John Adams, Defender of the British?How a future president fought for his enemies' rights.

From the show

Hidden Sides of History

The popular image of the Boston Massacre is one of cold-blooded murder. But the trial that followed tells a different story. Future U.S. President John Adams took on the unpopular task of defending the British soldiers, arguing they fired in self-defense against a violent mob. This principled stand led to a shocking verdict, challenging the simple narrative of heroes and villains and affirming a core American value even before the nation's founding.