CDL: How Long Did the Seven Years' War Last in Indian Country?

1.        How was the relationship between the British and American colonists during the war?

The colonists fought with the British soldiers against the Indians but the British leaders treated them badly with torture and executions.  The American Colonists volunteered in great number to fight the Indians and the French and the colonists were grateful for the British military presence.  At the end of the war the British took credit for all of the winning the battle and the American Colonists felt as if they had been the ones who had actually sacrificed with lost lives. There were some colonists who attacked Indians putting aside the British leadership; this large group of colonists was never punished for their attack by the British.

2.        Explain the tension between the British and Americans, on one side, and Indians, on the other side.  For what reasons were these three groups—the British, the colonists, and Indians—fighting?  Why did more Indian tribes side with the French than with the British?

The tension between the American Colonists and the Indians was over their continually moving westward onto Indian land.    The tension between the British and Indians was because for one thing the British could not seem to communicate with the Indians well.  The French understood the Indians and their need to exchange gifts as a sign of respect.  The British were very stubborn and seen the Indian gift exchange as a weakness.  The Indians sided with the French more than the British because the French communicated well with the Indians and were more respectful of the Indian traditions of communication. 

3.        How did Indians, led by Pontiac, justify their “rebellion” again British forces and forts?

The Indians were tiring of the French backing off and the British taking over; they felt as if the French had deserted them.  The Indians made a pact to fight for Indian tradition and for the land their ancestors had left them. 

4.       What were the outcomes of the Seven Years’ War and how was that result important to British colonists and Indians?

The war left the Indians out of ammunition to fight and left the British broke.  The British military leader who had scoffed at Indian tradition and had been unwilling to attempt meaningful communication with the Indians was sent back to England and a new leader was sent who gave many gifts to the Indians in an attempt to be able to have more of a friendship with them.  For the Indians this probably was not really and end of the war but more of a break since the fighting continued for many years later.

CDL: Newspapers: “The Spring of Knowledge”

CDL:  Newspapers: “The Spring of Knowledge”

1.        Why would the governor want the colonial’s newspaper copy submitted for “official approval: and what did the colonists gain by not yielding to that demand?

The governor wanted the newspaper submitted for “official approval” to hold power over the publishers and watch the content to not have any information they might deem unfit for publication.  The colonists gained more freedom of press which would enable the publishers to write about government officials and politics in general which kept them more informed of what was happening with their leaders and neighbors. 

2.        Why was the New England Courant paper successful even though it turned its nose up at the religious and government institutions that the majority of the people followed?

The New England Courant paper was successful because it was a new form of communication that dazzled and excited the people with its rumors, criticisms, and news of the community.  The papers were printing things that in the past had only been shared in private conversations which was astounding to the people.

3.        List some of the influences these newspapers or printings had on the population?

Some of the influences the news papers or printings had were spreading of gossip and rumors among the people, political opinions expressed, and a new awakening to a world of things they may not have been aware of.  What also started to change with the printing of news was the ability for information to reach the population in a timelier effective manner. 

4.        How did what James Franklin do by starting another paper help what is published in the news now?

James Franklin publishing a newspaper that was open and humorous in regards to writing about the government and religious institutions was the beginning of the free press that we have today.  Today the press is free in the United States to write about whatever they wish whether that information is opinion, the truth, or even if it is not a proven fact.  The press has the ability to inform the world today of events that are taking place within seconds of it occurring and has a lot of control over society, this is especially true when you consider political campaigns or natural disasters occurring. 

Text Analysis - Preface to the Frame of Goverment of Pennsylvania, William Penn, 1682

Text Analysis – Preface to the Frame of Government of Pennsylvania, William Penn, 1682

William Penn has written a very heartfelt document giving an opinion of what he sees as the correct way for man to govern Pennsylvania and is showing hope in the power god has given man.  Penn states in the preface that he believes god has given man the intelligence and capability to govern well and make good laws.  It seems that Penn is pressing the idea that men that govern are to be of the utmost obedient to God and if they are then will be given the guidance to govern well and protect the people from those that are evil.  Penn also speaks of no government being perfect that he has seen and one is to do his best to provide a stable government making sound choices for the people with constructive arguments amongst each other.  Penn speaks about it is up to men to either govern good or bad that it is in their hands and can go either way.  There is text in several places noting the need for people to have liberty and freedom but to adhere to the laws created by the government.

The historical significance of this document is that it shows the feelings of a man who lived in this time and place and foreseen with hope a great prosperous free state of Pennsylvania.  Penn wished to see the people of his region be lawful, work hard, and obey god. 

Penn was a very intuitive to what lawmakers will be accomplishing with their choices, good and bad, and the effects those can have on people.  Penn was logical and seemed to have a very strong sense of how people are all different and we should respect everyone in their choices but do our best to see the good in everyone.  Penn seems like a righteous person who speaks with compassion and dignity.  He writes as if to send a message to future lawmakers and people of Pennsylvania land hope and an idea of the goodness they should bring to the table when making laws to govern the people.  He writes an idea of how lawmakers should consider those in their care and protect them. 

I found William Penn’s writing to be very convincing that he thought deeply of his religion, of his fellow man, and he wanted a descent government created for future generations. 

CDL #5 - Why were some New Englanders accused of being witches?

CDL #5 – Why were some New Englanders accused of being witches?

In 1641 a law was passed stating “If any man or woman be a witch…they shall be put to death.”

Although people had such supernatural ideas earlier in the 1600’s, even as early as 1650, they did not voice their opinion and kept it to themselves.  It was not until later in the 1600’s that the Puritan’s got frustrated in trying to control people that were not living the Puritan ways and found guilt by accusing individuals of witchcraft. 

The people of North America felt that the supernatural was the cause of bad luck or injury.  Those that believed in the supernatural included the Native Americans, slaves, and colonists.

New Englanders accused individuals who seemed to cause the incidents as being witches who were either doing the handy work of the devil or were being controlled by satan.  Those individuals being accused of witchcraft were people who were outspoken and not shy with their feelings and may have made a comment that was taken as out of the ordinary where for the most part people said very little negative and did not speak about what they thought may have been an unfair situation.  This act of people turning on their fellow neighbor and accusing them of being a witch was their way of dealing with anyone that was different and did not follow the scope of how they expected people to behave.  Most of the accusers were adult men and most of the accused were older women.  This article even speaks of some children accusing individuals of being witches. 

The outbreak of the Salem witch trials in 1691 and 1692 was a period of frustration for the Puritans with their need to attempt to control those individuals that were not following the Puritan ways and to do away with the sin and devil worshippers.  New England puritans needed to find others who were committing sin in order to feel that they themselves were the devoted godly saints instead of sinners. 

Question #1 -   What percentage of individuals accused of witchcraft were women? Men?

Question #2 – Do you think that the accused witches being executed made the Puritans felt remorse or regret?   Why or why not? 

CDL #4 - Why did the colonist consider themselves superior to the Indians & Africans?

CDL #4 – Why did the colonists consider themselves superior to Indians & Africans?

1.        How did the English colonist get the idea of colored people being cursed by God, and how did many colonists believe that it is the right thing to say and believe in?

Most of the colonists did believe the idea that colored people were cursed by God because they believed their black skin color made them bad and wicked and white was pure and clean. 

2.       How did English colonists handle the act of another colonist fornicating with an African?

The colonists had a law of a double fine for fornicating with an African.  The act of fornication with an African was so problematic for the English colonists that it was the business of the legislature.

3.       How did the English colonists manage to gain both peace and land from the Native Americans?

Some of the English colonists thought of the Native Americans as peaceful and kind people who were quiet and spiritual but when more settlers arrived the need for more land caused the English colonists to battle the Native Indians in order to get what they needed. 

4.       Do you think that the fact that English colonists believed they were superior to the Indians gave them courage and strength to fight Indians for more and more land?

The colonists felt that when they were small in number and weak that they needed to battle the Indians to keep their place on the land.  The English were very proud people who had their mind set on the fact they were going to make New England their home and would do whatever they had to do to stay.  The courage they possessed was due to their need to survive and that they were purer than all others.  The colonists figured that they were protected by all for all good deeds they did which included making New England into pure God land. 

CDL - Arabella Sermon, John Winthrop

CDL #3 – Arabella Sermon – John Winthrop

1. What was John Winthrop’s intention in using the phrase “…we shall be as a city upon the hill.  The eyes of all people are upon us.”?

John Winthrop was speaking of the need for their people to be a good example to others.  John was stating that they were going to be looked on by those who may not know of God and had to live as an example of what their religious beliefs state.

2. What were some goals of John Winthrop and other Puritans in establishing the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

One of the goals that John Winthrop and other Puritans had was to avoid the corrupt England church.  The Puritans wanted to establish a self-governed community in which they could live by the ways of their religion without the influence of England.

3. The Puritans sought only to refresh and rebuild the church, not to create a new religious sect.   Were they successful in establishing Church of England doctrine in the new colonies?

The Puritans were able to establish a community that drew many thousands from England to what they called “a city upon the hill”.  This provided a place for those who did not want to follow the Catholic ways of England a place practice their religion without the influence of the King of England.  I do believe that this would be considered a religious sect.  since they took the same religion as was practiced in England and just followed it as they viewed the “correct” ways of living by the bible.

4. Compare and contrast the New England colonies with the Virginia colonies.  What was their motivation?  Who comprised their community?  How do you think they interacted with the Native Americans?

The New England colonies had many more women and children, there were ships that came over from England that had entire families, in Virginia it was mostly young single men.  In Virginia they had battles with the Native Indians over land and food, and in New England the colonies had more peaceful agreements with the Indians and tried to come to agreements.  The New England colonies comprised of tradesmen, families, working class citizens from England, Virginia on the other hand was mostly unskilled workers who had come to America for better opportunity or to make money.  The Native Americans in Virginia were not accepting of the pilgrims and there were many battles in the beginning, in New England the Indians were not such a huge issue because there were less of them due to disease. 

CDL #2 American Tobacco and European Consumers

 

American Tobacco and European Consumers

 

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Oneal, Malynda

4/7/2011

0

 

 

1.       What do you think would be different about North American colonies and the rest of the world, if tobacco wasn’t as popular as it was/is?

The North America immigrants would have had a very different start in that they would not have ventured into Indian territory for land to turn into tobacco plantations and this would have caused much less tension with the Indian population.  The immigrants would most likely have grown fewer in number from disease, famine, and for some a return trip to Europe.  The immigrants would also not have grown in number so quickly from indentured servants arriving from Europe looking for an eventual better way of life.  In Europe there would not have been the popularity or addiction to tobacco if it were not as plentiful as it became over time.  The tobacco plantation success of the immigrants also brought African slavery to North America, as the indentured servants served their time and obtained their freedom, this brought a black and white racial aspect to North America. 

Tobacco may have still gained popularity in America over the years due to the Indian use of the substance in their daily life.  With the popularity tobacco gained across the globe over time from this European influence, and the addictive qualities of the substance, this has been a successful venture for those in the industry over many hundreds of years.  It was not until modern medicine educated most of the world population of the health risks due to tobacco use was there a significant decline in the tobacco industry success. 

2.       If the protestations of the King had been more heeded by the masses and tobacco gone out of fashion, would the English colonies have remained as strong?

If the protests of the King had been heard by the people tobacco probably would not have gained popularity and the stature that it did in Europe and society would have seen tobacco as filthy instead of a divine substance.  The English colonies would not have remained as strong because the demand for tobacco in Europe would have greatly diminished and in turn the tobacco crops would have been worth less income.  The English colonies would have been in financial ruin and would have tried to find other ventures in order to survive.  It wasn’t until the sugar cane growth in South Carolina came that it seems like the English colonies had another crop worthy of great growth potential. 

Text Analysis - Destruction of the Indies

TEXT ANALYSIS   4/5

DESTRUCTION of the INDIES (1552)

By Malynda O’Neal - Facilitator

1.        What is the author arguing?

Bartolome de las Casas was a missionary who wrote an account of what he viewed as barbarous acts of treachery committed by the Spaniards in their search for wealth in America.  Casas is making an argument that he witnessed the acts of the Spaniards towards the natives they encountered as cruel and inhumane and that these natives were not given the opportunity to understand Christianity.  Casas deplored the acts of the Spaniards and their sacrifice of life which he viewed as wiping out most of the civilization.

2.        How does the author appeal to logos (logic), pathos (emotional quality), and ethos (the writer’s perceived character) with their argument?

Casas has given an emotional account filled with what he views the Spaniards did to conquer the native people in a very blunt and cruel way.  Casas seems to view the natives in a most compassionate way such as stating that they were tender and simple people.  Casas wrote this article as if to need to share what he witnessed so that he could deal with the ugliness that he had seen.  Casas seemed to have a nonjudgmental view of people in general and that what he had experienced was against his beliefs and morals almost like what he had seen was sort of surreal to him.  Casas viewed these acts with emotion and sensitivity. 

3.         What is the historical significance / relevance of this document?

This document is an eye witness account to what was a quest of Spaniards to increase their wealth and power and basically wipe out any human that they deemed in their way or a disbeliever.  The document is worded so honestly and detailed that all those who read it can easily see a picture of what it must have been like to be at this time and place which helps us to understand the historical event that took place at this time.

4.       Do you find the author’s argument convincing? Why or why not?

Casas’ document is written in such a compassionate and convincing way as the Spaniards being inhumane and morally wrong in their treatment of the natives.  Casas documentation of what the people around him were like made the reading of this document very compelling and you wanted to understand what he had experienced at that time. 

CDL #1 - Why did Cortes win?

CDL #1 – Why did Cortes win?

By Malynda O’Neal

From June, 30 1520 – August, 13, 1521 Cortes and his men bitterly fought the Mexica’s for power over the Mexican capital.  Although the Mexica’s vastly outnumbered Cortes’ men they were not equipped with the latest weaponry, organizational skills, or mindset for victory.  The Mexica’s were somewhat naïve in that they thought initially that Cortes’ men were gods which gave Cortes the edge in the battle from the beginning.  Plagued also by an epidemic of small pox and measles the Mexica’s were weak, vastly underpowered people who were spiritually and emotionally drained.  Cortes used his confidence and crafty people skills to place his men in a mindset of having to fight with no way home by dismantling the ships; this left the men with no option but to succeed in the battle.  Cortes’ army had the power of horseback, cannons, good health, strong spirituality, and a charismatic demeanor which helped him and his army battle the Mexica's.  After a long battle it was the addition of the Indian people’s support that led Cortes to victory.

Question # 1 – Why were the Mexica’s discouraged from fighting well even though they far outnumbered Cortes’ men?

Question # 2 – How did the Spaniards and the Mexicas differ in their religious practices during the battle?