The Case for Ending Slavery

Co-Hosted by the Massachusetts Historical Society
and the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts

This two-day teacher workshop will examine court cases and documents dealing with the end of slavery in both Massachusetts (after the Revolution) and in the country (before the Civil War).
The first day will be held at the John Adams Courthouse in downtown Boston, where a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court and a senior attorney will discuss how the rights to freedom and equality granted under the new Massachusetts Constitution (primarily authored by John Adams) contributed to ending slavery in Massachusetts in 1783. They will also describe the leading role played by Massachusetts courts in implementing the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, and discuss how participants in those cases grappled with whether union or liberty would be the legacy of the American Revolution.  A tour of the John Adams Courthouse will be included.
 
On the second day, at Massachusetts Historical Society, participants will work with key documents from the collections that have been paired with Library of Congress documents to enhance an understanding of activities and events leading to the emancipation of slaves in this state and others. Teams will complete lesson plans around the documents to be shared by all the attendees.

The workshop will be held during the public school vacation weeks on Wednesdays and Thursdays: February 17/18 and repeating on April 21/22 from 9:00 to 3:00. There is no charge, as this offering is part of the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Eastern Region Grant Program. Educators can earn 10 PDP’s for their participation.

Registration is required: education@masshist.org or (617)646-0557