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Name: Period: UP#:

Boston Massacre Detectives Notebook

Detectives- Welcome… Thank you so much for coming so

quickly…this is not an easy case to solve. We have a lot of

work ahead of us because this case is a tricky one.

Today is March 6, 1770 and last night there was some type of fight between the

colonists here in Boston and the

British soldiers that are stationed

here. We’re not sure exactly what

happened but we do know that

shots were fired and five

colonists are now dead.

It’s our job to determine whether the British soldiers murdered the American

colonists or whether the entire

incident was an accident that

happened in self-defense. Your task is

to sort through all of the evidence and

decide whether the British soldiers

were murderers or if they were acting

in self-defense. Try to determine the

facts and not be swayed by bias.

 

 

 

   

çMade in 1801

Present Dayè  

 

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Vocabulary to Know • Bias:

• Propaganda:

• Massacre:

Setting the Stage

As you watch the video clip, take some notes about the physical environment of the crime scene (the site of the Massacre). Look and listen to how the

people are portrayed. 1.) What things do you notice during the opening scenes that you have prior

knowledge about? 2.) What time of day is it? 3.) What time of year is it? 4.) What are the people yelling? 5.) Why did John Adams run to

the water pump?

John Adams

Captain Thomas Preston

 

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Exhibit A As you look at the crime scene, take notes on what you see and answer any

questions in the evidence.

Exhibit F- Paul Revere’s Engraving

As you look at the crime scene, take notes on what you see and answer any questions in the evidence.

**Paul Revere. Boston, Massachusetts 1735-1818 Boston, Massachusetts. The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Stree t Boston on March 5 th 1770, by a party o f the 29thRegt . , 1770. Hand-colored engraving, 10 ½ x 9 1/8 in.**

Exhibit G- William Champney drawing As you look at the crime scene, take notes on what you see and answer any

questions in the evidence. **William Champney. 1855. Boston Massacre , March 5th 1770.

 

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Evidence B- Captain Preston’s Account

Source Info 1. Who wrote or created

this? 2. When was it written? 3. Is this a primary or

secondary source? How do you know?

Close Reading Questions 1. What is this document

about? 2 sentence summary

2. Identify words that contain emotion or opinion

3. What claims is Capt. Preston making? Does he believe the event was a massacre?

Piece to the

Puzzle? 1. What evidence does

Capt. Preston use to back up his claims?

2. Consider when this document was created. What is happening historically at the time?

3. Consider who the author is. What was his role at the time? How was he connected to the events they’re describing?

4. How would the author’s role impact his perspective of what happened?

 

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Evidence C- Andrew’s Account (slave in Boston)

Source Info 1. Who wrote or created

this? 2. When was it written? 3. Is this a primary or

secondary source? How do you know?

Close

Reading Questions 1. What is this document

about? 2 sentence summary

2. Identify words that contain emotion or opinion

3. What claims is Andrew making? Does he believe the event was a massacre?

Piece to the

Puzzle? 1. What evidence does

Andrew use to back up his claims?

2. Consider when this document was created. What is happening historically at the time?

3. Consider who the author is. What was his role at the time? How was he connected to the events they’re describing?

4. How would the author’s role impact his perspective of what happened?

 

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Evidence D- George Sanderlin’s Account

Source Info 1. Who wrote or created

this? 2. When was it written? 3. Is this a primary or

secondary source? How do you know?

Close

Reading Questions 1. What is this document

about? 2 sentence summary

2. Identify words that contain emotion or opinion

3. What claims is Sanderlin making? Does he believe the event was a massacre?

Piece to the

Puzzle? 1. What evidence does

Sanderlin use to back up his claims?

2. Consider when this document was created. What is happening historically at the time?

3. Consider who the author is. What was his role at the time? How was he connected to the events they’re describing?

4. How would the author’s role impact his perspective of what happened?

 

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Evidence E- William Wyatt’s Account

Source Info 1. Who wrote or created

this? 2. When was it written? 3. Is this a primary or

secondary source? How do you know?

Close

Reading Questions 1. What is this document

about? 2 sentence summary

2. Identify words that contain emotion or opinion

3. What claims is Wyatt making? Does he believe the event was a massacre?

Piece to the

Puzzle? 1. What evidence does

Wyatt use to back up his claims?

2. Consider when this document was created. What is happening historically at the time?

3. Consider who the author is. What was his role at the time? How was he connected to the events they’re describing?

4. How would the author’s role impact his perspective of what happened?

 

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Evidence that supports the idea that

the soldiers were acting in SELF-DEFENSE

(make sure to include where you found your evidence)

Evidence supporting the idea that the soldiers caused a MASSACRE

(make sure to include where you found your

evidence)