Crispus Attucks was an African American man who was killed during the Boston Massacre in 1770, making him the first casualty of the American Revolutionary War. Little is known about his early life, but historians believe he was born into slavery in Massachusetts in the 1720s. He may have worked as a sailor on whaling ships after escaping slavery. On the night of March 5, 1770, Attucks was part of a crowd in Boston that was taunting British soldiers. When the soldiers fired into the crowd, Attucks was the first to die, along with four other Americans. His death helped spark greater anti-British sentiment and the growing movement for American independence.

1. What Do You Know about Crispus Attucks, the Business of Whaling and the Boston Massacre?
1. The Boston Massacre happened in ______________________.
2. Massacre means ______________________________.
3. __________________ ____________________ was the first person to die for American independence from England.
4. Attucks was __________________________________________.
5. Write two facts about CrispusAttucks: ________________________________________________________
6. Crispus Attucks was a slave who lived in _____________________________________________
7. He saved money to buy his __________________________________.
8. His master refused to let him become free. What did Attucks do?__________________________________________
9. What does 'fugitive' mean? _______________________________________________________________________
10. Historians think Attucks ran away to become a ________________ on a __________________ ship.
11. Like _____________ ______________, a slave who lived in England, manyAfrican American men were sailors
12. ___________________ __________________ was the title of a popular novel about sailors on a whaling ship.
13. Sailors on whaling ships traveled around the __________________________.
14. Working on a whaler was very _______________________________.
15. Sailors used _________________________ to kill whales.
16. ____________________________ is whale meat.
17. Why did people kill whales? _________________________________________________________________
18. CrispusAttucks came to _____________________________ in 1770.
19. In 1770, manyAmericans were angry at _______________ __________________ and his laws.
20. Americans were angry because they could not __________________ about ______________ laws.
21. King George sent 4,000 _________________________ to Boston to make sure Americans obeyed his laws.
22. On a winter night in March 1770, about ________________ American men teased British ______________________.
23. Why did the soldiers shoot the Americans? ___________________________________________________________
24. How manyAmericans died during the Boston Massacre? _________________________________
name:
date:

2. Crispus
Attucks,
the Business of
Whaling
and the
Boston Massacre

3. Crispus
Attucks,
the Business of
Whaling
and the
Boston Massacre

4. Crispus
Attucks,
the Business of
Whaling
and the
Boston Massacre

5. Crispus
Attucks,
the Business of
Whaling
and the
Boston Massacre

7. March 5, 1770: The Boston Massacre

10. massacre = murder

11. What happened in Boston on that winter day?

12. What happened in Boston on that winter day?

13. What happened in Boston on that winter day?

14. What happened in Boston on that winter day?

15. What happened in Boston on that winter day?

16. We do not know a lot
about Crispus Attucks.
There is little information about his life.
•Born about 1723 in Massachusetts Colony.

17. We do not know a lot
about Crispus Attucks.
There is little information about his life.
•Born about 1723 in Massachusetts Colony.
•Son of an African father and, possibly, a Native American Indian mother.

18. We do not know a lot
about Crispus Attucks.
There is little information about his life.
•Born about 1723 in Massachusetts Colony.
•Son of an African father and, possibly, a Native American Indian mother.
•Attucks means ‘deer’ in Natick Indian language.

19. We know that when he was in his 20s, Attucks was a slave.
He lived with his master, Deacon William Brown, in
Framingham, Massachusetts.

20. Some historians believe that Attucks
earned money trading horses and cattle.
They think Crispus Attucks saved
enough money to pay for his freedom,
but Brown refused to accept payment.

21. Many believe Crispus Attucks freed himself.

22. Many believe Crispus Attucks freed himself. He ran away.

23. This fugitive slave advertisement appeared October 2, 1750,
in The Boston Gazette:

24. 10 Pound Reward
For Return of Run Away Slave
Ran away from his master William Brown of Framingham on
the 30th of Sept. last a mulatto fellow about 27 years of age,
named Crispus, 6 feet and 2 inches high, short curl'd hair,
his knees nearer together than common; and had on a light
colour'd beaver skin coat, plain new buckskin breeches, blue yarn
stockings and a checked woolen shirt.
Whoever shall take up said runaway and convey him to his
aforesaid master shall have 10 pounds old tenor reward,
and all necessary charges paid. And all masters of
vessels and others are hereby cautioned against
concealing or carrying off said servant on penalty
of law.

25. Possibly, he went to Nantucket Island.

26. Nantucket

27. Nantucket

28. Nantucket

29. Nantucket

30. Historians believe Attucks ran away and found a job as a
ropemaker.

31. Historians believe Attucks ran away and found a job as a
ropemaker.

32. Historians believe Attucks ran away and found a job as a
ropemaker.

33. Historians believe Attucks ran away and found a job as a
ropemaker.

34. Historians believe Attucks ran away and found a job as a
ropemaker... and later, he possibly became a sailor on a
whaling ship.

35. Historians believe Attucks ran away and found a job as a
ropemaker... and later, he possibly became a sailor on a
whaling ship.

36. This portrait of an unidentified
Revolutionary War sailor was painted
in oil by an unknown artist, circa 1780.
Image Credit:
The Newport Historical Society
In the 1700s, there were many African American sailors.

37. Olaudah Equiano was a sailor, too.
In the 1700s, there were many African American sailors.

40. Watson and the Shark, John Singleton Copley
The painting shows the rescue of a 14-year old English boy, Brook
Watson, from a shark attack in Havana, Cuba. This attack happened in
1749. Brook Watson was a cabin boy. He lost his leg in the attack. Men
tried to rescue him three times. This picture shows the successful third
attempt.
Later, Brook Watson became Lord Mayor of London.

42. Some African American sailors
became important leaders

43. Portrait of Paul Cuffee by Chester Harding
Some African American sailors
became important leaders

44. Portrait of Paul Cuffee by Chester Harding
Some African American sailors
became important leaders:
Paul Cuffee
businessman
abolitionist

45. Portrait of Paul Cuffee by Chester Harding
Some African American sailors
became important leaders:
Paul Cuffee
businessman
abolitionist

46. Some African American sailors
became important leaders:
James Forten
businessman
abolitionist

47. Some African American sailors
became important leaders:
James Forten
businessman
abolitionist

48. portrait of James Forten, c.1834, probably by
Robert Douglass, Jr.[1]
Some African American sailors
became important leaders:
James Forten
businessman
abolitionist

49. portrait of James Forten, c.1834, probably by
Robert Douglass, Jr.[1]
Some African American sailors
became important leaders:
James Forten
businessman
abolitionist
Forten lived in South Philadelphia
on Lombard Street, near Third
Street

50. Some African American sailors
became important leaders:
James Forten
businessman
abolitionist
Forten lived in South Philadelphia
on Lombard Street, near Third
Street

51. Frederick Douglas freed himself

52. Frederick Douglas freed himself using the ID of a free African
American sailor.

53. FAKE
Frederick Douglas freed himself using the ID of a free African
American sailor.

54. In the 1700s, lots of sailors, Black and white, worked on whaling ships.

55. Lots of African American
sailors worked on
whaling ships.

56. Whaling method from the early 1600
(From A Collection of Voyages and Travels, by John Churchill, 1704, London: Awnsham and John Churchill.)

57. Whaling method from the early 1600
(From A Collection of Voyages and Travels, by John Churchill, 1704, London: Awnsham and John Churchill.)

58. Whaling method from the early 1600
(From A Collection of Voyages and Travels, by John Churchill, 1704, London: Awnsham and John Churchill.)

59. Whaling method from the early 1600
(From A Collection of Voyages and Travels, by John Churchill, 1704, London: Awnsham and John Churchill.)

60. Whaling method from the early 1600
(From A Collection of Voyages and Travels, by John Churchill, 1704, London: Awnsham and John Churchill.)

65. These pictures are
imaginative.
They are from a famous
American novel, Moby Dick.

66. These pictures are
imaginative.
They are from a famous
American novel, Moby Dick.

72. I am Herman Melville.
I used to work on whaling
ships. In 1851, when I was 32,
I wrote the book, Moby Dick.

73. Whaling ships traveled all over the world.

75. Arctic whaling, 1700s.

76. Japan

77. Japan

78. Japan

79. Whaling was dangerous business.

80. Whaling was dangerous business.

90. Whaling in the South Atlantic Ocean, 1940's or1950's.

91. Sailor on whaling ships used harpoons to kill whales.

97. Sailors used the heavy head spade to decapitate a whale.
They chopped through vertebrae at the base of the whale’s skull.
}

100. Workers used cutting spades to cut “blanket pieces,” long,
thick, wide slices of skin and blubber from the whale's body.

101. Blue Whale hunting in Antarctica.

104. Workers used these forks to boil blubber* into oil.
*blubber = whale meat

106. The boiled whale
blubber becomes liquid
whale oil.

107. whale fork
The boiled whale
blubber becomes liquid
whale oil.

108. Why did people kill whales?

109. In some cultures, people eat whale meat.

110. In some cultures, people eat whale meat.

113. Some Native Americans hunted whale for food.

114. Some Native Americans hunted whale for food.
This continues today in some places..

115. Now, most countries use laws to protect whales.

116. Now, most countries use laws to protect whales.

117. Before we used electricity, people used blubber to make whale oil.
People used whale oil for different purposes.

118. Barrels of Whale Oil

119. People used whale oil for machines

120. People used whale oil for machines

121. People used whale oil for machines, to make candles

122. People used whale oil for machines, to make candles

123. People used whale oil for machines, to make candles, to light lamps.

124. People used whale oil for machines, to make candles, to light lamps.

125. People used whale oil to make soap.

126. People used whale oil to make soap.

127. Ambergris is old whale vomit. People use it to make

128. Ambergris is old whale vomit. People use it to make perfume.

129. Some whales have teeth

130. Some whales have teeth

131. Some whales have teeth.
Other whales have no teeth. They have baleen.

132. baleen
Some whales have teeth.
Other whales have no teeth. They have baleen.

133. baleen
Some whales have teeth.
Other whales have no teeth. They have baleen.
Sailors made things from baleen and whale bones.

135. Dominoes made from whale bones

137. Yarnwinder made made from whale bones.

138. Yarnwinder made made from whale bones.

139. Scrimshaw = art made from whale bones.

142. After many years of
hard work on whaling
ships, Crispus Attucks
took a break.
Maybe he decided to look for new
work in the city.

143. After many years of
hard work on whaling
ships, Crispus Attucks
took a break.
Maybe he decided to
look for new work in
the city.

144. We know that Crispus
Attucks was in Boston
late in the winter of 1770.

145. There were a lot of angry Americans in Boston.

146. There were a lot of angry Americans in Boston.

147. There were a lot of angry Americans in Boston.
Americans were angry about
the King’s and Parliament’s
new about tax laws.

153. There were a lot of angry Americans in Boston.
Americans were angry about
the King’s and Parliament’s
new about tax laws.
The Americans said the laws were unfair.

154. Inside Parliament, today.

155. Inside Parliament, 1770.

156. Inside Parliament, 1770.
The King says Americans
must pay taxes.

157. Why were Americans angry about King George’s tax laws?
What was unfair?

158. Why were Americans angry about King George’s tax laws?
What was unfair?

159. Why were Americans angry about King George’s tax laws?
What was unfair?

160. Why were Americans angry about King George’s tax laws?
What was unfair?

161. ...LIKE CARDS!
Why were Americans angry about King George’s tax laws?
What was unfair?

162. ON
Why were Americans angry about King George’s tax laws?
What was unfair?

163. ON
Why were Americans angry about King George’s tax laws?
What was unfair?

164. ON
Why were Americans angry about King George’s tax laws?
What was unfair?
LET US
VOTE!

165. WE WANT
REPRESENTATIVES
IN PARLIAMENT!

166. WE WANT
TO VOTE ON
TAX LAWS!

167. Americans complained.
They said tax laws were unfair because they could not vote for them.
WE WANT
TO VOTE ON
TAX LAWS!

168. Inside Parliament, 1770.
Please let me speak.

169. Inside Parliament, 1770.
We want to vote on
tax laws!

170. Inside Parliament, 1770.
We want to vote on
tax laws!
No.

171. Inside Parliament, 1770.
No.

172. This political cartoon shows Americans’
opinion about the Stamp Act.

176. TEA

183. What does this political cartoon mean?

184. The king sent 4,000 soldiers to Boston.
The soldiers forced Americans to obey the tax laws.

185. The king sent 4,000 soldiers to Boston.
The soldiers forced Americans to obey the tax laws.

186. The king sent 4,000 soldiers to Boston.
The soldiers forced Americans to obey the tax laws.

187. The Americans hated the soldiers.

188. Americans hated another law called the Quartering Act.

189. Americans hated another law called the Quartering Act.

190. Americans hated another law called the Quartering Act.

191. Americans hated another law called the Quartering Act.
This law permitted soldiers to
move into people’s homes.
The soldiers did not have to
pay for using people’s things
or eating their food.

192. Americans hated another law called the Quartering Act.
This law permitted soldiers to
move into people’s homes.
The soldiers did not have to
pay for using people’s things
or eating their food.
Americans hated the British soldiers.
They called them 'redcoats’and
'lobster backs’.

193. Americans hated another law called the Quartering Act.
This law permitted soldiers to
move into people’s homes.
The soldiers did not have to
pay for using people’s things
or eating their food.
Americans hated the British soldiers.
They called them 'redcoats’and
'lobster backs’.

194. When Crispus Attucks came to Boston in 1770,
Americans were angry at British soldiers and hated the British laws.

195. In the evening of March 5, 1770, an English soldier and an
American wigmaker’s had an argument.
The wigmaker said the soldier owed money.

196. The soldier ignored the wigmaker’s helper.

197. The soldier ignored the wigmaker’s helper.

198. The wigmaker’s helper left.
He returned with friends.

199. The wigmaker’s helper left.
He returned with friends.

200. The wigmaker’s helper left.
He returned with friends.
The group insulted the soldier.
The group grew larger.

201. They threw snowballs.
They dared the soldiers to shoot them.

202. An angry mob of 300 vs. 9 British soldiers

203. An angry mob of 300 vs. 9 British soldiers

204. Crispus Attucks was in that crowd.

205. Crispus Attucks was in that crowd.

216. Crispus Attucks and four other Americans died that night.

217. The English soldiers were accused
of murder.
They were sent to trial.

218. The soldiers were acquitted.

219. The soldiers were acquitted.

220. The soldiers were acquitted.
This was the beginning of the American Revolution.

221. The death of Crispus Attucks made Americans want to fight
for independence from England.
The Spirit of ‘76