Boston 1773: The Destruction of the Tea

Boston 1773: The Destruction of the Tea

Inquiry Question 1: How did social, economic, and political factors contribute to the events of the Boston Tea Party?

Inquiry Question 2: How did the reactions to the Boston Tea Party demonstrate the growing divisions between the various interested parties in the political and economic future of the American colonies?

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    Map of Boston Harbor (1775)

    The Evolving Legacy of Crispus Attucks, 1770-1863

    The Evolving Legacy of Crispus Attucks, 1770-1863

    Inquiry Question 1: In what ways have people of color been both present for and critical actors in turning points in American history? 


    Inquiry Question 2: How and why has public memory of the Boston Massacre changed over time? In what ways do available evidence and point of view impact interpretations of historical events?

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      Investigating Multiple Perspectives on the Boston Massacre

      Investigating Multiple Perspectives on the Boston Massacre

      Inquiry Question 1: Although we don't know exactly what happened the night of March 5, 1770, what does the existing evidence from the Boston Massacre teach us about pre-Revolutionary America?

      Inquiry Question 2: In what ways did people's political beliefs, social networks, and lived experience shape their understanding of the Boston Massacre?

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        Video

        Massachusetts Loyalists: Revolution and Exile

        Massachusetts Loyalists: Revolution and Exile

        Inquiry Question 1: Why did some colonists remain loyal to Britain during the Revolution?

        Inquiry Question 2: What consequences did loyal colonists face?

        Background reading for students

         

        Choosing Sides in the Revolutionary War: The Loyalists

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          Emancipation in 18th century Massachusetts

          Emancipation in Massachusetts

          Inquiry Question: What tactics did enslaved people in Massachusetts in the 1700s use to free themselves?

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            Revolutionary Abigail Adams

            Revolutionary Abigail Adams

            Inquiry Question: Who was Abigail Adams, and what roles did she take on during the Revolutionary Era?

            Through her letters and belongings we will explore the ways in which Abigail shaped—and was shaped by—the political and social events unfolding around her. 

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              "A Great Public Nuisance": Boston's segregated schools in the mid-1800s

              "A Great Public Nuisance": Boston's segregated schools in the mid-1800s

              Inquiry Question 1: Prior to 1855, in what ways did segregated schools harm Black children in Boston?

              Inquiry Question 2: What actions did Black families take to advocate for integration?

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                Witnessing the Siege of Boston

                Witnessing the Siege of Boston

                In this primary source set, students will engage with a variety of letters, maps, artifacts, and more to explore diverse Bostonian experiences at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.

                Inquiry Question 1: How did ordinary Bostonians experience the Siege of Boston? What were their fears and concerns?

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                  Analyzing the Meaning and Legacy of the Declaration of Independence

                  Analyzing the Meaning and Legacy of the Declaration of Independence

                  Inquiry Question 1: According to the Declaration of Independence, why did the colonies declare independence from Great Britain?

                  Inquiry Question 2: In what ways did individuals use the Declaration of Independence to argue for the end of slavery?

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