Profile: Crispus Attucks

Overview:

Crispus Attucks was born around 1723 near Framingham, Massachusetts. He was of African and Native American ancestry and stood about six feet, two inches tall. As a young man, he was likely enslaved but escaped and later worked as a sailor. By 1770, tensions between colonists and British soldiers were high in Boston. On March 5, 1770, Attucks joined a crowd protesting British rule. During the confrontation, British soldiers fired into the crowd, killing Attucks and four others. This event became known as the Boston Massacre. Attucks is widely remembered as the first person killed in the struggle for American independence, making him an important early figure in the American Revolution. 

Quick Facts:

• Born around 1723 near Framingham, Massachusetts

• Of African American and Native American ancestry

• About 6 feet 2 inches tall

• Escaped from slavery in 1750

• Worked as a sailor in the Atlantic trade

• Killed on March 5, 1770, in the Boston Massacre

• Considered the first martyr of the American Revolution

• Shot during a confrontation with British soldiers

• Honored by abolitionists in the 1800s

• Remembered through monuments, schools, and a U.S. commemorative coin

Why This Story Matters:

Crispus Attucks matters because his death helped spark the movement toward American independence. As the first person killed in the Boston Massacre, he became a powerful symbol of resistance against unfair treatment. His story also shows that people of African and Native American ancestry played key roles in shaping the nation’s history. In the years that followed, abolitionists used Attucks’ sacrifice to argue that African Americans deserved freedom and full citizenship. His life challenged ideas about race and belonging in early America. Attucks continues to represent courage, protest, and the fight for justice. His legacy reminds students that ordinary people can influence major historical events. 

Legacy:

Crispus Attucks’ legacy has grown over time. In the 1800s, African Americans honored him as a hero who stood up for freedom. Leaders like William C. Nell promoted his story to show the importance of Black contributions to American history. Attucks Day celebrations were created to remember his sacrifice. Today, his name appears on schools, organizations, and public monuments, including one on Boston Common. In 1998, the United States honored him with a commemorative coin. Attucks remains a symbol of courage and equality. His life reminds people that the fight for freedom has always included diverse voices. 

Discussion Questions:

1. Why might it be important to know that Crispus Attucks, the first person to die in the struggle for American independence, was of African and Native American ancestry?

2. How might learning about Crispus Attucks and other Black patriots of the Revolutionary War shape a person’s sense of belonging in American history?

3. Why do you think stories about Black contributions to the founding of the United States have sometimes been left out or overlooked? How does including them change our understanding of our nation’s history?

Reflection Prompt:

1. How might learning that Crispus Attucks—a man of African and Native American ancestry—was the first to give his life for American independence change the way white Americans understand the nation’s history? 

Sources & Further Reading:

Sources:

1. “Crispus Attucks (1723–1770).” BlackPast.org. 

2. “Crispus Attucks.” Illustration. Encyclopaedia Britannica. 

3. “Martyrdom of the Colored American Crispus Attucks! March 5th, 1770.” Broadside. 1863. Massachusetts Historical Society. 

4. “Black Revolutionary War Patriots.” Article. United States Mint. 

5. Nell, William Cooper. The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution. Print (book illustration), 1855. University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Page Navigation:

<To Rev. War     Next Profile>