Readings and Discussions

Note:  the designation (CA) refers to the course text Colonial America

Tuesday September 4 - no readings

Tuesday September 11:  Early Colonization

• Moogk, "Reluctant Exiles..." (CA) (optional)

• Merrell, "The Indians New World..."(CA)

• Timeline (for reference)

• Colonial populations by size (for reference)

• Colonial populations by nationality (for reference)

• Letter from John Pory (1619)

• History of Plymouth Plantation (1620-1647)

• Reasons for Emigrating (1631)

• Discussion questions

Tuesday September 18:  New England and Virginia

• Anderson, "King Philip's Herds..."(CA)

• Letter to William Pond

• Indians in New England (1637)

• New England Natives (1639)

• Letter from John Hilton (1621)

• Description of Plymouth (1628)

• Massachusetts Bay School Law (1642)

• Discussion questions

Tuesday September 25:  Middle Colonies

• Murrin, "The Menacing Shadow..." (CA)

• New Netherlands (1644)

• Description of South Carolina (1666)

• Letters of Thomas Newe (1682)

• Description of Georgia (1733)

• Pennsylvania (1681) 

• Documents:  A Poor Man's Country?

• Statistic for Pennsylvania

• Discussion questions

Tuesday October 2:  Family and Children

• Greven, "Family Structure..."(CA)

• Levy, "Tender Plants..." (CA)

• Duties of Husbands and Wives (1712)

• William Penn on Family (1682)

• Documents on Childhood

• Discussion questions

Tuesday October 9:  Industry, Labour, and the Economy

• Bushman, "Markets and Capital..." (CA)

Tuesday October 16:  Colonial Slavery

• Thorton, "The African Experience..." (CA)

• Morgan, "Social Transactions..."(CA)

• Description of the late 17th century slavetrade

• Virginia Slavery Laws (1660s)

• Slavery in Virginia (1705)

• ***FIRST ASSIGNMENT DUE***

Tuesday October 23:  Political Development and Imperial Relations

• Hofstra, "The Extension of..." (CA)

• The Navigation Acts (1660-1764)

• Discussion questions

Tuesday October 30: Colonial Women

• Carr and Walsh, "The Planter's Wife..." (CA)

• Drayton, "Taking the Trade..." (CA)

• Advice on the choice of a mistress (1745)

• Discussion questions

Tuesday November 6:  Religion in Colonial America

• Lambert, "Pedlar in Divinity..." (CA)

• Dowd, "The Indians' Great Awakening..." (CA)

• "Witchcraft, Religious Fanaticism..."

• The Examination of Anne Hutchinson (unavailable)

• Edwards, "The Revival of Religion..."(unavailable)

• Discussion questions

Tuesday November 13:  The Disenfranchised: Natives and Indentured Servants

• Menard, "From Servant to Freeholder..." (CA)

• Thorton, "African Dimensions...." (CA)

• Worth, "Before Creek and Cherokee..."

• Description of the Iroquois (1644)

• Captivity Narrative (1750s)

• Journey to Pennsylvania (1750)

• Discussion questions

Tuesday November 20:  

• Thorton, "The African Experience..." (CA)

• Morgan, "Social Transactions..."(CA)

• Description of the late 17th century slavetrade

• Virginia Slavery Laws (1660s)

• Slavery in Virginia (1705)

Tuesday November 27:  Popular and Material Culture

• Breen, "Baubles of Britain..." (CA)

• Poor Richard's Almanack (1733)

• ***FINAL ESSAY DUE***

Tuesday December 4:  The Movement to Independence