Perspectives on the Boston Massacre and the Legacy of Crispus Attucks - Education

On a cold night in March 1770, simmering conflict broke out into a riot between colonial Bostonians and British soldiers. Competing witness accounts from across all walks of Boston life made it difficult to know exactly what happened, but the night ended with the death of five colonists including Crispus Attucks, a Black and Indigenous sailor, and became a flashpoint in the conflict between colonists and British rule. Eighty-five years later, Black historian and community leader William Cooper Nell brought Crispus Attucks back into the public’s consciousness, connecting Black participation in the Revolutionary Era to 19th century abolitionists’ calls for emancipation and equal civil rights for Black Americans. 

In this two day virtual workshop, we will explore how the history and evolving legacy of the Boston Massacre weaves through both the Revolutionary War and pre-Civil War era. Using primary sources and resources from the MHS’ History Source, educators will: 

• Explore conflicting witness testimonies and multiple perspectives from a diverse array of Bostonians 

• Investigate ways in which people of color have been both present for and critical actors in turning points in American history 

• Discuss how and why public memory of the Boston Massacre has changed over time – and how point of view influences our interpretation of the past 

• Model strategies for analyzing primary sources in the classroom 

This teacher workshop is offered for Grade 3-12 school teachers with a focus on Grade 5, and covers content relevant to Grade 5 Investigating History, Early US, 19th Century, and African American History. This is a virtual two-day event, on Monday, 19 February, and Tuesday, 20 February 2024 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with a fee of $40 per person.

This is a virtual two-day event, with a fee of $40 per person. Participants can earn 22.5 PDPs, or 1 graduate credit with Worcester State University (for an additional fee of $125). The Massachusetts Historical Society is a certified Professional Development Provider for the Investigating History curriculum. 

This event will take place virtually and will be presented in English with English auto-generated captioning, and ASL translation and live captioning are available upon request during registration (please place requests for captioning or translation by 2/01/24). 

For more information, questions, or further accessibility requests, please contact us at education@masshist.org.