Desiree Ranshaw
Dr. Yuxuf Abana
AFAS 320
26 December 2014
Unit 1—(December 22—December 26) Worksheet Questions on The Origins of American Slavery.
1. In the opening chapter of Origins, Betty Wood asserts that “The adoption of chattel slavery by the English in their New World colonies had no clear precedent in either English law or social and economic practice” (The Origins of American Slavery 9). What does chattel slavery mean? Thoroughly analyze how does this term explain English ideas about slavery?
In The Origins of American Slavery: Freedom and Bondage in the English Colonies, a critical issue publication, historian Betty Wood examines both the societal and intellectual changes that made it acceptable for England to change from a …show more content…
According to this philosophy, the social rank that existed among people was appointed by God and could never be changed. The order begins with God, then angels, demons, kings, princes, nobles, men, wild animals, domesticated animals, all the way down to plants and minerals (Great Chain of Being). It was expected that what you were born into was permanent and failure to accept their place would result in harsh punishment (Wood 13). Another important point to note is that during this time, the Great Chain of Being applied to the English and “Englishness” could determine a person’s freedom (Wood 18). To the English, foreigners such as the native Indians, West Africans, and even the Irish did not uphold to their Christian standards or the English model of civilization. Therefore, these heathens could not be apart of the Great Chain of Being as they were not recognized in the eyes of God. Based on this, these people being considered for slavery in the New World were beginning to be thought of as less human-like and more animal-like. The English believed it would never be correct to strip a Christian, Englishman of his rights and freedom, but because those considered for New World slaves were not English or Christian, they began to see justification for …show more content…
The colonists knew that the native Indians had knowledge of the land and hoped that they could learn and trade with them. However, the colonists also believed that should it be necessary, they had the right to defend themselves and wage war. As the number of Puritans and Quakers in New England increased, so did the need for land and according to the New Englanders, because the Native Americans had no legal documentation that followed English guidelines, they had no rights to it. Finally in 1634 disagreements between the Pequots and the English boiled over and in 1636 the English attacked the Pequots. In response to this, the Pequots, with help from the Narragansets, retaliated and destroyed a couple of English settlements which led to another, even harsher attack from the Puritans. This “just” war on the “ungrateful heathens” ultimately ended with the enslavement of the Native Americans (Wood
Dr. Yuxuf Abana
AFAS 320
26 December 2014
Unit 1—(December 22—December 26) Worksheet Questions on The Origins of American Slavery.
1. In the opening chapter of Origins, Betty Wood asserts that “The adoption of chattel slavery by the English in their New World colonies had no clear precedent in either English law or social and economic practice” (The Origins of American Slavery 9). What does chattel slavery mean? Thoroughly analyze how does this term explain English ideas about slavery?
In The Origins of American Slavery: Freedom and Bondage in the English Colonies, a critical issue publication, historian Betty Wood examines both the societal and intellectual changes that made it acceptable for England to change from a …show more content…
According to this philosophy, the social rank that existed among people was appointed by God and could never be changed. The order begins with God, then angels, demons, kings, princes, nobles, men, wild animals, domesticated animals, all the way down to plants and minerals (Great Chain of Being). It was expected that what you were born into was permanent and failure to accept their place would result in harsh punishment (Wood 13). Another important point to note is that during this time, the Great Chain of Being applied to the English and “Englishness” could determine a person’s freedom (Wood 18). To the English, foreigners such as the native Indians, West Africans, and even the Irish did not uphold to their Christian standards or the English model of civilization. Therefore, these heathens could not be apart of the Great Chain of Being as they were not recognized in the eyes of God. Based on this, these people being considered for slavery in the New World were beginning to be thought of as less human-like and more animal-like. The English believed it would never be correct to strip a Christian, Englishman of his rights and freedom, but because those considered for New World slaves were not English or Christian, they began to see justification for …show more content…
The colonists knew that the native Indians had knowledge of the land and hoped that they could learn and trade with them. However, the colonists also believed that should it be necessary, they had the right to defend themselves and wage war. As the number of Puritans and Quakers in New England increased, so did the need for land and according to the New Englanders, because the Native Americans had no legal documentation that followed English guidelines, they had no rights to it. Finally in 1634 disagreements between the Pequots and the English boiled over and in 1636 the English attacked the Pequots. In response to this, the Pequots, with help from the Narragansets, retaliated and destroyed a couple of English settlements which led to another, even harsher attack from the Puritans. This “just” war on the “ungrateful heathens” ultimately ended with the enslavement of the Native Americans (Wood