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...
