingtheAmericanRevolutiono Adrawingorvisualimageforeachevent

• HavestudentsresearchthosekilledintheBostonMassacreandwritetheirobituaries.DifferentiationStudentswithSpecialNeeds• Studentscanbegivenalternateassignmentstotherollplay.Forexample,assignastudentacharacter

andhavethemcreateanillustrationoftheBostonMassacrefromthatcharacter’sperspective.

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AIG• InstructstudentstoreenactthetrialfollowingtheBostonMassacre:1. Chooseonestudenttoserveasthejudge,thendividetheclassintothreegroups:

o Defense:§ Defendant:CaptainThomasPreston,29thregimentBritisharmy§ Attorney:JohnAdams§ Witnesses:BritishsoldierinvolvedinGray'sropewalkincident,Britishsoldierinvolvedinfiring

uponcolonistsinMassacre,MassachusettscolonyLt.GovernorThomasHutchinsono Prosecution:

§ Plaintiff:JohnGreen,woundedmemberofPatriotmob§ Attorney:JohnHancock,Bostonmerchant§ Witnesses:EdwardPayne(woundedmemberofPatriotmob),BenjaminFrizzell(wounded

memberofPatriotmob),SamuelAdams(patriotleader)o Jury:Remainderofclass

2. StudentswillresearchtheeventsoftheBostonMassacreandcompletethefollowing:

§ Allstudentsshouldresearchthecase(usetheInternettouncoverfactsfromtheactualeventandtrialfollowing),compilinginformationthatmayhelpyourside

§ Attorneysandwitnesseswillworktogethertopreparewitnesstestimony;Determinetwo-threequestionswitnesseswillbeaskedonthestand;itisadvisedgroupsinferandconsiderwhatthecross-examinationmayincludeandtrytohaveananswerprepared

§ Prepareopeningarguments(3-5minutes)§ Prepareclosingarguments(3-5minutes)

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BostonMassacreImage1

Source:http://chnm.gmu.edu/exploring/images/massacre2a.jpg

BostonMassacreImage2

Source:http://web.mit.edu/17.508/www/images/bostonm.jpg

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Name:_________________________TheBostonMassacreOnMarch5,1770,ayoungapprenticenamedEdwardGarrickcalledouttoaBritishofficer,CaptainJohnGoldfinger,thathewaslatepayinghisbarber'sbill.Goldfingerhadinfactsettledhisaccountthatdaybutdidnotreplytotheboy.WhenGarrickremainedquitevocalinhiscomplaintsanhourlater,theBritishsentryoutsidethecustomshouse,PrivateHughWhite,calledtheboyoverandclubbedhimonthehead.Garrick'scompanionsyelledatthesentryandaBritishsergeantchasedthemaway.Theapprenticesreturnedwithmorelocals,shoutinginsultsatthesentryandthrowingsnowballsandlitter.WhitesentamessengertotheMainGuardforreinforcements.TheOfficeroftheDay,CaptainThomasPreston,accordingtohisaccount,dispatchedanon-commissionedofficerandtwelveprivates,allsoldiersofthe29thRegimentofFoot,andhefollowedsoonafterward.Themobgrewinsizeandcontinuedharassingtheofficers,peltingthemwithstones,sticks,andchunksofice.Agroupofsailorsanddockworkerscamecarryinglargesticksoffirewoodandpushedtothefrontofthecrowd,directlyconfrontingthesoldiers.Asbellsranginthesurroundingsteeples,thecrowdofBostoniansgrewlargerandmorethreatening.Prestonarrivedwithfourothersoldiers:HughMontgomery,ThomasWeems,JohnCarroll,andMathewKilroy.Inthemidstofthecommotion,PrivateHughMontgomerywasstruckdownontothegroundbyapieceofice.Hefiredhismusket,lateradmittingtooneofhisdefenseattorneysthatsomeonehadyelled"Fire!"Allofthesoldiersbutonefiredintothecrowd.Theirunevenburstshitelevenmen:Three-ropemakerSamuelGray,marinerJamesCaldwell,andanAfricanAmericansailor,CrispusAttucks—diedinstantly.Seventeen-year-oldSamuelMaverick,struckbyaricochetingmusketballatthebackofthecrowd,diedthenextday.Thirty-year-oldIrishimmigrantPatrickCarrdiedtwoweekslater.Theothersixwhowerewoundedsurvived.Tokeepthepeace,thedayaftertheshootingsroyalauthoritiesagreedtoremovealltroopsfromthecenteroftowntoafortonCastleIslandinBostonHarbor.CaptainPrestonandthesoldierswerearrestedandscheduledfortrialinaSuffolkCountycourt.ThegovernmentwasdeterminedtogivethesoldiersafairtrialsotherecouldbenogroundsforretaliationfromtheBritishandsothatmoderateswouldnotbealienatedfromthePatriotcause.AproblemwasthatnolawyersintheBostonareawantedtodefendthesoldiers,astheybelieveditwouldbeahugecareermistake.AdesperaterequestwassenttoJohnAdamsfromPreston,pleadingforhisworkonthecase.Adams,whowasalreadyaleadingPatriotandwhowascontemplatingarunforpublicoffice,neverthelessagreedtohelp,intheinterestofensuringafairtrial.Adams,JosiahQuincyII,andRobertAuchmutyactedasthedefenseattorneys.MassachusettsSolicitorGeneralSamuelQuincyandprivateattorneyRobertTreatPaine,hiredbythetownofBoston,handledtheprosecution.Toletpassionssettle,thetrialwasdelayedformonths,unusualinthatperiod,andthejurymenwereallchosenfromtownsoutsideBoston.Triedonhisown,Prestonwasacquittedafterthejurywasnotconvincedthathehadorderedthetroopstofire.Inthetrialofthesoldiers,Adamsarguedthatifthesoldierswereendangeredbythemobtheyhadthelegalrighttofightback,andsowereinnocent.Iftheywereprovokedbutnotendangered,heargued,theywereatmostguiltyofmanslaughter.ThejuryagreedwithAdamsandacquittedsixofthesoldiers.Twoofthesoldierswerefoundguiltyofmurderbecausetherewasoverwhelmingevidencethattheyfireddirectlyintothecrowd.However,JohnAdamsusedaloopholeinBritishCommonLawandbyprovingtothejudgethattheycouldreadbyhavingthemreadfromtheBibletheircrimewasreducedtomanslaughter.Twoprivateswerefoundguiltyofmanslaughterandpunishedbybrandingontheirthumbs.Thejury'sdecisionssuggestthattheybelievedthesoldiershadfeltthreatenedbythecrowd.PatrickCarr,thefifthvictim,corroboratedthiswithadeathbedtestimonydeliveredtohisdoctor.TheBostonMassacreisoneofseveraleventsthatturnedcolonialsentimentagainstBritishrule.EachoftheseeventsfollowedapatternofBritainassertingitscontrol,andthecolonistschafingundertheincreasedregulation.EventssuchastheTeaActandtheensuingBostonTeaPartywereexamplesofthecrumbling

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relationshipbetweenBritainandthecolonies.WhileittookfiveyearsfromtheMassacretooutrightrevolution,itforeshadowedtheviolentrebelliontocome.ItalsodemonstratedhowBritishauthoritygalvanizedcolonialoppositionandprotest.Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Massacre