DAY 3 LEAP PREP - Was the Boston Massacre Murder or Self-Defense?
In March 1770, tension between British soldiers and colonists in Boston had been growing for years. Colonists were angry about British taxes, laws, and the presence of soldiers in the city. British troops were sent to keep order, but their presence often led to arguments and violence.
On the night of March 5, a confrontation between British soldiers and a crowd of colonists turned deadly. Five colonists were killed after soldiers fired into the crowd. Colonists called the event a “massacre,” while British officials argued that the soldiers acted in self-defense.
Historians still debate whether the soldiers were guilty of murder or whether they fired because they felt threatened.
Group 1
Source Analysis Analyze the following sources about the Boston Massacre. Consider what each source suggests about whether the event was murder or self-defense.
Source 1.1
Source 1.1: Newspaper from March 6, 1770
Source 1.2
“The mob still increased and were more outrageous, striking their clubs or bludgeons one against another, and calling out, ‘Come on you rascals, fire!’… I was so pressed by the people that I could hardly keep my footing."
"The people threw snowballs, pieces of ice, and oyster shells, and struck at us with sticks. I thought my life was in danger.”
Source 1.2: Captain Thomas Preston – Trial Testimony / Published Account (1770) and Testimony from a British soldier at the Boston Massacre trials
Source 1.3
Source C: Engraving of the Event
The engraving shows British soldiers lined up and firing into a peaceful crowd. Colonists appear calm and unarmed, while blood covers the ground.
Source 1.4
After the Boston Massacre, British soldiers were put on trial in Boston. Most of the soldiers were found not guilty, and two were convicted of manslaughter, not murder. During the trial, several witnesses stated that the crowd was angry, shouting insults, and throwing objects at the soldiers. Others argued that the soldiers should not have fired, even if the crowd was hostile.
Source D: Trial & Witness Summary
Question 1a
Does source 1.1 suggest the Boston Massacre was murder or self-defense? Why?
Question 1b
Does source 1.2 suggest the Boston Massacre was murder or self-defense? Why?
Question 1c
Does source 1.3 suggest the Boston Massacre was murder or self-defense? Why?
Question 1d
Does source 1.4 suggest the Boston Massacre was murder or self-defense? Why?
Group 2
Write a complete extended response that addresses the prompt and includes:
- A clear claim
- Two accurate pieces of evidence
- Reasoning that explains how and why the evidence supports your claim
Question 2a
Was the Boston Massacre murder or self-defense?
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