Timeline
Trigger Terms |
Common SenseThomas Paine believes government is a necessary evil. People are not perfect and eventually they will succumb to vice, so the people put a government in place to compensate for their lack of morals. The English constitution is far too complex to be effective in dealing with it's problems. The King and other parts of Parliament inherit their power, so they can contribute nothing to the freedom of the people. The commons can check the King, but the fact that the King can also check the commons is absurd. The idea that America needs it's mother country is a falsehood because Americans produce materials and food wanted throughout Europe. Britain defended America for it's own economic interests and dominion rather than a love for Americans. By being aligned with Britain, America is only involving itself in European conflicts. A continental government can maintain order better than one that is an ocean away. Thomas Paine's pamphlet is significant because it was incredibly influential in the colonist's decision to enter open rebellion. Bowing to the the crown went against "common sense" and Paine sought to point that out. At first promoting reconciliation, the Patriots officially became revolutionaries.
Eric L. |
Stamp ActAfter much grief and tension broke out after the stamp act was published, Parliament decided that an act upon a colonized territory was unfair and of no necessity. This act consisted the Crown taxing on British colonies in defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the colonists. The act also included the taxation of trading and revenues of the colonists. However, as foul as the colonists thought of this Act, it is relevant that this Act was the necessity to fuel the colonists revolution against its motherland. This Act provided the much needed question as to why so many taxes were being placed on a colony in which felt that were being taken advantage of.
Simon L. "To my Dear and Loving Husband" by Anne BradstreetAnne Bradstreet’s poem for her husband is a gripping look into the lives of people in the Virginia colony. She loves her husband so much. He means more to her than “all the riches that the East” has and she asks other women to compare the love for their husbands. This also brings up questions however. Does she really mean that? Or is she trapped in a loveless marriage? As a puritan, does she fear her husband? This poem was not immediately published after being written in the 17th century and may have never meant to be published. This piece brings with it more questions than it answers.
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Indentured Servitude in the Chesapeake
This primary document was written in the year of 1640 from the General Court of Virginia. The document essentially describes the event when six indentured servants and a negro man plotted to run away from their masters. The court was trying to decide which should be their punishment or discipline for their disobedience. In conclusion, the servants were given harsh and brutal punishments to repay their misbehavior towards their superior.
The significance of this document is to demonstrate the superiority of masters over their servants. The servants were to always obey their superior or they would have to suffer the consequences. In the state ofVirginia, they took the disobedience of slaves very seriously. Virginia also had very strict laws, which all citizens must follow word for word. This concludes that the state of Virginia in the seventeenth-century proposed a strict social order which must be obeyed at all times.
-Clara Carlos
The significance of this document is to demonstrate the superiority of masters over their servants. The servants were to always obey their superior or they would have to suffer the consequences. In the state ofVirginia, they took the disobedience of slaves very seriously. Virginia also had very strict laws, which all citizens must follow word for word. This concludes that the state of Virginia in the seventeenth-century proposed a strict social order which must be obeyed at all times.
-Clara Carlos
Political-Colonies were ruled by Great Britain
-Women had no Political Rights -No representation in Parliament -Unfair taxes by the British Empire -Live in "Redcoats" (British soldiers) -People largely unhappy with the rulers of the country -Control, rather than legitimate authority -Protected and Defended by Redcoats |
Economic-Transportation of economic goods came by ship as roads connecting colonies were not yet built in quality as well as communication.
-Economy thrived in trading in the North; where as much of economy in South was based upon agriculture. -Labor in North ranged from banker to trader. South consisted of much less jobs in North and more were based of agriculture. -Prosperity was moderate. -Much of business was going towards trading such as ship building. |
Social-Women were looked down on by other men.
-Men were thought of as superior and dominate. -Slave labor was more common in the Southern colonies, they relied on this type of labor more than the North. -Slave labor in the colonies was very common for plantation growth and cultivation. -A usual day for a man in the colonies consists of farming and planting. -For a woman, they were usually in charge of the household and of taking care of the children. |
Cultural-There was a lot more diversity in the colonies at the time.
- Beliefs were very common within all of the colonies and were strictly enforced. -The religions in the colonies, were such as Christianity which was quickly spread. -New England Colonies had a large population of Puritans. -Religious revivals also occured at the time. -Religion was a key factor to keep the colonies well organized. |