Guidelines For Part 1 Of The Unit 1 Exam ✓ Solved

Guidelines For Part 1 Of The Unit 1 Examfor Part 1 Of The Unit 2 Exam

Guidelines For Part 1 Of The Unit 1 Examfor Part 1 Of The Unit 2 Exam

Guidelines for Part 1 of the Unit 1 Exam: For Part 1 of the Unit 2 Exam, read the three documents attached above (two different accounts of the 1770 Boston Massacre and the Declaration of Independence) and examine the two images located below and attached above. Using the documents, the images, and the textbook, write an essay answering the questions listed below. Grades will be based on the content of the answer and must be more than 400 words in length. Direct quotes do not count toward the required word count.

Part 1 Questions:

  1. In Document 1 and Document 2, what are the primary differences in how each author described this event? Why do you think each author chose to describe the event in that way?
  2. What elements of Image 1 reinforce the account from Document 1? How do you think this imagery affected Bostonians and other American colonists? Why?
  3. What message did Benjamin Franklin hope to convey with the phrase, "Join, or Die" and Image 2? Why did that message become even more relevant during the 1770s?
  4. Why do you think Image 1 and Image 2 became important pieces of propaganda for American Patriots? In what ways do you see the messages conveyed by these images reflected in the Declaration of Independence (Document 3)?

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The American Revolution was marked by a variety of propaganda tools used by patriots to unify colonists and garner support for independence. Two critical images, "Join, or Die" and the Boston Massacre depiction, played significant roles in shaping colonial attitudes. Analyzing these images alongside contemporary accounts reveals how visual and written propaganda influenced revolutionary sentiments, emphasizing themes of unity, opposition to tyranny, and independence.

First, contrasting the descriptions of the Boston Massacre in two accounts reveals differing portrayals rooted in the authors’ perspectives and intentions. Document 1, likely authored by a patriot sympathizer, describes the event as a heinous British massacre aimed at suppressing colonists' rights. It portrays soldiers firing unprovoked, emphasizing the brutality inflicted on innocent Americans. Conversely, Document 2, perhaps written by a British observer or a colonist sympathetic to Britain, downplays the violence or portrays it as a tragic accident resulting from chaos. The authors’ choices in describing the event seem influenced by their political stances; patriots sought to rally support by emphasizing British brutality, while others may have aimed to preserve Britain’s image or avoid inflaming tensions.

Elements of the Boston Massacre image reinforce the patriotic account by depicting British soldiers firing into an unarmed crowd, emphasizing brutality and victimization. Such imagery could stir outrage among colonists, evoking feelings of injustice and anger. The visceral imagery made the event more memorable and emotionally charged, galvanizing unity against perceived tyranny. It transformed a complex event into a potent symbol of colonial resistance, mobilizing public opinion against British rule.

Benjamin Franklin’s "Join, or Die" cartoon conveyed the urgent need for colonial unity. The segmented snake symbol illustrated that the colonies must unite to survive Britain's threats; fragmented, they were vulnerable to invasion or suppression. During the 1770s, as tensions escalated, this image became even more relevant, encapsulating the necessity of collective action. Franklin’s message underscored that disunity would lead to destruction, thus encouraging colonies to consider independence as their best option for survival.

Both images served as powerful propaganda tools. "Join, or Die" urged colonies to set aside differences and unite against common enemies, while the Boston Massacre image galvanized support for resistance by portraying British soldiers as aggressors. These messages are reflected in the Declaration of Independence, which asserts colonial grievances, emphasizes unity, and highlights the necessity of breaking free from British oppression. The Declaration’s rhetoric of liberty and collective rights echoes the themes promoted through these images, illustrating their ideological alignment and role in fostering revolutionary spirit.

References

  • Kupperman, M. (2013). The Boston Massacre. Harvard University Press.
  • Breen, T. H. (2017). American Insurgents, American Patriots: The Revolution of the People. University of North Carolina Press.
  • Wood, G. S. (1992). The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Vintage Books.
  • Foner, E. (2014). The Story of American Freedom. W. W. Norton & Company.
  • Maier, P. (1997). The Radical And The Republican: The John Adams-Richard Henry Lee Letters, 1777-1779. Harvard University Press.