Name:__________________________________________ Date:________________________ Period:_______
The Boston Massacre, 5 March (1770)
Background:
These pictures show two different representations of the same event. The Boston Massacre, called the Boston Riot by
the English, was an incident on March 5, 1770, in which British redcoats killed five civilian men. British troops had been
stationed in Boston since 1768 in order to protect and support crown-appointed colonial officials attempting to enforce
unpopular Parliamentary legislation. Amid ongoing tense relations between the population and the soldiers, a mob
formed around a British sentry, who was subjected to verbal abuse and harassment. He was eventually supported by a
small company of troops, who were assaulted by verbal threats and thrown objects. They fired into the crowd,
apparently without orders, instantly killing three people and wounding others. Two more people died later of wounds
sustained in the incident.
The crowd eventually dispersed after Acting Governor Thomas Hutchinson promised an inquiry, but reformed the next
day, prompting the withdrawal of the troops to Castle Island. Eight soldiers were arrested and charged with murder.
Defended by Patriot lawyer John Adams, six of the soldiers were acquitted, while the other two were convicted of
manslaughter and given reduced sentences.
Depictions and reports of the event, notably the colored engraving produced by Paul Revere, further heightened
tensions throughout the Thirteen Colonies. The event is widely viewed as foreshadowing the outbreak of the American
Revolutionary War five years later.
The definition of a massacre: the unnecessary, indiscriminate killing of a large number of human beings or animals, as in
barbarous warfare or persecution or for revenge or plunder, or a general slaughter, as of persons or animals: the
massacre of millions during the war.
Questions:
1. Based on the definition of massacre, do you think this incident could accurately be described as a massacre?
Explain why or why not.
2. What is each scene trying to persuade its viewers to believe?
3. How does each scene demonstrate bias?
4. Which of the three persuasive techniques (ethos, logos, pathos) is used the most in these two scenes?
5. What examples from the scenes led you to your conclusion in question #4?