Name: ______________________________________________________________________ Date: __________ Period: __________
The Story Behind the Boston Massacre
Notes on PROPAGANDA:
 Before the Revolutionary War both the British and the colonists used
PROPAGANDA to influence public opinion.
 PROPAGANDA is verbal or visual communication that designed to influence a
person’s opinions, emotions, or actions. It is a form of BIAS – prejudice in
favor of or against, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
 Visual PROPAGANDA uses symbols or images to influence a person’s opinion.
It often contains distortions of the truth.
Analysis of the event using Paul Revere’s Engraving
 Using ONLY the image, write a testimonial about what happened...
1. What actions did the colonists take?
2. What actions did the soldiers take?
3. Describe the setting (location, weather, time of day, etc...)
4. What emotions are depicted on the face of the colonists?
5. What emotions are depicted of the faces of the British soldiers?
 After you’ve read “The Event and Aftermath...”
6. What examples of propaganda exist in Revere’s image?
7. Why do you think he called his engraving “The Massacre...?”
8. What message was Revere attempting to send to the readers of
colonial newspapers?
Boston Massacre Engraving Analysis
What Really Happened
WHAT THE HISTORY TELLS US...
The riot occurred after nine o’clock on a cold winter
night with a thick layer of snow and ice covering the
ground...March 1770
What Happened According to Revere’s Engraving
WHAT THE ENGRAVING SHOWS...
WHAT THE HISTORY TELLS US...
WHAT THE ENGRAVING SHOWS...
The soldiers lined up like a firing squad and all shot their
muskets at the same time under direct orders from
their commander, Captain Preston
WHAT THE HISTORY TELLS US...
Several witnesses testified that the British officer,
Captain Preston, was standing in FRONT of his troops
attempting to keep them calm with muskets down
WHAT THE ENGRAVING SHOWS...
WHAT THE HISTORY TELLS US...
WHAT THE ENGRAVING SHOWS...
Well-dressed men wearing proper coats and vests and
tri-cornered hats...They all appear to be unarmed
WHAT THE HISTORY TELLS US...
The mob was angry and riotous, throwing rocks, ice,
snowballs (anything they could find on the ground), and
wielding clubs and boards at the soldiers
WHAT THE ENGRAVING SHOWS...
WHAT THE HISTORY TELLS US...
Self-defense or unprovoked attack? Explain...
WHAT THE ENGRAVING SHOWS...
Self-defense or unprovoked attack? Explain...
Primary Source Accounts of the Event...Consider the use of PROPAGANDA
Account of the Boston Massacre in the Boston Gazette [a colonial newspaper], March 12, 1770
“Four youths were passing the narrow alley leading to Murray’s barrack, in which a soldiers was waving a broadsword. One of the youths
asked another to take care of the sword. The soldier resisted and struck the boy on the arm. The boy then struck the soldier with a
short stick, and another knocked the soldier down. In less than a minute 10-12 soldiers came with drawn swords. Thirty or 40 persons,
mostly lads, gathered. The soldiers pushed the people to drive them off. Then some lads threw snowballs at the soldiers. At this point,
Captain Preston commanded the soldiers to fire.”
In the following passage, a BRITISH OFFICER describes the Boston Massacre
“Captain Preston stood between the soldiers and the mob...using every conciliating [calming] method to persuade them [the mob] to retire
peaceably. Some amongst them asked him if he intended to order the men to fire. He replied by no means...All be could say had no effect.
And one of the soldiers, receiving a violent blow, instantly fired...
The mob...imagining the soldiers had only fired power to frighten, grew more bold and attacked with greater violence...The soldiers at
length perceiving [thinking] their lives in danger, and hearing the word fire all round them, three or four of them fired one after another,
and again three more in the same hurry and confusion. Four or five persons were unfortunately killed, and more wounded...”