abby chill's List: Electronic readings for US History

• A particuler discourse concerninge the greate necessitie and manifolde  comodyties that are like to growe to this Realme of Englande by the Westerne  discoveries lately attempted, Written In the yere 1584 by Richarde Hackluyt of  Oxforde at the requeste and direction of the righte worshipfull Mr. Walter  Raghly [Raieigh] nowe Knight, before the comynge home of his Twoo Barkes: and is  devlded into xxi chapiters, the Titles whereof followe in the nexte leafe.  

  • In this source you will encounter strange spellings in "old English". For example the words "growe" ,"concerninge" or comodyties (commodities). Don't be distracted; instead, read steadily guessing where you have to. Aim to get at the main idea of the short numbered sections. Hakluyt is giving reasons or arguments for why colonizing the Americas is a good idea. Identify the political, economic and social arguments that he makes.
    
    If you were a monarch, would you be convinced? Why or why not?
• refourmed relligion

  • This is a reference to the Anglican Church- founded by Henry VIII as part of the Protestant Reformation
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• kinge of Spaine his Domynions, where our men are dryven to flinge their Bibles  and prayer Bokes into the sea, and to forsweare and renownce their relligion and  conscience and consequently theyr obedience to her Majestie.

  • Reference to Catholic Spain, a rival of Protestant England
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• That the passage in this voyadge is easie and shorte, that it cutteth not nere  the trade of any other mightie Princes, nor nere their Contries, that it is to  be perfourmed at all tymes of the yere, and nedeth but one kinde of winde, that  Ireland beinge full of goodd havens on the southe and west sides, is the nerest  parte of Europe to it, which by this trade shall be in more securitie, and the  sooner drawen to more Civilitie.

  • Reference to geographic advantages of the route to the Americas.
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• That by these Colonies the Northwest passage to Cathaio and China may easely  quickly and perfectly be searched

  • Refers to an advantage to explore routes to China
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• Remarks Concerning the
  Savages of North America 

  Written by Benjamin Franklin ~ 1784
  Copyright © Public Domain
  All Rights Reserved

  • What do we learn about Native American society from Franklin's remarks?
    
    Describe Franklin's point of view and attitude towards the native Americans?
    
    Predict how his audience would respond to these remarks and why?
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• Savages we call them, because their manners differ from ours, which we think the  perfection of civility; they think the same of theirs.  

  Perhaps, if we could examine the manners of different nations with  impartiality, we should find no people so rude, as to be without any rules of  politeness; nor any so polite, as not to have some remains of rudeness.  

  The Indian men, when young, are hunters and warriors; when old, counselors;  for all their government is by counsel of the sages; there is no force, there  are no prisons, no officers to compel obedience, or inflict punishment. Hence  they generally study oratory, the best speaker having the most influence. The  Indian women till the ground, dress the food, nurse and bring up the children,  and preserve and hand down to posterity the memory of public transactions. These  employments of men and women are accounted natural and honorable. Having few  artificial wants, they have abundance of leisure for improvement by  conversation. Our laborious manner of life, compared with theirs, they esteem  slavish and base; and the learning, on which we value ourselves, they regard as  frivolous and useless. An instance of this occurred at the Treaty of Lancaster,  in Pennsylvania, anno 1744, between the government of Virginia and the Six  Nations.2 After the principal business was settled, the commissioners from  Virginia acquainted the India by a speech, that there was at Williamsburg a  college, with a fund for educating Indian youth; and that, if the Six Nations  would send down half dozen of their young lads to that college, the government  would take care that they should be well provided for, and instructed in all the  learning of the white people. It is one of the Indian rules of politeness not to  answer a public proposition the same day that it is made; they think it would be  treating it as a light matter, and that they show it respect by taking time to  consider it, as of a matter important.  

  They therefore deferred their answer till the day following; when their  speaker began, by expressing their deep sense of the kindness of the Virginia  government, in making them that offer; "for we know", says he, "that you highly  esteem the kind of learning taught in those Colleges, and that the maintenance  of our young men, while with you, would be very expensive to you. We are  convinced, therefore, that you mean to do us good by your proposal; and we thank  you heartily. But who are wise, must know that different nations have different  conceptions of things; and you will therefore not take it amiss, if our ideas of  this kind of education happen not to be the same with yours. We have had some  experience of it; several of our young people were formerly brought up at the  colleges of the northern provinces; they were instructed in all your sciences;  but, when they came back to us, they were bad runners, ignorant of every means  of living in the woods, unable to bear either cold or hunger, knew neither how  to build a cabin, take a deer, or kill an enemy, spoke our language imperfectly,  were therefore neither fit for hunters, warriors, nor counselors; they were  totally good for nothing. We are however not the less obliged by your kind  offer, though we decline accepting it; and, to show our grateful sense of i t,  if the gentlemen of Virginia will send us a dozen of their sons, we will take  great care of their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of  them."

  • What do we learn about Native American society from Frnaklin's text?
    
    Describe Frnaklin's point of view with textual proof.
    
    Predict how Frnaklin's readership would respond to his remarks and why.
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• To interrupt another, even  in common conversation, is reckoned highly indecent. How  different this from the conduct of a polite British House  of Commons, where scarce a day passes without some  confusion, that makes the speaker hoarse in calling to  order; and how different from the mode of conversation in  many polite companies of Europe, where, if you do not  deliver your sentence with great rapidity, you are cut  off in the middle of it by the impatient loquacity of  those you converse with, and never suffered to finish it.
• A Swedish minister, having assembled the chiefs of the  Susquehanah Indians, made a sermon to them, acquainting  them with the principal historical facts on which our  religion is founded; such as the fall of our first parents  by eating an apple, the coming of Christ to repair the  mischief, His miracles and suffering, etc. When he had  finished, an Indian orator stood up to thank him. "What  you have told us," he says, "is all very good. It is  indeed bad to eat apples. It is better to make them all  into cider. We are much obliged by your kindness in coming  so far, to tell us these things which you have heard from  your mothers. In return, I will tell you some of those we  have heard from ours. In the beginning, our fathers had  only the flesh of animals to subsist on; and if their  hunting was unsuccessful, they were starving. Two of our  young hunters, having killed a deer, made a fire in the  woods to broil some part of it. When they were about to  satisfy their hunger, they beheld a beautiful young woman  descend from the clouds, seat herself on that hill, which  you see yonder among the blue mountains. They said to each  other, it is a spirit that has smelled our broiling  venison and wishes to eat of it; let us offer some to her.  They presented her with the tongue; she was pleased with  the taste of it, and said 'Your kindness shall be rewarded;  come to this place after thirteen moons, and you shall  find something that will be of great benefit in nourishing  you and your children to the latest generations.' They did  so, and, to their surprise, found plants they had never  seen before; but which, from that ancient time, have  constantly cultivated among us, to our great advantage.  Where her right hand had touched the ground, they found  maize; where her left hand had touched it, they found  kidney-beans; and where her backside had sat on it, they  found tobacco." The good missionary, disgusted with this  idle tale, said, "What I delivered to you were sacred  truths; but what you tell me is mere fable, fiction, and  falsehood." The Indian, offended, replied "My brother, it  seems your friends have not done you justice in your  education; they have not well instructed you in the rules  of common civility. You saw that we who understand and  practice those rules, believed all your stories; you  refuse to believe ours?"
• When any of them come into our towns, our people are apt  to crowd round them, gaze upon them, and incommode them,  where they desire to be private; this they esteem great  rudeness, and the effect of the want of instruction in  the rules of civility and good manners. "We have," say  they, "as much curiosity as you, and when you come into  our towns, we wish for opportunities of looking at you,  but for this purpose we hide ourselves behind bushes,  where you are to pass, and never intrude ourselves into  company."

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• Winthrop, the governor of the Massachusetts  Bay Colony, drafted this statement as a justification for establishing colonies  in New England, and as a defense against their detractors.]

   

   

  • What rguments does John winthrop bring to convince ohter Puritans to join him in moving to North America? Classify the arguments as social, political, economic and religious.
    Which arguments would be most convincing to a fellow Puritan and why?
    Which of his arguments are convincing to you and why?
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• What is Wheatley's message in this poem?
  
  What can the historian learn about colonial america, slavery and Whetley from this poem? - abby chill on 2009-06-11

• The next day, being the fift of May, the Werowance of  Rapahanna sent a Messenger to have us come to him. We  entertained the said Messenger, and gave him trifles which  pleased him : Wee manned our shallop with Muskets and  Targatiers sufficiently: this said Messenger guided us where  our determination was to goe. When wee landed, the Wero-  wance of Rapahanna came downe to the water side with all  his traine, as goodly men as any I have scene of Savages or  Christians: the Werowance comming before them playing  on a Flute made of a Reed, with a Crown of Deares haire  colloured red, in fashion of a Rose fastened about his knot of  haire, and a great Plate of Copper on the other side of his  head, with two long Feathers in fashion of a paire of Homes  placed in the midst of his Crowne. His body was painted all  with Crimson, with a Chaine of Beads about his necke, his  face painted blew, besprinkled with silver Ore as wee  thought, his eares all behung with Braslets of Pearle, and in  either eare a Birds Claw through it beset with fine Copper  or Gold, he entertained us in so modest a proud fashion, as  though he had beene a Prince of civill government, holding  his countenance without laughter or any such ill behaviour ;  he caused his Mat to be spred on the ground, where hee sate*  downe with a great Majestic, taking a pipe of Tobacco: the  rest of his company standing about him. After he had rested  a while he rose, and made signes to us to come to his Towne :

  • Read this description
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• Wee passed through the Woods in fine paths, hav-  ing most pleasant Springs which issued from the Mountaines :  Wee also went through the goodliest Corne fieldes that ever  was scene in any Countrey. When wee came to Rapahannos  Towne, hee entertained us in good humanitie.   The eight day of May we discovered up the River. We  landed in the Countrey of Apamatica, at our landing, there  came many stout and able Savages to resist us with their  Bowes and Arrowes, in a most warlike manner, with the  swords at their backes beset with sharpe stones, and pieces  of yron able to cleave a man in sunder. Amongst the rest  one of the chiefest standing before them crosse-legged, with  his Arrow readie in his Bow in one hand, and taking a Pipe  of Tobacco in the other, with a bold uttering of his speech,  demanded of us our being there, willing us to bee gone. Wee  made signes of peace, which they perceived in the end, and  let us land in quietnesse.

  • What do we learn about Native Americans from this section?
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• The thirteenth day, we came to our seating place in Pas-  pihas Countrey, some eight miles from the point of Land,  which I made mention before: where our shippes doe lie so  neere the shoare that they are moored to the Trees in six  fathom water.   The fourteenth day we landed all our men which were set  to worke about the fortification, and others some to watch  and ward as it was convenient. The first night of our land-  ing, about midnight, there came some Savages sayling close  to our quarter: presently there was an alarurn given; upon  that the Savages ran away, and we not troubled any more     THE POUNDING OF JAMESTOWN. ii   by them that night. Not long after there came two Savages  that seemed to be Commanders, bravely drest, with Crownes  of coloured haire upon their heads, which came as Messen-  gers from the Werowance of Paspihae; telling us that their  Werozvonce was comming and would be merry with us with a  fat Deare.   The eighteenth day, the Werowance of Paspihar came him-  selfe to our quarter, with one hundred Savages armed, which  garded him in a very warlike manner with Bowes and Ar-  rowes, thinking at that time to execute their villany. Pas-  pihae made great signes to us to lay our Armes away. But  we would not trust him so far: he seeing he could not have  convenient time to worke his will, at length made signes  that he would give us as much land as we would desire to  take. As the Savages were in a throng in the Fort, one of  them stole a Hatchet from one of our company, which spied  him doing the deed: whereupon he tooke it from him by  force, and also strooke him over the arme: presently another  Savage seeing that, came fiercely at our man with a wooden  sword, thinking to beat out his braines. The Werowance  of Paspiha saw us take to our Armes, went suddenly away  with all his company in great anger.

  • What is the conflict about?
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• The sixt of August there died John Ashie of the bloudie  Flixe. The ninth day died George Flozvre of the swelHng.  The tenth day died William Brnster Gentleman, of a wound  given by the Savages, and was buried the eleventh day.   The fourteenth day, Jerome Alikock Ancient, died of a  wound, the same day Francis Midzvinter, Edzvard Moris Cor-  porall died suddenly.   The fifteenth day, there died Edzvard Brozvne and Stephen  Galthrope, The sixteenth day, their died Thomas Gozver  Gentleman. The seventeenth day, there died Thomas Moun-  slic. The eighteenth day, there died Robert Pennington, and  John Martine Gentleman. The nineteenth day, died Drue  Ptggase Gentleman. The two and twentieth day of August,  there died Captaine Bartholomezv Gosnold one of our Coun-  cell, he was honourably buried, having all the Ordnance in  the Fort shot off with many vollies of small shot.   After Captaine Gosnols death, the Councell could hardly  agree by the dissention of Captaine Kendall, which after-  ward was committed about hainous matters which was  proved against him.   The foure and twentieth day, died Edzvard Ilarington and  George Walker, and were buried on the same day. The sixe  and twentieth day, died Kenelme Throgmortine. The seven  and twentieth day died William Roods, The eight and  twentieth day died Thomas Stoodie, Cape Merchant.   The fourth day of September died Thomas Jacob Sergeant.  The fift day, there died Benjamin Beast. Our men were  destroyed with cruell diseases as Swellings, Flixes, Burning  Fevers, and by warres, and some departed suddenly, but for  the most part they died of mere famine. There were never  Englishmen left in a forreigne Countrey in such miserie  as wee were in this new discovered Virginia. Wee watched  every three nights lying on the bare cold ground what  weather soever came warded all the next day, which brought  our men to bee most feeble* wretches, our food was but a  small Can of Barlie sod in water to five men a dav, our  drinke cold water taken out of the River, which was at a  floud verie salt, at a low tide full of slime and filth, which  was the destruction of many of our men. Thus we lived for  the space of five moneths in this miserable distresse, not  having five able men to man our Bulwarkes upon any oc-  casion. If it had not pleased God to have put a terrour in  the Savages hearts, we had all perished by those vild and     i6 THE FOUNDING OF JAMESTOWN,   cruell Pagans, being in that weake estate as we were; our  men night and day groaning in every corner of the Fort most  pittifull to heare, if there were any conscience in men, it  would make their harts to bleed to heare the pittiful mur-  murings & out-cries of our sick men without reliefe every  night and day for the space of sixe weekes, some departing  out of the World, many times three or foure in a night, in  the morning their bodies trailed out of their Cabines like  Dogges to be^ buried : in this sort did I see the mortalitie of  divers of our people.   It pleased God, after a while,, to send those people which  were our mortall enemies to releeve us with victuals, as  Bread, Corne, Fish, and Flesh in great plentie, which was  the setting up of our feeble men. otherwise wee had all per-  ished. Also we were frequented by divers Kings in the  Countrie, bringing us store of provision to our great comfort.

  • What do we learn about conditions of the settlers from this section?
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• To my Dear and Loving Husband   If ever two were one, then surely we.  If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;  If ever wife was happy in a man,  Compare with me, ye woman, if you can.  I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,  Or all the riches that the east doth hold.  My love is such that rivers cannot quench,  Nor aught but love from thee, give recompense.  Thy love is such I can no way repay,  The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.  Then while we live, in love let's so perservere  That when we live no more, we may live ever.
• Before the Birth of One of Her Children   All things within this fading world hath end,  Adversity doth still our joys attend;  No ties so strong, no friends so dear and sweet,  But with death's parting blow is sure to meet.  The sentence past is most irrevocable,  A common thing, yet oh, inevitable.  How soon, my Dear, death may my steps attend.  How soon't may be thy lot to lose thy friend,  We both are ignorant, yet love bids me  These farewell lines to recommend to thee,  That when that knot's untied that made us one,  I may seem thine, who in effect am none.  And if I see not half my days that's due,  What nature would, God grant to yours and you;  The many faults that well you know  I have Let be interred in my oblivious grave;  If any worth or virtue were in me,  Let that live freshly in thy memory  And when thou feel'st no grief, as I no harms,  Yet love thy dead, who long lay in thine arms.  And when thy loss shall be repaid with gains  Look to my little babes, my dear remains.  And if thou love thyself, or loved'st me,  These O protect from step-dame's injury.  And if chance to thine eyes shall bring this verse,  With some sad sighs honour my absent hearse;  And kiss this paper for thy love's dear sake,  Who with salt tears this last farewell did take.  TOP    By Night when Others Soundly Slept     By night when others soundly slept   And hath at once both ease and Rest,    My waking eyes were open kept    And so to lie I found it best.     I sought him whom my Soul did L
• Here Follow Several Occasional Meditations
• In Thankful Remembrance for My Dear Husband's Safe Arrival Sept 3, 1662   What shall I render to Thy name  Or how Thy praises speak?  My thanks how shall I testify?  O Lord, Thou know'st I'm weak.   I owe so much, so little can  Return unto Thy name,  Confusion seizes on my soul,  And I am filled with shame.   O Thou that hearest prayers, Lord,  To Thee shall come all flesh  Thou hast me heard and answered,  My plaints have had access.   What did I ask for but Thou gav'st?  What could I more desire?  But thankfulness even all my days  I humbly this require.   Thy mercies, Lord, have been so great  In number numberless,  Impossible for to recount  Or any way express.   O help Thy saints that sought Thy face  T' return unto Thee praise  And walk before Thee as they ought,  In strict and upright ways.
• By night when others soundly slept  And hath at once both ease and Rest,  My waking eyes were open kept  And so to lie I found it best.   I sought him whom my Soul did Love,  With tears I sought him earnestly.  He bow'd his ear down from Above.  In vain I did not seek or cry.   My hungry Soul he fill'd with Good;  He in his Bottle put my tears,  My smarting wounds washt in his blood,  And banisht thence my Doubts and fears.   What to my Saviour shall I give  Who freely hath done this for me?  I'll serve him here whilst I shall live  And Loue him to Eternity
• By Night when Others Soundly Slept    By night when others soundly slept
• By Night when Others Soundly Slept
• In Reference to her Children, 23 June 1659   I had eight birds hatched in one nest,  Four cocks there were, and hens the rest.  I nursed them up with pain and care,  Nor cost, nor labour did I spare,  Till at the last they felt their wing,  Mounted the trees, and learned to sing;  Chief of the brood then took his flight  To regions far and left me quite.  My mournful chirps I after send,  Till he return, or I do end:  Leave not thy nest, thy dam and sire,  Fly back and sing amidst this choir.  My second bird did take her flight,  And with her mate flew out of sight;  Southward they both their course did bend,  And seasons twain they there did spend,  Till after blown by southern gales,  They norward steered with filled sails.  A prettier bird was no where seen,  Along the beach among the treen.  I have a third of colour white,  On whom I placed no small delight;  Coupled with mate loving and true,  Hath also bid her dam adieu;  And where Aurora first appears,  She now hath perched to spend her years.  One to the academy flew  To chat among that learned crew;  Ambition moves still in his breast  That he might chant above the rest  Striving for more than to do well,  That nightingales he might excel.  My fifth, whose down is yet scarce gone,  Is 'mongst the shrubs and bushes flown,  And as his wings increase in strength,  On higher boughs he'll perch at length.  My other three still with me nest,  Until they're grown, then as the rest,  Or here or there they'll take their flight,  As is ordained, so shall they light.  If birds could weep, then would my tears  Let others know what are my fears  Lest this my brood some harm should catch,  And be surprised for want of watch,  Whilst pecking corn and void of care,  They fall un'wares in fowler's snare,  Or whilst on trees they sit and sing,  Some untoward boy at them do fling,  Or whilst allured with bell and glass,  The net be spread, and caught, alas.  Or lest by lime-twigs they be foiled,  Or by some greedy hawks be spoiled.  O would my young, ye saw my breast,  And knew what thoughts there sadly rest,  Great was my pain when I you fed,  Long did I keep you soft and warm,  And with my wings kept off all harm,  My cares are more and fears than ever,  My throbs such now as 'fore were never.  Alas, my birds, you wisdom want,  Of perils you are ignorant;  Oft times in grass, on trees, in flight,  Sore accidents on you may light.  O to your safety have an eye,  So happy may you live and die.  Meanwhile my days in tunes I'll spend,  Till my weak lays with me shall end.  In shady woods I'll sit and sing,  And things that past to mind I'll bring.  Once young and pleasant, as are you,  But former toys (no joys) adieu.  My age I will not once lament,  But sing, my time so near is spent.  And from the top bough take my flight  Into a country beyond sight,  Where old ones instantly grow young,  And there with seraphims set song;  No seasons cold, nor storms they see;  But spring lasts to eternity.  When each of you shall in your nest  Among your young ones take your rest,  In chirping language, oft them tell,  You had a dam that loved you well,  That did what could be done for young,  And nursed you up till you were strong,  And 'fore she once would let you fly,  She showed you joy and misery;  Taught what was good, and what was ill,  What would save life, and what would kill.  Thus gone, amongst you I may live,  And dead, yet speak, and counsel give:  Farewell, my birds, farewell adieu,  I happy am, if well with you.  TOP
• By night when others soundly slept,  And had at once both case and rest,  My waking eyes were open kept  And so to lie I found it best.   I sought Him whom my soul did love,  With tears I sought Him earnestly;  He bowed His ear down from above.  In vain I did not seek or cry.   My hungry soul He filled with good,  He in His bottle put my tears,  My smarting wounds washed in His blood,  And banished thence my doubts and fears.   What to my Savior shall I give,  Who freely hath done this for me?  I'll serve Him here whilst I shall live  And love Him to eternity.

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• It appears to me, that there is a clear and necessary  Distinction between an Act imposing a tax for the single  purpose of revenue, and those Acts which have been made  for the regulation of trade, and have produced some revenue  in consequence of their effect and operation as regulations  of trade.  

  The colonies claim the privileges of British subjects  -It has been proved to be inconsistent with those  privileges, to tax them without their own consent, and it hath  been demonstrated that a tax imposed by Parliament, is a  tax without their consent.  
• A right to impose an internal tax on the colonies,  without their consent for the single purpose of revenue, is  denied, a right to regulate their trade without their consent  is admitted. The imposition of a duty may, in some  instances, be the proper regulation. If the claims of the  mother country and the colonies should seem on such an  occasion to interfere, and the point of right to be doubtful,  (which I take to be otherwise) it is easy to guess that the  determination will be on the side of power, and the inferior  will be constrained to submit.  <!-- End : document body -->    <!-- Begin: insertion of footer -->  <script language="JavaScript" src="../../../java/footer.js"></script>