The importance of considering multiple perspectives of the same event is the big idea in this exercise that focuses on the Boston Massacre. Class groups examine photos of four depictions of the massacre, an English and an American newspaper account, trial testimony, a clip from an HBO film, and then read their textbook account of the event. Using information gained from these documents, individuals write a letter to the editor of either a British or an American newspaper and assign blame  for the event.

Concepts

the boston tea party, colonial america, causes of the american revolution, the american revolution

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Additional Tags

american revolution, boston tea party, social studies

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Pros

• The materials are carefully selected to present multiple views of the same event
• The final assessment requires individuals to draw evidence from the documents they have examined

Cons

• The exercise assumes class members have experience with primary source materials