Project Questions

1. Compare the numerous accounts of the massacre presented in this unit. How do they characterize the relationship between the soldiers and townspeople? What are the similarities and differences in their characterizations? What about the encounter of March 5, 1770, between British troops and Boston civilians allowed for such divergent interpretations of the event?
2. The Short Narrative of the Horrid Massacre in Boston and the Fair Account of the Late Unhappy Disturbance have differing interpretations of the event. What ideological difference, if any, can you find in the testimony of witnesses that might account for this? Use examples from the text.
3. Assess the reliability of the sources in this unit, considering the motive of each author or artist in presenting his version of the event. How does evidence of bias in these sources account for these different perspectives, and what does this suggest about the use of the Boston Massacre for propaganda purposes?
4. Central Question: Why did the Boston Massacre become such a pivotal event in the Revolution?