While studying causes of the American Revolution in social studies, seventh grade students participated in Boston Massacre Mock Trials. Students chose a role for the trial- either lawyer, witness or jury- and worked together to study the scripts that were read during the mock trial, primarily composed of primary source material from the actual Boston Massacre Trial that occurred in October of 1770 in Boston.
Lawyers for both sides questioned witnesses, made their closing arguments to the jury and waited for the jury to deliberate and deliver their decision. Three of the four classes said the soldiers were guilty, with two of the juries split and one unanimous. The class that said the soldiers were innocent was unanimous.