plagiarism free essay
Budget: $10 – $30 USD
Colonies are primarily economic undertakings. As we learned from Las Casas, the Spanish colonial project was initially driven by a desire to obtain gold -- with dire implications for the relationships between Spanish colonists and Indigenous peoples. Of course, the individual motivations of kings and queens, Spanish conquistadors, and Catholic priests varied (and may have been at odds with one another). Nonetheless, the big picture goals of empire are quite clear.
The British colonial project in the Americas quickly developed into a farming economy, and as "cash crops" like tobacco and cotton took off, wealthy colonists and other colonial investors sought cheap labor to help them maximize their profits. Poor Europeans became "indentured servants," generally trading seven years of work for room, board, and travel to the American colonies. Few were prepared for the brutality and desperation of the life that awaited them -- and many died before completing their contracts.
Sometimes, indentured servants entered these arrangements willingly -- which tells us just how desperate and poor they were. Often, however, they were effectively sold by their desperate parents -- or just kidnapped. In all cases, the motivations and experiences of servants differed from their "masters," from the elites of colonial society, and from the kings and queens of Europe. This was a complicated society, even if the overall goals of these colonies were straight-forward.
-Dr. Barrett
For this assignment, examine ALL of the following documents:
1) Richard Frethorne, "Letter Home" (1623)
2) John Reid, "Contract of Indenture" (1742)
3) Maryland Gazette, Runaway Servants Ads (1755)
4) Demands of Bacon's Rebellion (1676)
Before you begin, read the course WRITING GUIDE.
Then, write a detailed paper about what these primary sources reveal about the time period we are studying -- at least 600 words (not counting direct quotations).
It should demonstrate your understanding of what indentured servants were required to give up, what their living and working conditions were like, and what that tells us both about colonial life and life back in Europe.
Use specific examples from each document.
It may be helpful to consider the following:
* What do these documents tell us about the lives of indentured servants in the American colonies?
* What was it like to be an indentured servant?
* What, specifically, did servants have to give up?
* Who had the upper hand in negotiating these contracts? Who got the better deal? Why?
* Why would someone become an indentured servant? What can we presume about people's lives in Europe if they are willing to sign away their freedom and become servants?
* What does it tell us that runaways were so common? Do people run away (and risk their lives) to escape good situations?
* What do the grievances of Bacon's Rebellion tell us about the priorities and thoughts of poor farmers?
* In short, what do these documents tell us about life in the American colonies? About life in Europe?
The British colonial project in the Americas quickly developed into a farming economy, and as "cash crops" like tobacco and cotton took off, wealthy colonists and other colonial investors sought cheap labor to help them maximize their profits. Poor Europeans became "indentured servants," generally trading seven years of work for room, board, and travel to the American colonies. Few were prepared for the brutality and desperation of the life that awaited them -- and many died before completing their contracts.
Sometimes, indentured servants entered these arrangements willingly -- which tells us just how desperate and poor they were. Often, however, they were effectively sold by their desperate parents -- or just kidnapped. In all cases, the motivations and experiences of servants differed from their "masters," from the elites of colonial society, and from the kings and queens of Europe. This was a complicated society, even if the overall goals of these colonies were straight-forward.
-Dr. Barrett
For this assignment, examine ALL of the following documents:
1) Richard Frethorne, "Letter Home" (1623)
2) John Reid, "Contract of Indenture" (1742)
3) Maryland Gazette, Runaway Servants Ads (1755)
4) Demands of Bacon's Rebellion (1676)
Before you begin, read the course WRITING GUIDE.
Then, write a detailed paper about what these primary sources reveal about the time period we are studying -- at least 600 words (not counting direct quotations).
It should demonstrate your understanding of what indentured servants were required to give up, what their living and working conditions were like, and what that tells us both about colonial life and life back in Europe.
Use specific examples from each document.
It may be helpful to consider the following:
* What do these documents tell us about the lives of indentured servants in the American colonies?
* What was it like to be an indentured servant?
* What, specifically, did servants have to give up?
* Who had the upper hand in negotiating these contracts? Who got the better deal? Why?
* Why would someone become an indentured servant? What can we presume about people's lives in Europe if they are willing to sign away their freedom and become servants?
* What does it tell us that runaways were so common? Do people run away (and risk their lives) to escape good situations?
* What do the grievances of Bacon's Rebellion tell us about the priorities and thoughts of poor farmers?
* In short, what do these documents tell us about life in the American colonies? About life in Europe?
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