Documenting United States History

Doc. 4.6,

Testimony in

the Trial of the

British Soldiers of

the nineteenth

regiment of Foot,

1770

Doc. 4.7,

“Account of

the Boston

Tea party,”

Massachusetts

Gazette,

1773

Doc. 4.8,

“Memory of a

British officer

Stationed at

lexington and

Concord,”

1775

Audience: Who did the

author have in mind

when she or he created

this source?

The judge and jury

Purpose: What is the

author’s intent in creat-

ing this source? What is

it for?

To relate event and

encourage support

for the Patriot cause

Point of view and

attitude: Which per-

spective(s) does the

author consider? What

are the author’s biases?

This British soldier

was at the Battle

of Lexington and

Concord and wants

to present a view

that is sympathetic

to soldiers.

Format: How has the

author presented her

or his source? Is it

handwritten, printed, a

picture or cartoon, or an

artifact?

Diary; handwritten

Argument: A source

often reflects a writer’s

argument. What might

this source be arguing

for?

That the British

soldiers were being

attacked by the mob

Context: What events,

ideas, and people

surrounded the author

when this source was

created? Where did the

source appear? How

credible is the source?

Growing conflicts

between the British

and Patriot col-

onists; the back-

ground included the

Stamp Act, Boston

Massacre, Tea Act,

Boston Tea Party,

Coercive Acts, etc.

Limitations: Based on

all of the above, what

are some limitations of

this source? What can it

not do or be because of

its audience, purpose,

point of view, etc.?

Biased in support of

Patriot cause; unable

to present both

sides of the debate

between the Patriots

and British

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