The Boston Massacre

The Boston Massacre

​Instructions

• ​As you read, complete your notes

• ​There will be a check for understanding question after each section

​Trouble in Massachusetts

​Colonists continued to protest the taxes they found oppressive.  These protests made British officials nervous. In 1768, they sent word to Britain that the colonies were on the brink of rebellion-a rejection of British authority. England’s Parliament ordered 4,000 troops to Boston to keep order in the city. For many colonists, this British act went too far. The colonists were already convinced that the British had passed laws that violated colonial rights. Now Britain had sent an army to occupy, or take control of, colonial cities.

Multiple Choice

The Boston Massacre started as a protest over-- 

• Government

• War

• Taxes

Tension in the Streets

On March 5, 1770, violence erupted. A fight broke out between some colonists and British soldiers. As British officers tried to calm the crowd, a man shouted, "We did not send for you. We will not have you here. We'll get rid of you, we'll drive you away!"

​

The angry townspeople began throwing snowballs, stones, and wooden clubs at the soldiers. After one soldier was knocked down, the nervous redcoats opened fire on the crowd. Five unarmed colonists were killed, including Crispus Attucks, an African-American dockworker.  He became the first casualty (death) of the American Revolution. The colonists referred to this event as “The Bloody Massacre."

Multiple Choice

How many people died during the Boston Massacre? *

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

Multiple Choice

Who was the first casualty of the American Revolution (the first to die) *

• Samuel Adams

• George Washington

• Crispus Attucks

• Paul Revere

Spreading the News

Colonial leaders used the killings as propaganda—information designed to influence opinion. Paul Revere made an engraving that showed a British officer giving the order to open fire on an orderly crowd. Samuel Adams put up posters that described the Boston Massacre as a slaughter of innocent Americans by bloodthirsty redcoats (British soldiers).

​

The Boston Massacre had a major effects on relations between Britain and the American colonists.  Samuel Adams’ group, the Boston Committee of Correspondence, supported more action against Britain including stronger boycotts of British goods. Other colonists called for independence from England.

Multiple Choice

Samuel Adams was a member of the Boston Committee of Correspondence, which worked with the other 12 American colonies to promote manufacturing (making) goods in America and informing voters about issues with their mother country--Britain.

What other secret group was he a part of???

• Sons of America

• Sons of Our Mother

• Sons of Citizens

• Sons of Liberty

Boston Massacre: Animated Graphic Novel - YouTube

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Multiple Choice

A lithograph is a drawing made on a metal plate that can be printed on paper.

Who created this famous lithograph of the Boston Massacre?

• Samuel Adams

• Crispus Attucks

• Paul Revere

• John Adams

Multiple Choice

What was the main purpose of this engraving?

• To blame Loyalists for this massacre

• To persuade the colonists to act together against British policies

• To encourage witnesses to the event to testify before Parliament

• To illustrate the events of the Boston Massacre as impartially as possible

Closing

• ​Answer the following questions to complete your BECASUE, BUT, SO.

• ​You can click the back button to see your previous answer so you have more time to write

Multiple Choice

The Boston Massacre is important BECAUSE

• five colonists died

• the colonists now want their independence from England

• it unites the colonists to against the British

Multiple Choice

The Boston Massacre is important BUT

• five colonists died

• the colonists now want their independence from England

• it unites the colonists to against the British

Multiple Choice

The Boston Massacre is important SO

• five colonists died

• the colonists now want their independence from England

• it unites the colonists to against the British