In terms of the colonial population, only about a third of the colonists were true revolutionaries.

In terms of the colonial population, only about a third of the colonists were true revolutionaries.  There were certainly others who fought for the colonists, but they were generally swayed when the circumstances of the conflict affected their backyards.  There is also the issue of “taxation without representation.”  It is true that the colonies did not have proper representation in the British Parliament, but students are led to believe that new imperial taxes overwhelmed the colonists.  The average colonists never paid more than 1/30th of the average British citizen.  It was not the amount of taxes.  It was the very issue of taxation. 

Furthermore, the Boston massacre (killing of five colonists) was an important propaganda tool for the revolutionary cause.  Paul Revere’s depiction was that of organized British Soldiers firing into the colonists with fists in the air.  This was not the case.  It was a melee of flying snowballs and confusion. Ultimately, a future American President (John Adams) actually defended the British troops. They were found guilty, but only for minor offenses.  This verdict did not change the fact that the depiction of the “massacre” circulated via newspapers throughout the colonies.  Most of the citizens of Boston marched the streets in tribute to the men who died that day.

From a historical perspective, what other event which was reported for the purpose of persuasion to conjure up support and passion for a cause or a conflict?  How does the battle for information play into the topic of civic engagement?