John Adams – Defense of the Boston Massacre Soldiers

Primary Source Comprehension • Approx. Lexile 950 • Tabs: Main Idea & Details, Inference, Vocabulary
(reads all four excerpts)
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Primary Source Text Excerpts from the Autobiography of John Adams (1804–1807)

1. Adams Explains Why He Accepted the Case

“The Part I took in Defence of Captain Preston and the Soldiers, procured me Anxiety, and Obloquy enough. It was, however, one of the most gallant, generous, manly and disinterested Actions of my whole Life, and one of the best Pieces of Service I ever rendered my Country.”

2. Adams on the Principle of Justice Over Popular Anger

“The People were perfectly inflamed. The Soldiers had fired and killed some persons; and the Whole Town and Land was full of Rancor and Fury at this event. It was, however, in every point of view, of the utmost Importance that the Soldiers should have a fair trial. I therefore accepted the Cause.”

3. Adams Reflects on the Importance of Rule of Law

“Counsel ought to be the very last thing that an accused person should want in a free country. This Principle prevailed with me in undertaking the Defence.”

4. Adams Describes the Moral Courage Required

“It was not without uttering some sharp rebukes on this occasion that I could prevail on my family to consent that I should hazard my own Reputation, and so much of that of my honest and beloved Partner, as was involved in it.”

Comprehension Tabs
Questions may refer to any of the four excerpts above.
1. What is the main idea of these excerpts from John Adams’s autobiography?
Main idea across all four excerpts.
2. According to Adams, what was the mood of the people after the Boston Massacre?
Detail from the second excerpt about public anger.
3. What principle does Adams say “prevailed” with him in undertaking the defense?
Detail from the third excerpt about counsel in a free country.
4. What risk did Adams say he took by defending the soldiers?
Detail from the fourth excerpt about reputation and family.
5. What can be inferred about how Adams viewed his decision to defend the soldiers?
Inference from the first excerpt about his pride in the action.
6. What does Adams’s description of the people as “perfectly inflamed” and “full of Rancor and Fury” suggest about how risky the case was?
Inference about the personal and political risk.
7. Why did Adams need to give “sharp rebukes” to his family before they consented to his taking the case?
Inference about his family’s concerns.
8. What can be inferred about Adams’s beliefs regarding law and public opinion?
Inference from his emphasis on fair trial and counsel in a free country.
9. In the sentence “The Part I took in Defence… procured me Anxiety, and Obloquy enough,” the word “Obloquy” most nearly means
Vocabulary in context from the first excerpt.
10. Adams calls his defense “disinterested.” In this context, “disinterested” most nearly means
Vocabulary in context describing his motives.
11. In the phrase “the Whole Town and Land was full of Rancor and Fury,” the word “Rancor” most nearly means
Vocabulary in context about the public reaction.
12. In the line “I should hazard my own Reputation,” the word “hazard” most nearly means
Vocabulary in context from the fourth excerpt.
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