Building Blocks for History Lab:

SS.5.A.5.1 Identify and explain significant events leading up to the American Revolution.SS.5.C.2.1 Differentiate political ideas of Patriots, Loyalists, and "undecideds" during the American

Revolution. Relevant to Seventh Grade End of Course Exam Tested Benchmark.

Essential Question: Should the Colonists Have Revolted Against Great Britain?

Before introducing this history lab to students, they must be familiar with the general details surrounding the events leading up to the American Revolution. In general students will need to understand the social, political, and economic reasons why the colonists ended up revolting against Great Britain. See below for a partial list:

French and Indian War caused an economic strain on England; Various acts passed against the colonists (Stamp Act, Tea Act, Intolerable Acts, etc.); Groups that were formed supporting England and opposing England; The Boston Massacre; The Boston Tea Party; The Declaration of Independence; and The First Continental Congress.

Name _____________________________________________ Period _____ Date _____________________

SS.5.A.5.1 Identify and explain significant events leading up to the American Revolution.SS.5.C.2.1 Differentiate political ideas of Patriots, Loyalists, and "undecideds" during the American Revolution. Relevant to Seventh

Grade End of Course ExamTested Benchmark.

Essential Question: Should the Colonists Have Revolted Against Great Britain? Source Main Idea / Message / Important Details How does this document answer the

essential question?Source 1The Real Boston Massacre

Source 2Selected Paragraphs from Common SenseSource 3Selected Paragraphs from the Plain TruthSource 4Painting- Death of Jane McCrea

Summary Statement: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Source #1

The Real Boston Massacre The Boston Massacre refers to the murder of five colonists by British soldiers on March 5, 1770. The Sons of Liberty, a group of colonists who resisted the Crown, dubbed the event a "Massacre" in order to incite anger towards the Crown. British officials, however, referred to the event as the Boston Riot. These names reveal more than just differing attitudes towards the same event. Indeed eyewitness accounts tell drastically different stories about what happened on the night of March 5, 1770.

The statement issued by members of the Sons of Liberty, including Samuel Adams and John Hancock, painted the event as a malicious and unprovoked slaughter. They attest that the Massacre was retribution for a quarrel three nights prior between soldiers and colonists. Captain Preston, the British commander on duty on the night of March 5, was reported to have ordered his men to fire upon the colonists on King Street, "without the least warning."

William Taint, a Bostonian who witnessed but was not directly involved in the events of March, provided testimony during the trial of the British soldiers. He maintains that a group of colonists was gathered outside of the British Customs House when a formation of British soldiers took position outside of the building. Colonists were yelling, "Fire, fire, and be damned," and throwing snowballs at the British soldiers. Taint heard a musket discharge and then the word, "Fire" yelled by an unknown speaker, after which several more shots were fired.

Taint's account differs from that provided by Adams and Hancock in several respects. Firstly, Taint clearly states that the colonists were taunting and throwing snowballs at the soldiers, while Adams and Hancock portray the colonists peacefully going about their business. Taint also brings an element of uncertainty to the question of who yelled, "Fire." The former account clearly states that Captain Preston issued a direct order to fire, while the latter implies that it may just as well have been a colonist who shouted, "Fire."

Captain Preston's testimony during the trial offers a third source of information regarding March 5. He states that his men were protecting the Customs House from theft by the colonists when they were physically and verbally assaulted. While Taint saw only snowballs being hurled at the British, Preston reported that his men were also beaten with clubs. His soldiers responded by firing upon the colonists, later claiming that they heard the command to fire and assumed it came from Preston. Preston blames members of the mob for yelling, "Fire," and (unsurprisingly) denies issuing any such order.

Illustrations of the Boston Massacre are just as disparate as eyewitness accounts. Paul Revere's engraving shows innocent Bostonians being shot at as they attempt to flee. Captain Preston is clearly issuing the order to fire. Revere even included a small dog near the colonists to accentuate their innocence and vulnerability. The color suggests that the Massacre occurred in broad daylight, making it all the more heinous. This painting clearly coincides with the account given by Adams and Hancock, which is no surprise considering that Revere was also devoted to resisting British authority.

Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre.

A depiction of the event by an unknown artist contradicts Revere's illustration in several aspects. Firstly, the colonists are brandishing weapons and surrounding the British soldiers. Secondly, it is dark and there is a lot of smoke, which creates a sense of confusion. Thirdly, there is no clear order being issued by Captain Preston. The firing that is occuring in the image is just as likely to be out of self-defense as out of aggression. Thus, this portrayal supports aspects of both Taint and Preston's accounts.

Source: http://www.historyofold.com/2011/09/real-boston-massacre.html

Source 2: Selected Paragraphs from Common SenseWritten by Thomas Paine and Published on January 10, 1776

Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession

In the early ages of the world, according to the Bible there were no kings; the consequence of which was, there were no wars; it is the pride of kings which throws mankind into confusion. Holland, without a king hath enjoyed more peace for this last century than any of the monarchical Government by kings was first introduced into the world by the people who didn’t know God. It was the most prosperous invention the devil ever set on foot for the promotion of worshipping kings rather than God…

Source 3: Selected Paragraphs fromPLAIN TRUTH

byJames Chalmers

(Candidus)An abridged edition of the March 1776 pamphlet written as a response to Thomas Paine's Common Sense. Chalmers was a loyalist from the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Plain Truth Plain Truth ParaphrasedINTRODUCTION.

IF indignant at the Doctrine contained in the Pamphlet, entitled COMMON SENSE: I have expressed myself, in the following Observations, with some ardor; I entreat the Reader to impute my indignation, to honest zeal against the Author’s Insidious Tenets. Animated and impelled by every inducement of the Human Heart; I love, and (if I dare so express myself,) I adore my Country. Passionately devoted to true Liberty; I glow with the purest flame of Patriotism. Silver’d with age as I am, if I know myself, my humble Sword shall not be wanting to my Country; (if the most Honorable Terms are not tendered by the British Nation) to whose Sacred Cause, I am most fervently devoted. The judicious Reader, will not impute my honest, tho’ bold Remarks, to unfriendly designs against my Children ---- against my Country; but to abhorrence of Independency; which if effected, would inevitably plunge our once pre-eminently envied Country into Ruin, Horror, and Desolation.

IntroductionAngry at the position taken in the Pamphlet, entitled COMMON SENSE, I have expressed myself with some passion. Animated and driven by every influence of the Human Heart, I love, and (if I dare express myself) I adore my Country. Passionately devoted to true Liberty, I glow with the purest flame of Patriotism. Old as I am, if I know myself, I will fight for my Country. The wise Reader, will not think my honest Remarks go against my Children and my Country but go against them becoming Independent. If independence is carried out we will inevitably plunge our Country into Ruin, Horror, and D eso l at i o n.

I HAVE now before me the Pamphlet, entitledCOMMON SENSE; on which I shall remark with freedom and candour.

I HAVE now before me the Pamphlet,entitled COMMON SENSE; on which Ishall remark with freedom ando p e nn ess .

Source #4:

“The Death of Jane McCrea,” 1804By John Vanderlyn

The Death of Jane McCrea, by John Vanderlyn. Painted in 1804. Courtesy The Wadsworth Athanaeum, Hartford, Conn. Jane McCrea was engaged to a soldier in the army of British Lieutenant General John Burgoyne. She was thought to have been slain by Native Americans in 1777. Burgoyne was unable to find her killers, resulting in a decrease in confidence in the ability of the British to protect its army and a surge in military recruitments for the American Patriots.

Vanderlyn, John. The Death of Jane McCrea. Digital image. The Atheneum. 2000. Web. 29 June 2011. http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=15812.