HISTORY 130: U.S. HISTORY FROM 1500 TO 1877 THIELMAN FALL 2023 Historical Thinking Essay #1: Defining Liberty
An important theme in our course is to explore how freedom and liberty meant different things to different people and how early American’s understanding of both changed over time. In addition, increasing freedom and liberties for some often came at a loss of freedom and liberty for others. Let’s examine what freedom and liberty meant to early Americans.
STEP ONE: READ Roark, et al. The American Promise, Chapter/s 1-6.
STEP TWO: READ the following primary historical sources:
– J. Hector St. John Crevecoeur What Is An American? (1782)
– Olaudah Equiano Describes the Middle Passage, (1789)
– How Slaves Were Acquired (1732)
– John Winthrop Dreams of a City on a Hill (1630)
– Native Americans Discover Europeans (1676)
– The Quaker Ideal of Religious Tolerance (1675)
– Indian Affairs (1679)
– Rose Davis is Sentenced to a Life of Slavery (1715)
– The Declaration of Independence (1776)
– Video: Slavery, Revolution, and the Constitutional Convention
– Richard Hakluyt Makes the Case for English Colonization, 1584
– John Lawson Encounters Native Americans, 1709
– A Gaspesian Man Defends His Way of Life, 1641
– Race War in Virginia, 1622 – Life in Early Virginia, 1622
– An Account of the Middle Passage, 1788
– The Diversity of Native America: The Plains, 1542
– Native Americans Discover Europeans, 1557
– Alimbamo Mingo, Choctaw leader, Reflects on the British and French, 1765
STEP THREE: RESPOND to ONE of the following prompts:
Prompt I.
Early settlers regarded land and private property as essential to liberty & freedom. In the New World, Native Americans saw land as something to be shared and nurtured it as a font of plentiful resources. Using the source material provided both in/out of class, examine each group’s views about land use and private property, approaches to agriculture, and attitudes about the consumption of natural resources, and think about how each group’s notions about these matters shaped their interactions with one another. Focusing particularly on the ways each group’s views and practices influenced, differed, and/or restricted the freedom and liberties of the other.
Prompt II.
In the eighteenth century, Africans who were forcibly brought to live and work in the American colonies faced different challenges depending upon where they were enslaved. In what ways did slaves’ lives differ between the northern and southern colonies? While some may have been “Americanized” to a degree, to what extent were those colonies also Africanized by the slaves who came to live there? Examine the roles slaves played in the developing economies and cultures of New England, Virginia, and the Carolinas in this period. Support or refute an argument that Africans in America were agents who helped to shape the southern colonies, even as they were also victims of slavery. Pay close attention to how much mobility a slave or freedman, may or may not have had, depending on where they lived and how this affected their ability to reproduce, create their own culture etc.
This assignment requires that you cite a minimum of five (5) primary source documents as evidence in the body of the essay.
Choose evidence that reflects BOTH opposition to and support for your argument. Your paper should be between 4 and 6 pages (no more than 1250 words), double spaced, times-roman numeral, size 12 font, and must include a works cited page with a minimum of ten (10) works cited. ***The essay is due to Cougar Courses by 10:00 AM on Wed, October 4. In addition, a hard copy is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, Oct 4. Failure to provide both copies will result in a failing grade.***
Here is an outline for you.
Title: The Clash of Worldviews: Land, Property, and Freedom in Early America
Introduction
Briefly introduce the concept of liberty and how it evolved in early American history.
Provide an overview of the conflicting views on land and property between Native Americans and early settlers.
State the thesis that the essay will explore how these differing views influenced interactions and notions of freedom and liberty.
Body
Paragraph 1: Native American Views on Land and Property
Discuss Native American perspectives on land as a shared resource.
Describe how Native Americans nurtured the land and its resources.
Cite relevant primary sources to support these points, such as “Native Americans Discover Europeans” (1676).
Paragraph 2: Early Settlers’ Views on Land and Property
Explain early settlers’ perspectives on land as essential to liberty and private property.
Discuss their approaches to agriculture and resource consumption.
Cite relevant primary sources, such as John Winthrop’s “Dreams of a City on a Hill” (1630).
Paragraph 3: Interactions and Conflicts
Analyze how the conflicting views on land and property led to interactions and conflicts between Native Americans and settlers.
Discuss instances where land was acquired from Native Americans, potentially at the expense of their freedoms and liberties.
Use primary sources like “Indian Affairs” (1679) to illustrate these conflicts.
Paragraph 4: Influence on Freedom and Liberties
Examine the impact of these views on the freedom and liberties of both Native Americans and settlers.
Discuss how property ownership affected social hierarchies and power dynamics.
Incorporate primary sources, such as the Declaration of Independence (1776), to demonstrate the evolving notions of freedom.
Paragraph 5: Evolving Notions of Freedom
Discuss how the clash of worldviews contributed to evolving notions of freedom in early America.
Highlight the tension between individual liberty and communal stewardship of land.
Reference primary sources like J. Hector St. John Crevecoeur’s “What Is An American?” (1782) to explore changing perspectives.
Conclusion
Summarize the key points of the essay, highlighting the differing views on land and property between Native Americans and settlers.
Emphasize the influence of these views on interactions, conflicts, and evolving notions of freedom and liberty.
Restate the thesis and offer a final thought on the complexity of defining liberty in early America.
Works Cited
List at least ten works, including the primary sources you used and any secondary sources consulted for background information.
Remember to cite a minimum of five primary source documents within the body of your essay, using proper citation formats. Ensure that your essay falls within the specified word count and formatting guidelines, and submit both digital and hard copies as required. Good luck with your assignment
Requirements: