Write the next chapter in the unfinished struggle.
In Colonial America, those without the right to vote were forced to pursue other avenues to have their voices heard. While protests and even riots were common, many used the universal right to petition in order to reach legal solutions to the problems they faced.
Explore the power of petitions in Old State House’s Council Chamber–the very room where colonial and early state governments considered these and many other petitions from working men, women, enslaved people, and Native tribes to advocate for their rights to freedom, autonomy, property, and more! This exhibit brings visitors through the process of advocacy in the colonial world, emphasizing the use of formal petitions to change policies and address needs relevant to the 17th and 18th centuries and, in many cases, still struggled with by Americans today.
Supported in part by Americana Corner and Meet Boston.
More at the Old State House
- Reflecting Attucks
A virtual exhibit that examines the memory of Crispus Attucks, a man of African & Native descent who was the first to die in the Boston Massacre.Read more → - Unfinished Business Film Series
A film series exploring the legacy of protest, representation, and revolution embodied in our historical sites.Read more → - Hands on History
For young visitors and the young at heart, there’s no better way to understand history than to reach out and touch it at the Old State House.Read more → - Colony to Commonwealth
Your first stop in Boston! See how Massachusetts and its residents played a pivotal role in the birth of America.Read more → - Council Chamber
Once an exclusive space for the most powerful men in Massachusetts, now all are invited to connect to our nation’s history in this meticulously-restored 18th-century room.Read more → - The Humble Petitioner
In Colonial America, those without the right to vote were forced to pursue other avenues to have their voices heard.Read more → - Gallery Talks
Join Revolutionary Spaces staff for brief gallery talks highlighting the key stories and themes in each of our gallery spaces.Read more →