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Comparing Depictions of the Boston Massacre

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Compare and Contrast

Choose one of the first three artistic depictions of the Boston Massacre created decades later in the mid-1800s and analyze the artwork using the questions below.

  • What do you see?
  • What do you think is happening?

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View the full activity: https://docsteach.org/activity/comparing-depictions-of-the-boston-massacre/

Based on your analysis of one of the depictions above, answer the following:

  • Use the image to summarize what you think happened during the Boston Massacre.
  • Based on the image, which group seems to be the aggressor (persons starting or provoking the attack)?
  • Do you think the image depicts the viewpoint of the colonists involved or that of the British soldiers? Explain your opinion.

In your group, compare the first three images of the Boston Massacre to each other using these questions:

  • Do the documents portray the same story of the Boston Massacre? Why or why not?
  • What are the similarities and differences between the documents?
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