The Boston Massacre
True Massacre? Massacre: The act or an instance of killing a number of usually helpless or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty Daniele da Volterra 1509-1566
Or Propaganda? Propaganda: The spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person
What Happened? March 5, 1770 Children Passing by the Custom House began throwing snowballs at a British sentry A mob formed, throwing stones and sticks 1 British soldier fired, causing panic End Result, 5 dead and 6 wounded colonists
Events leading up to Conflict Quartering Act- forced colonists to house and feed British soldiers Incident at Ropewalk- March 2, 1770 disagreement between dockworker and soldier led to violence General fear of British Soldiers restricting Colonists Rights.
Who was Paul Revere? Artist Horseman Silversmith Son of Liberty
Paul Revere’s Boston Massacre
What do you See? Who is attacking who? Are the Colonists Armed How does the painting make you feel?
Another view of the massacre John Pufford, ca 1856
What do you see? What are the differences between this picture and Paul Revere’s? How does this picture make you feel about the Colonists and the British Soldiers?
Conclusions Which depiction do you feel is more accurate? What do you feel were Paul Revere’s motives in painting “The Boston Massacre”? Do you think Revere’s Painting helped develop a revolutionary spirit among the Colonists?