AMERICAN HISTORY
Write your paragraph in your own words and proofread your work to eliminate spelling, grammar,
punctuation, and capitalization errors. Review the Writing Tips document to avoid common errors in
academic work.
� No quotations, citations, or footnotes are required for this assignment.
� Following the summary, construct a bibliography of sources directly related to the specific topic
covered in the video.
o In the event the video covers more than 1 specific topic, choose 1 on which to focus your bibliography.
o Example: If you view a video on the Battle of Gettysburg, you must choose sources for your
bibliography that address the Battle of Gettysburg, not the Civil War. Although they are broadly related,
the connection must be more focused.
o Your bibliography must include:
? 5 scholarly books using the library search engine and/or WorldCat
? 5 peer-reviewed, scholarly articles using JSTOR, Academic Search Complete, or Academic OneFile
o Use current Turabian format to create your bibliography.
o You do not need to read or otherwise summarize your sources, but you must research them enough to
make sure they are directly related to the video summarized and are scholarly in nature.
� You must use attached template for the assignment.
“Boston, Bloody Boston,” in Revolution 1 (A&E Television Networks, 2006), 45:30 mins.
The coverage of the American history through this video provides insights into the origin
of the American Revolution with an emphasis on Boston uprising caused by British invasion
found in the Boston massacre episode of the movie. 1 The movie covers various aspects of the
American Revolution, which laid the foundation for the independence and subsequent success of
the United States because the nation’s viability was not an imminent incidence, and its quest for
freedom and liberty was not an endeavor for the faint hearted. 2 This is attributed to the fact that,
as time passed after the invasion, British colonialists became increasingly independent, and their
fierce and powerful army was the barrier to the independence, freedom, and sovereignty of
Americans especially those living in Boston as highlighted in the movie. 3 The increasingly
1 Allison, Robert. The Boston Massacre. Beverly: Applewood Books, 2006.
2 Ibid
2
oppressive colonialists led to widespread outcry and anger among the Bostonians and the British
troops were sent there to enforce the Townshend Acts and maintain order. 4 However, the troops
were faced by constant resistance and confrontations from residents culminating to the Boston
Massacre on March 5, 1770 when the troops fired into a demonstrating crowd killing three males
on the spot, while two more died from bullet wounds inflicted on them. 5
These incidents form the basis of the movie “The Revolution: Boston, Bloody Boston”,
which constitutes part 1 of a series of 13 parts. 6 The movie examines a wide range of issues that
occurred in Boston during the revolution, especially how disagreements with regards to taxes
resulted to the onset of the American Revolution. 7 The movie dramatizes conflicts and
controversies Bostonians encountered in various episodes, particularly the Stamp Act, the Boston
Tea Party, the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere’s Ride, the First Continental Congress, as well as
the Battles of Concord and Lexington which led to the perpetuation of the American desires for
liberty. 8
The Boston massacre is of immense importance in this synopsis since it is the core
incident, which escalated the American desire for freedom resulting to fierce struggle for
independence. 9 At the onset of the movie and as episodes play out, the audience is introduced to
a number of the main political leaders who instigated the rebellion, including John Adams,
3 Middlekauff, Robert. The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763–1789. New York and Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 2007.
4 York, Neil L. “Rival Truths, Political Accommodation, and the Boston ‘Massacre’.” Massachusetts Historical Review 11, no.
3 (December 2009): 57–95.
5 Ibid
6 Ritter, Kurt W. “Confrontation as Moral Drama: The Boston Massacre in Rhetorical Perspective.” Southern Speech
Communication Journal 42, no. 1 (January 1977): 114–136.
7 Archer, Richard. As if an Enemy’s Country: the British Occupation of Boston and the Origins of Revolution. Oxford and New
York: Oxford University Press, 2010.
8 Reid, John P. “A Lawyer Acquitted: John Adams and the Boston Massacre.” American Journal of Legal History 18, no. 3
(August 1974): 189–207.
9 York, Neil L. The Boston Massacre: A History with Documents. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2010.
3
Samuel Adams, Thomas Hutchinson, Patrick Henry, as well as British General Thomas Gage
and England’s King George III. 10 The Boston Massacre episode in the movie chronicles the
initial stages of what became to be known as the American Revolution characterized by
widespread rebellion and uprising in their quest for independence. 11 In particular, the Boston
Massacre episode in the movie is a proud portrayal of fortitude, willpower, and courage as the
official foundation of America is finally laid. 12
This is attributed to the fact that, the Boston Massacre incident signaled the onset of the
American rebellion leading to Revolutionary War against the British even though the true facts
of the incident were surrounded by numerous myths and controversies. 13 For instance, even after
the massacre, the murder trial of the involved soldiers which followed raised high emotions, and
the ruling outcomes were not regarded fair by both sides. 14 Finally, there was profound impact of
the Boston massacre incident on heightening the genesis of the American Revolution, and
despite the efforts put in place to slow down the anti-British sentiments by the governing
authorities, including postponement of the trial for some months as well as immediate removal of
British army troops from Boston, the net result was heightened quest for independence by the
Americans. 15
10 Middlekauff, Robert. The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763–1789. New York and Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 2007.
11 O’Connor, Thomas H. The Hub: Boston Past and Present. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 2001.
12 Knollenberg, Bernhard. Growth of the American Revolution, 1766–1775. New York: Free Press, 1975.
13 Walett, Francis. “James Bowdoin, Patriot Propagandist.” The New England Quarterly 23, no. 3 (September 1950): 112-120.
14 Ed, Tallent. “The American Civil War: Letters & Diaries.” Boston College Library Journal 20 no. 2, (September 2001): 12-17.
15 Young, Alfred. “Revolution in Boston? Eight Propositions for Public History on the Freedom Trail.” The Public Historian 25,
no. 2 (Spring 2003): 17–41.
4
Bibliography
Books
Allison, Robert. The Boston Massacre. Beverly: Applewood Books, 2006.
Archer, Richard. As if an Enemy’s Country: the British Occupation of Boston and the Origins of
Revolution. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2010.
Cumming, William P. and Rankin Hugh F. The Fate of a Nation: The American Revolution
through Contemporary Eyes. New York: Phaidon Press, 1975.
Knollenberg, Bernhard. Growth of the American Revolution, 1766–1775. New York: Free Press,
1975.
Middlekauff, Robert. The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763–1789. New York and
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
O’Connor, Thomas H. The Hub: Boston Past and Present. Boston: Northeastern University
Press, 2001.
York, Neil L. The Boston Massacre: A History with Documents. New York: Taylor & Francis,
2010.
Articles
Ed, Tallent. “The American Civil War: Letters & Diaries.” Boston College Library Journal 20
no. 2, (September 2001): 12-17.
5
Reid, John P. “A Lawyer Acquitted: John Adams and the Boston Massacre.” American Journal
of Legal History 18, no. 3 (August 1974): 189–207.
Ritter, Kurt W. “Confrontation as Moral Drama: The Boston Massacre in Rhetorical
Perspective.” Southern Speech Communication Journal 42, no. 1 (January 1977):
114–136.
Walett, Francis. “James Bowdoin, Patriot Propagandist.” The New England Quarterly 23, no. 3
(September 1950): 112-120.
York, Neil L. “Rival Truths, Political Accommodation, and the Boston
‘Massacre’.” Massachusetts Historical Review 11, no. 3 (December 2009): 57–95.
Young, Alfred. “Revolution in Boston? Eight Propositions for Public History on the Freedom
Trail.” The Public Historian 25, no. 2 (Spring 2003): 17–41.
