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?