Exploring American Histories: Printed Page 159
Interpret the Evidence
How accurate is Paul Revere’s etching of the Boston Massacre (Document 5.8)? Why would he have chosen to depict the scene as he did?
Compare Revere’s portrayal of the event with the testimonies of William Wyatt (Document 5.6) and Captain Preston (Document 5.9).
Why did the funeral procession (described in Document 5.7) further incite popular sentiment against the British?
In what ways does William Wyatt’s deposition (Document 5.6) support the colonists’ view of the event? In what ways might it support the British view? Where does it overlap with Captain Preston’s account (Document 5.9)?
How does John Hancock (Document 5.10) connect the Boston Massacre with the ongoing struggle for American independence?
Put It in Context
What events had occurred between March 1770 and March 1774 that made the Boston Massacre a touchstone of resistance?
How might the deaths of the five colonists and the outcome of the trial have changed the way patriots and ordinary colonists viewed the British authorities?