Transcript The Boston Massacre Where

Rhetoric and Propaganda During
the American Revolution
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may
be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates
of our passion, they cannot alter the state of
facts and evidence.”
- John Adams
Argument in Defense of the British Soldiers in the Boston
Massacre Trials (November 4, 1770)
Rhetoric in the Revolution
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In addition to speeches, printed texts such as
newspapers, pamphlets, and broadsides used
rhetoric (the art/skill of using language
effectively and persuasively, often using
exaggeration) to communicate ideas.
Just as printed texts and sociable associations
such as coffeehouses helped to spread the
ideas of the Enlightenment, so too did they help
to spread ideas about American independence
from Great Britain.
Examples of Colonial Rhetoric
John Adams, A Dissertation on the Canon Feudal Law:
“Have not some generals from England treated
us like servants, nay, more like slaves than like
Britons? Have we not been under the most
ignominious contribution, the most abject
submission, the most supercilious insults, of
some custom-house officers? Have we not been
trifled with, brow-beaten, and trampled on, by
former governors, in a manner which no king of
England since James the Second has dared to
indulge towards his subjects?”
“...Let us not suppose that all are become luxurious,
effeminate, and unreasonable, on the other side the
water, as many designing persons would insinuate. Let
us presume, what is in fact true, that the spirit of liberty
is as ardent as ever among the body of the nation,
though a few individuals may be corrupted. Let us take
it for granted, that the same great spirit which once
gave Cesar so warm a reception, which denounced
hostilities against John till Magna Charta was signed,
which severed the head of Charles the First from his
body, and drove James the Second from his kingdom,
the same great spirit (may heaven preserve it till the
earth shall be no more) which first seated the great
grandfather of his present most gracious majesty on
the throne of Britain, — is still alive and active and
warm in England; and that the same spirit in America,
instead of provoking the inhabitants of that country, will
endear us to them for ever, and secure their good-will.”
Slave Petition to the Governor, Council, and House of
Representatives of the Province of Massachusetts (1774)
“...we have in common with all other men a naturel right to our
freedoms without Being depriv'd of them by our fellow men as
we are a freeborn Pepel and have never forfeited this
Blessing by aney compact or agreement whatever. But we
were unjustly dragged by the cruel hand of power from our
dearest frinds and sum of us stolen from the bosoms of our
tender Parents and from a Populous Pleasant and plentiful
country and Brought hither to be made slaves for Life in a
Christian land. Thus are we deprived of every thing that hath a
tendency to make life even tolerable... Our children are also
taken from us by force and sent maney miles from us wear we
seldom or ever see them again there to be made slaves of for
Life which sumtimes is vere short by Reson of Being dragged
from their mothers Breest Thus our Lives are imbittered to us
on these accounts By our deplorable situation we are
rendered incapable of shewing our obedience to Almighty
God...”
Propaganda in the Revolution
Propaganda is one-sided information intended to
persuade either in favor or against a position.
 Propaganda often takes the form of powerful,
symbolic, allegorical imagery.
 Political cartoons and engravings were common
forms of propaganda during the Revolution.
 Rhetoric refers to skill with words, but the same
understanding of how to manipulate the thoughts
and emotions of the audience is vital to creating
effective propaganda as well. The two concepts go
hand-in-hand.
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Benjamin Wilson, The Repeal or Funeral of Miss Ame-Stamp
March 18, 1766
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The short-term effect of the violent riots against the
Stamp Act of 1765 was the repeal of the Act a year
later.
This image celebrates the “death” of the Stamp Act by
depicting it being carried to a tomb in a child's coffin.
George Grenville, the engineer of the Act, is the man
carrying the coffin. Other proponents of the Act - Bute,
Bedford, and Temple - follow him.
The ships are labeled: “Conway,” “Rockingham,” and
“Grafton” - these were the names of Parliamentary
leaders who repealed the Stamp Act. The ships are
leaving Britain's shores to represent the resumption of
British-American trade (which was halted by the nonimportation agreements). Returned stamps are piled on
the dock.
This satirical print was popular and widely circulated.
Paul Revere, A view of the obelisk erected under Liberty-tree in
Boston on the rejoicings for the repeal of the Stamp Act (1766)
Ben Franklin, Join, or Die (1754)
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While it was originally created for the
purposes of inspiring the colonies to
unite against France during the French
and Indian War, (the Albany Plan of
Union) during the Revolution, the
allegory became emblematic of the
American struggle against the British.
Christopher Gadsden's Don't Tread on Me
Flag (1775)
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North Carolina statesman and general
Christopher Gadsden designed this
famous flag early in the Revolutionary
War.
The phrase, “Don't Tread on Me” is a
warning (or “rattle”) to the British –
much like a rattlesnake will strike if
trodden upon, (as the rights of the
Americans were perceived to be) so
too would the colonies strike back.
James Gillray, The American Rattle Snake
(1782)
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James Gillray was a well-known British political cartoonist. This
image was drawn during British-American peace negotiations,
and represents the American victory at Yorktown, in which
American and French forces “constricted” General Cornwallis'
British army; the French fleet cut off any chance of escape by
sea, and the American forces boxed them in from the land.
The caption reads: "Two British Armies I have thus Burgoyn'd,
And room for more I've got behind." General Burgoyne led the
British army through Canada in part of a failed pincer movement
to isolate New England from the rest of the colonies. The
colonial forces wore down his slow-moving retinue as he made
various strategic blunders along the way. He famously lost to the
Americans in the Battle of Saratoga, against forces partially led
by Benedict Arnold.
Gillray's satirical cartoon suggests the futility of British attempts
to force the Americans into line.
Why was the rattlesnake so often used as a
symbol of America?
Benjamin Franklin on the Rattlesnake as Symbol of
America
“[T]he ancients considered the serpent as an emblem of wisdom, and in a
certain attitude of endless duration... countries are sometimes represented
by animals peculiar to them, it occurred to me that the Rattle-Snake is
found in no other quarter of the world besides America, and may therefore
have been chosen, on that account, to represent her....I recollected that
her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has
no eye-lids. She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. She
never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is
therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. As if anxious to
prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which
nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to
those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most
defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shown and
extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their
wounds however small, are decisive and fatal. Conscious of this, she
never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy,
and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her....The RattleSnake is solitary, and associates with her kind only when it is necessary
for their preservation. In winter, the warmth of a number together will
preserve their lives, while singly, they would probably perish. ...”
Anonymous American Engraving (1776)
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The woman with the giant wig represents
Britain; the Native American women
represents America.
Britain: “I'll force you to Obedience, you
Rebellious Slut.” America: “Liberty, Liberty
forever, Mother, while I exist.”
Why might women have been used to
represent these two sides?
Why might a Native American represent
America?
The Great Financier, or British Economy for
the Years 1763, 1764 and 1765" (colonial
engraving)
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This image shows a Native American
(again representing America) buckling
under a load of British rubbish,
representing taxes. William Pitt and
George Grenville are also depicted in
the piece.
Paul Revere, The Able Doctor, or America
Swallowing the Bitter Drought (1774)
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This engraving depicts Lord North (who
repealed the Townshend Acts, but kept the
tax on tea) pouring tea down the throat of
an Indian woman representing an ailing
America.
Other members of the British government
are present, one holding a sword which
reads, “Military Law,” and another peeking
under the woman's skirt, a reference to the
British violation of the colonists' rights.
At the left, men representing Spain and
France discuss whether or not they should
aid America.
Henry Hawkins, Liberty Triumphant; or the
Downfall of Oppression (1776)
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This image depicts Native Americans
(representing America again) aiming at
Britain with bows and arrows. It was
created shortly before the Declaration of
Independence was issued.
Far from being victims, these Indians are
aiming straight for Lord North, representing
British oppression in general.
Near the American Indians are Tories
(Loyalists).
Three Perspectives on the Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre (March 5,
1770)
• Colonial protest over the Townshend Acts escalated
throughout 1768. The Massachusetts assembly was
dissolved by Governor Francis Bernard in response to
its vocal opposition to the Acts; this prompted further
mob violence.
• The British sent in troops to maintain public order and
protect the customs officials that were targeted. Those
same officials then seized John Hancock’s ship Liberty
for his continued violation of the trade acts.
• Hancock was a wealthy merchant and smuggler, and he
had close ties to the resistance movement.
• The British sent in two regiments of troops to further
police Boston.
• The Americans already resented the British
soldiers on their soil; this increased military
presence only exacerbated the tensions.
• On March 5, 1770, eight colonials (including a
mulatto dockworker named Crispus Attucks)
harassed a group of British soldiers, throwing
snowballs and taunting them.
• It is unclear what precisely sparked the first shot,
but it does not seem that it was ordered by the
commander. In any case, the other troops
followed suit and five of the eight civilians
(beginning with Attucks) were killed.
• This event was quickly mythologized and
inspired a great amount of propaganda and
rhetoric.
Image A
Who: Paul Revere
What: The Bloody Massacre
Where: Boston
When: 1770
Image B
Who: John Bufford after William L. Champey
What: The Boston Massacre
Where: Boston
When: 1856
Image C
Who: Alonzo Chappel
What: The Boston Massacre
Where: Boston
When: 1868
Broadside of the
Boston Massacre,
1770.
Colonial Newspaper Reporting Battles of
Lexington and Concord (1775)