American History 121 -- Fall 2010

Becoming American

As you read chapter 4, I want you to look for ways the British  colonies were developing their own identies, separate from the "mother" country of Great Britain. In short, how the colonies were breaking away. What were some of the factors and events that lead to the development of this "American" identity AND what did it mean back then to be "American." What does it mean today to be "American"? Any similarities?

For chapter 5, I want you to consider four things: 1) How did an American identity contribute to the rebellion and then ultimately the Revolution (there's a difference between a rebellion and a revolution); 2) What did it REALLY mean when the colonists said "No taxation without representation." Was it REALLY about taxes? 3) How important were the lower classes as opposed to the wealthy/gentry class to the success of the rebellion/revolution? 4) In your opinion, could the slide from rebellion to revolution have been stopped? If so, where/when (no right or wrong answer to this).

Different Colonies, Different Peoples

I want you to consider the following. Discuss it here on the blog and also be prepared to discuss it in class on Saturday.

It's evident from chapters 2 and 3  that different English colonies developed in the various regions of North America. Just by looking at the listing of colonies and their original purposes on page 26 of your book (or 37, depending on your edition), you can see these differneces. Remembering our discusion on God, Gold and Glory the first day of class. Would you say that the majority of these colonies were founded based on the pursuit of God? Gold? or Glory? or all three?

ALSO from chapters 2 and 3, I want you to be aware of the differnt types and classes of people that settled these colonies. VERY different types of English colonists settled in the  New England colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Plymouth, Rhode Island and Connecticut than settled in the Chesapeake colonies of Delaware, Virginia and Maryland, as well as the Southern colonies of North and South Carolina and Georgia. Who were the people that settled in these 3 different groups of colonies? Were they more interested in Gold, God or Glory? 

The time period discussed in these chapters is very important because two VERY differnt socities and cultures begin to develop in North America that will persist even up until today, so please read them very carefully.

Plymouth Colony Archive

As discussed in class and as stated on the class web site, select one individual's probate from the many listed  on the Plymouth Colony Archive, and write your interpretations of the individual on the blog. Base it on what you learned from Barbara Clark Smith's talk. Is the person rich/poor? Educated? Religious? What was his profession? How can you tell? What else comes out of the person's inventory that tells you who this person was?