Zinn -- Chapter 6

Note: J-Man is giving me a hard time about my slowness in getting questions up... I must confess that I am presently finishing my final grad school project and unfortunately (or is it fortunate?) for you folks, that takes priority over me getting these questions up for you to ponder. Monday will be it... after that, we'll return to Zinn when we reach that time frame in Brinkley. Thanks to a couple of you who have answered every question... that will not go unnoticed.

24. Mary Dyer is a character covered in both Boorstin and Zinn. However, each puts a different spin on her story. Please identify this difference, and why do you think they differ?

25. Pay attention to Zinn's reference to the "cult of domesticity." It is very important and will come up again in the Brinkley text. Although I feel that Zinn covers this topic the best.

27. In your notebook, you'll need to know these ladies and their specifics:

Anne Hutchinson, Abigail Adams, Margaret Corbin (aka, Dirty Kate), Deborah Sampson Garnet, Molly Picher, Mary Wollstonecraft (although English), Amelia Bloomer, Emma Willard (I visited her school in Troy, NY), Dr. Harriot Hunt, Elizabeth Blackwell, Lucy Stone, Sarah and Angelina Grimke, Margaret Fuller, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Dorothea Dix, Frances Wright, Lucretia Mott, and Sojourner "Ain't I a Women" Truth.

Zinn -- MIddle Chapters

12. Is Zinn being fair to our Founding Fathers in his opening of Chapter 4 (this might be a better question to ask after we finish reading the chapter in Brinkley... so file this question away, for now)?

13. Zinn states that the cause(s) of the revolution, "... was not a conscious conspiracy, but an accumulation of tactical responses." I ask each of you to name one of those "responses" without repeating what your colleagues have already commented (so read what your colleagues write!).

14. On page 60, Zinn refers to the "elements" that were in place for conflict between the colonies and Great Britain... as in question #13, what does he refer (name one).

15. Discuss the point Zinn is attempting to make by all the evidence he presents for middle and lower class discontent. List one of Zinn's supporting "evidence" for discontentment. Again, do not repeat what any of your colleagues have written, and if you cannot present anything new, then agree or disagree with one of your colleagues' comments (of course, in a respectful way).

16. Note a cause leading to the "Boston Massacre."

17. Why does Zinn refer to the Declaration of Independence as a, "myth of a unified people?"

18. According to Zinn, how did the Revolutionary War allow the rich to manipulate the poor?

19. How did the Revolutionary War effect Native Americans?

20. How did the Revolutionary War effect Blacks?

21. How did the ratification benefit the rich (keep your answer short here, since it could go on and on... and again, do not repeat any answers already commented on by your colleagues)?

22. Come up with one sentence that explains Shays' Rebellion?

23. What argument dies James Madison use for having a government which can maintain peace and avoid continuous disorder?

Howard Zinn -- A People's History of the United States

Introduction

You'll find Zinn's book far different then the Boostin book, however I also think you'll find it easier reading. Please approach the Zinn book with an open mind since I'm not asking you to "buy in" to everything his says. You find it a much different perspective then the class text well begin in 16 days (but who's counting).

Anything that you read in this class, it is important to understand bias and point of view. Zinn in the very first chapter admits his bias and explains his point of view, therefore take it for what it's worth -- a very different perspective.

It is also important to recognize the themes Zinn covers compared to Boorstin. Such as, how does each deal with slavery, or Bacon's Rebellion (Boorstin barely mentions Bacon!). I'm going to ask you to come back and visit this later in the year (also by looking at Brinkley, our text author).

Well shall we get to some things to look at?

Early Chapters

1. Would it be incorrect to assume that you all were taught in your earlier classes what a great man Christopher Columbus was. We even have a holiday for him. However, Zinn focuses more on Columbus' more "human" qualities. Please list one of those qualities, and do not repeat one that has already been posted by your classmates.

2. Identify one of Zinn's biases and point of view?

3. If you remember, Boorstin causally mentions "King Philip's War," whereas Zinn identifies it's causes. Please make note of that but you do not need to comment here.

4. What does Zinn say about racism in America? Look at Edmund Morgan's view on racism on p. 56. Would you agree? Zinn then asks, "Is it possible for blacks and whites to live together without hatred?" What do you think, given what Zinn has written?

5. It is important to note the behavior of the residents of Jamestown during the "starving time." No comment needed here.

6. Pay attention to Zinn's quotation by Edmund Morgan on p. 25.

7. What were some of the differences in how slaves were treated in Africa (by Africans) and in the colonies?

8. Why were Africans better fitted fro slavery then Indians?

9. What were some of the methods Africans slaves used to escape?

10. What ways were the treatment of indentured servants similar to African slaves?

11. Give an example of how colonial America was similar to feudal Europe, or operated more as an aristocracy.

End... Questions to Consider

1. In Chapter 46, Boorstin defines the the "London agent", or sometimes refereed as the London "factor." Be familiar with the agent's/factor's role in colonial America.

2. In class we will be spending much time on comparing and contrasting New England with the "middle colonies" (my quotes, and what I mean here is New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware -- and during the colonial era, Delaware was a lower county of Pennsylvania -- , and the southern colonies, and here Boorstin goes into great detail singling out Virginia, with earlier discussions of Georgia and the Carolinas). Please pay special attention to his differentiations of these colonies.

3. Boorstin mentions that the colonists practice, "purposeful reading." What is meant by this quote?

4. Much is made of the colonist's "lack of literature." Please give an example of what Boorstin means by my quote.

5. For those of you under-achievers, who have not ever read anything, nor posted anything in the comment section, then please read the last paragraph in chapter 48 and comment.

6. Boorstin mentions the Star Chamber Decree and I would like to know what your world history background might provide. Do you understand Boorstin's reference?

7. Comment on what Boorstin means when he says, "The sycophantic dedication to a Lordly patron, who brought and paid for his complements, is rarely found in volumes printed on this side of the ocean?"

8. Given what we've learned in this book, why might it explain characteristically that Georgia be the last colony to acquire a printing press (hey, be nice!)?

9. Give one example of why newspapers in the colonies outnumber those that existed in Great Britain.

10. Any of you want to comment on magazines?

11. Please comment on the censorship which existed in the colonies...

12. What impact did John Peter Zenger have on the press?

13. Printers in the colonies were very important. Please give an example of their impact on society and politics.

14. The term "Indian Summer" takes on a whole new meaning for me... at least. Please comment.

15. Boorstin goes into much detail about how the colonists were much better prepared for fighting then British Regulars (and when we get to the Civil War many of the same arguments will be used again). How were colonists better prepared then the professional British Regulars?

16. Comment on the "myth" that, "Americans are always better prepared for war, however their weakness is that they fail as readily into peace."

17. Boorstin give a great comparison of the colonial "militia" vs. the British Regulars. Could you please provide an example of each?

18. "How could such an ill-assorted, ill-disciplined, an ill-supplied army succeed against the well-organized forces of one the great military powers? How, indeed, can we account for the final victory?" Comment?

19. The reference to Cicinnatus? What might this have to do with Washington, as well as the rest of the colonial militia?

On to Zinn...

Chapter 45

What literary "tastes" did colonial Americans possess (especially in Boston)?

Chapter 44

What may account for reason(s) colonial America failed to produce a major piece of literature of her own?

Chapters 42 & 43

Have I reminded you enough to search for the post entitled, "Directions?" If not, please do so now!

1. Why does Boorstin refer to Noah Webster as the "patron saint of American linguistic nationalism" and "Spelling-Master to America"?

2. What specifically makes American speech more conservative than the English way of speaking (and thank the gods for spell-check B-Kauze I kant spel worth a darn)?

Chapter 41

As a serious student, of really anything, you should find the following chapters stimulating. Here we go:

1. "Our common, classless language has provided the vernacular for equality in america." Comment?

2. Again please comment on the quote, "America... in the 18th century was a melting pot" (Keep in mind that the term "melting pot" is a term revisionist historians may not subscribe to).

Please read the last paragraph in this chapter very carefully.

Chapter 40

This is a very good chapter! Please read carefully.

1. Why were American farmers described as slovens?

2. Why was THE most "labor-saving device, to the American farmer, the wasteful use of land"?

Chapter 39

Please read Franklin's reply to Dr. John Lining when Franklin quotes his scientific journal (in my ed. the quote begins at the bottom of p. 256). What does Franklin mean?

Chapter 38

If you are interested in astronomy (and really, who isn't in Flagstaff, you better read this chapter closely!).

Any comments on David Rittenhouse? What qualities make Rittenhouse a "typical" colonial American?

Growing up in a suburb outside of Philadelphia, the name "Rittenhouse" was very prominent. However, Boorstin, I believe gives Rittenhouse his due.

Chapter 37

Comment, if you'd like, on the two great example at the end of the chapter of the training of colonial physicians.

Chapter 35

This chapter would interest any of you who aspire to attain a degree in the health and medical field.

However, please discuss the significance of the role of colonial "doctors" play in the role of developing an inoculation against smallpox.

Chapter 34

See the post "DIRECTIONS" for, you know, directions on what I expect you to post!

ALL MUST ANSWER QUESTION #3!

1. The natural sciences in the colonies advanced the science in medicine in Europe. Discuss.

2. Also discuss the "Jamestown Weed."

3. Discuss your favorite remedy by a a colonial doctor.

Chapter 31 -- 33

As you read through this, it is important in anything you read (newspapers, blogs, magazines, tv) to recognize the author's bias. In this chapter, I recognize Boorstin's bias towards Native Americans... can anyone else identify this bias?

1. What was the effect in the colonies of "labor-scarcity and land plenty?"

2. Chapter 32 describes the evolution of the profession of lawyers. Please summarize Boorstin's description in a paragraph.

3. Why were so many signers of the Declaration of Independence trained in law?

Chapter 30

1. Describe how the colonial rights of women were considered more "advanced" compared her contemporaries in England, or the 20th century?

2. Boorstin writes that, "America lacked enthusiasm for the man of... 'pure intelligence.'" Explain.

Chapter 29 (Part 6: Educating the Community)

Please refer to the post "Directions" for further clarification.

In this chapter, EVERYONE MUST ANSWER #8.

1. Pay attention to the definitions of the "several kinds of colonies -- 'charter, royal, and proprietary.'" They will come in handy years down the road...

2. What exactly did Harvard Collage do in 1642 that Boorstin considers "vague" and why?

3. Why was Yale founded and under what conditions?

4. Please discuss briefly on the differences between colleges and universities established in England?

5. What is the significance of the "lay control" of colonial colleges?

6. What may be significant concerning the Board of Trustees of Yale and Princeton?

7. What was the role of religious sects in the founding of colleges in the colonies?

8. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages with colonial colleges (this is a very general question and therefore has numerous answers)?

Chapters 26 & 27

See the Post on "Directions" for further clarifications on what is required.

1. In what way(s) are the acquisition of knowledge in America (New World) different compared to Europe or Asia (Old World)?

2. Why were so few, or no, contributions made in the physical sciences by colonial Americans?

3. Please read Boorstin's the quote on p. 168... comment?

Chapter 25

1. In your opinion, what is Boorstin's definition of "self-evidence?"

2. What point of view is boorstin attempting to make by comparing Washington to Napoleon, presidents FDR, Truman, and Eisenhower to Lenin, Mussolini and Hitler?

Chapter 24

See the post entitled "Directions" for requirements...

1. "There was no system of American thought, but there were signs of American ways of thinking." Please support this statement through examples of the reading.

2. Read thoroughly the paragraph which begins, "The most fertile novelty of the New World was not its climate, its plants, its animals, or its minerals, but its new concept of knowledge..." (page 150 in my edition). Please comment...

TRANSPLANTERS: THE VIRGINIANS

Note: A rather difficult chapter to get through. Give it your best shot. Just remember that Daniel Boorstin is a cultural historian, and a rare breed. Much of the things he leaves out will be covered in the text, and so I'm forced to admit that it would have been helpful to have had all that background prior to the reading. However, when you do read the text, then I believe it will all be much simpler. Or at least, that's my hope/wishful thinking.

1. In what way(s) is the Virginia (Va.) colony different than Georgia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania?

2. What are "headrights?"

3. How was Va. society similar to English society? How was it different?

4. Define "freeholder."

5. How did an aristocracy develop in Va.?

6. What's problem did planters in Va. have with soil when planting tobacco?

7. What was synonymous with "sour land," and how did it get that way?

8. Why was/is that Va. did not develop a center of commerce (like a Philadelphia or a Boston)?

9. Explain the voting procedure in Va.?

10. What role did the Va. gov't play in aiding people such as George Washington in acquiring new land?

11. How was the "church of Va." different than the Church of England?

12. What role did the church of Va. play in society and politics?