in the text you read this about the aftermath of the boston massacre, the soldiers were arr3ested and tried in court, john adams agreed to defend them, saying that they deserved a fair trial. he wanted o show the world that the colonists believed in justice, even if the british government did not. at the trial, adams argued that the crowd had provoked the soldiers. his arguments convinced the jury. in the end, the heaviest punishment any soldier received was a branding on the hand.

Question

how could john adams defend the british soldiers but still be seen as a patriot?

A adams defended the soilders while defending the patriots belief in justice.
B adams defended the soldiers because he thought it would make the british pity the patriot cause.
C adams defended the soldiers because many patriots asked him to.

Answer 1

The best answer is A. Adams defended the soldiers while defending the patriots' belief in justice.

This option captures the essence of John Adams' motivations: he believed that upholding the principle of justice and a fair trial was vital, even for those who were seen as enemies. By defending the soldiers, he demonstrated a commitment to fairness and the rule of law, which were important values for the patriots.