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Widespread poverty in 17th-century England led to proposals to send impoverished individuals to the colonies as indentured servants.
Answer: True
Explanation: A significant societal issue in 17th-century England was widespread poverty, which contributed to proposals for sending impoverished individuals to the American colonies as indentured servants.
The book indicates that indentured servants remained the most economically advantageous labor source for Virginian planters throughout the 17th century.
Answer: False
Explanation: The book indicates that over time, enslaved Africans became a more economically advantageous labor source for Virginian planters than indentured servants, leading to a shift in labor practices.
The increasing reliance on enslaved Africans led to a significant increase in the population of poor white laborers in Virginia.
Answer: False
Explanation: The increasing reliance on enslaved Africans as a more economical labor source led to a cessation of significant growth in the population of poor whites, while the proportion of enslaved black individuals increased, thereby contributing to the establishment of a distinct social hierarchy and racial division.
The book uses Robert Loder, an indentured servant, as an example of a diligent laborer in 17th-century Virginia.
Answer: False
Explanation: The book uses Robert Loder as an example of an ambitious yeoman farmer who lamented the lack of diligence among his laborers, rather than as an example of a diligent laborer himself.
In the early stages of 17th-century Virginia, enslaved black individuals constituted a substantial majority of the population.
Answer: False
Explanation: In the early stages of 17th-century Virginia, enslaved black individuals constituted a very small percentage of the total population; their numbers grew significantly over time.
The emigration of England's poor provided a key source of labor for the early American colonies through indentured servitude.
Answer: True
Explanation: The emigration of England's poor, many of whom entered into indentured servitude agreements, provided a crucial component of the early labor force for the American colonies, including Virginia.
The economic shift to enslaved African labor helped solidify the power of Virginia's ruling oligarchy by creating a racial hierarchy.
Answer: True
Explanation: The economic shift towards enslaved African labor played a crucial role in solidifying the power of Virginia's ruling oligarchy by establishing a racial hierarchy that divided the population and mitigated potential social unrest.
What economic shift occurred in 17th-century Virginia that favored enslaved Africans over indentured servants?
Answer: Enslaved Africans became a more economically advantageous labor source.
Explanation: The economic landscape of 17th-century Virginia shifted as enslaved Africans gradually became a more economically advantageous and cost-effective labor source for planters compared to indentured servants.
How did the rise of enslaved African labor impact the population of poor whites in Virginia, according to the book?
Answer: It led to a stabilization or cessation of significant growth in their population.
Explanation: As the economic viability of enslaved African labor increased, the population growth of poor whites in Virginia stabilized or ceased to expand significantly, while the proportion of enslaved black individuals grew, contributing to a pronounced social hierarchy and racial division.
What does the book imply about the economic incentives driving the transition from indentured servitude to chattel slavery in Virginia?
Answer: Enslaved African labor became increasingly cost-effective.
Explanation: The book implies that economic incentives, particularly the increasing cost-effectiveness and decreasing expense of enslaved African labor compared to indentured servants, were a primary driver for the transition to chattel slavery in Virginia.
Bacon's Rebellion caused the ruling class in Virginia to feel more secure in their control over the population.
Answer: False
Explanation: Contrary to increasing their sense of security, uprisings such as Bacon's Rebellion caused the ruling oligarchs in Virginia to become concerned about their ability to maintain power and control over the populace.
Nathaniel Bacon is credited by Morgan with introducing racism as a political strategy by directing animosity towards Native Americans.
Answer: True
Explanation: Morgan suggests that Nathaniel Bacon introduced 'racism as a political strategy' into Virginia's political discourse by effectively channeling his followers' animosity towards Native Americans.
Morgan alleges that strict slave laws enacted in the late 1600s were designed to create social divisions between black slaves and poor whites.
Answer: True
Explanation: Morgan posits that the stringent slave laws enacted in the late 17th and early 18th centuries were deliberately crafted to cultivate social divisions, specifically fostering contempt between enslaved black populations and poor white laborers, thereby establishing what he terms 'American racism'.
Morgan suggests that Bacon's Rebellion taught the ruling class that exploiting racial animosity was a powerful tool for social control.
Answer: True
Explanation: Morgan posits that Bacon's Rebellion demonstrated to the ruling class that exploiting racial animosity towards an alien race could be a more potent force for social control than class resentment.
Morgan identifies the use of racism as the primary solution for managing social unrest and dividing populations in colonial Virginia.
Answer: True
Explanation: Morgan identifies racism as the primary 'solution' employed to manage social unrest and divide populations in colonial Virginia, serving to separate potentially rebellious free whites from enslaved blacks via a barrier of racial contempt.
Morgan implies that Nathaniel Bacon struggled to find followers or channel their grievances effectively.
Answer: False
Explanation: Morgan's analysis implies the opposite: that Bacon was able to effectively channel his followers' grievances, particularly their animosity towards Native Americans, into a significant political movement.
What significant event does Morgan suggest led the ruling class in Virginia to fear losing control?
Answer: Bacon's Rebellion
Explanation: Morgan posits that Bacon's Rebellion was a significant event that instilled considerable fear in the ruling class of Virginia regarding their capacity to maintain control over the population.
Morgan suggests that Nathaniel Bacon introduced which controversial element into Virginia politics?
Answer: Racism as a political strategy
Explanation: Morgan suggests that Nathaniel Bacon introduced 'racism as a political strategy' into Virginia's political discourse by effectively channeling his followers' animosity towards Native Americans.
How did the assembly in colonial Virginia, according to Morgan, attempt to manage social divisions?
Answer: By passing laws designed to foster contempt between white colonists and black/Native populations.
Explanation: According to Morgan, the colonial assembly in Virginia actively managed social divisions by enacting legislation deliberately designed to cultivate contempt among white colonists towards both black and Native American populations.
What does Morgan identify as the 'solution' used to manage social unrest and divide populations in colonial Virginia?
Answer: Racism
Explanation: Morgan identifies racism as the primary 'solution' employed to manage social unrest and divide populations in colonial Virginia, serving to separate potentially rebellious free whites from enslaved blacks via a barrier of racial contempt.
What does the book suggest about the nature of 'American racism'?
Answer: It was a social and political construct deliberately created.
Explanation: The book suggests that 'American racism' was not an inherent condition but rather a social and political construct, deliberately engineered through legislative measures and strategic policies designed to manage labor dynamics and uphold social order.
Edmund Morgan primarily relied on oral histories collected in the 1970s for his research on 17th-century Virginia.
Answer: False
Explanation: Edmund Morgan's research for his study of 17th-century Virginia primarily utilized archival records, such as those from Virginia's House of Burgesses, rather than oral histories collected in the 1970s.
Warren M. Billings praised 'American Slavery, American Freedom' for its highly complex and nuanced analysis.
Answer: False
Explanation: Warren M. Billings, while describing the book as 'a stimulating book,' primarily criticized it for being too simplistic in its analysis, not for its complexity.
Warren M. Billings described Edmund Morgan's book as 'a stimulating book'.
Answer: True
Explanation: Despite his critique regarding the analysis's simplicity, Warren M. Billings did acknowledge 'American Slavery, American Freedom' as 'a stimulating book'.
'The Baltimore Sun' suggested the book's title accurately reflected its primary focus on the paradox of slavery and freedom.
Answer: False
Explanation: 'The Baltimore Sun' commented that the book's title was misleading, suggesting its content was more focused on 'the ordeal of living in Seventeenth-Century Virginia' than solely on the paradox of slavery and freedom.
Kathleen Brown argues that subsequent research has validated Morgan's original accounts without any challenges.
Answer: False
Explanation: Kathleen Brown notes that subsequent scholarly research has served to complicate or challenge Morgan's original accounts in several areas, rather than validating them without challenge.
Kathleen Brown cites Morgan's eloquent prose and ability to connect historical concepts as reasons for the book's continued use in courses.
Answer: True
Explanation: Kathleen Brown highlights Morgan's 'eloquent prose' and his skill in connecting key historical concepts as significant reasons for the book's enduring relevance and continued assignment in academic courses.
What was Warren M. Billings' main criticism of Edmund Morgan's book?
Answer: Its analysis was considered too simplistic.
Explanation: Warren M. Billings' principal critique of Edmund Morgan's "American Slavery, American Freedom" centered on the assertion that its analytical framework was overly simplistic.
According to Kathleen Brown, what has subsequent research revealed about Morgan's original accounts?
Answer: They have been complicated or challenged in several areas.
Explanation: Historian Kathleen Brown observes that subsequent scholarly research conducted over the intervening decades has served to complicate or challenge Morgan's original accounts, particularly regarding the interactions between Native Americans and colonists, the trajectory of slavery's rise, the availability of white indentured servants, and the broader implications of Bacon's Rebellion.
What historical records did Edmund Morgan consult for his study of colonial Virginia?
Answer: Archives of Virginia's House of Burgesses
Explanation: For his study of colonial Virginia, Edmund Morgan consulted various historical records, notably including the archives of Virginia's House of Burgesses, which date back to approximately 1620.
Social and Political Dynamics in Colonial Virginia
The primary focus of Morgan's book is the economic history of the early United States, excluding social aspects.
Answer: False
Explanation: The book's primary focus is on American history, particularly colonial Virginia, and the institution of slavery, which inherently includes significant social dimensions, not solely economic ones.
Morgan's book begins by examining the paradox of Virginia being both a cradle of democracy and a major slave-holding colony.
Answer: True
Explanation: Morgan's analysis commences by exploring the fundamental paradox wherein Virginia, a foundational colony for the nascent United States and its democratic ideals, was concurrently a major center for the institution of slavery.
Morgan's analysis of 17th-century Virginia focuses on the conflict between Native American tribes and the colonial government.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Native American interactions are part of the historical context, Morgan's primary focus in analyzing 17th-century Virginia is the internal conflict between the ruling elite and the general population, encompassing social and labor dynamics.
Morgan's book suggests that the ideals of American freedom and the institution of slavery were unrelated concepts in early America.
Answer: False
Explanation: Morgan's book argues that the ideals of American freedom and the institution of slavery were deeply intertwined and paradoxically coexisted in early America, rather than being unrelated.
What central paradox does Edmund Morgan explore at the beginning of his book concerning colonial Virginia?
Answer: The simultaneous existence of democratic ideals and widespread slavery.
Explanation: At the outset of his analysis, Edmund Morgan meticulously examines the profound paradox inherent in colonial Virginia: its role as a foundational site for the development of American democratic ideals existing concurrently with its status as a prominent slave-holding colony.
According to Morgan's analysis, what internal conflict within 17th-century Virginia does he primarily focus on?
Answer: The conflict between the governing elite and the general population (freemen, servants, slaves).
Explanation: Morgan's analysis centers on the internal conflict within 17th-century Virginia between the ruling oligarchy and the broader populace, which encompassed various strata including land-owning freemen, impoverished freemen, indentured servants, and enslaved individuals.
What does the book suggest about the relationship between the pursuit of freedom and the practice of slavery in early America?
Answer: The expansion of slavery occurred alongside, and perhaps facilitated, the articulation of freedom for some.
Explanation: The book suggests that the pursuit of freedom and the practice of slavery in early America were complexly intertwined; the expansion of slavery occurred concurrently with, and perhaps even facilitated, the articulation of freedom for certain groups, creating a fundamental historical paradox.
What does the book suggest about the historical narrative of the United States regarding its founding ideals and practices?
Answer: There is a fundamental tension between the ideals of liberty and the practice of slavery.
Explanation: The book suggests that the historical narrative of the United States is characterized by a fundamental tension and deep paradox, wherein the ideals of liberty and freedom were developed and championed by a society that simultaneously perpetuated the brutal institution of slavery.
Why is the focus on 'Colonial Virginia' significant in Morgan's analysis?
Answer: It allows tracing the intertwined origins of slavery and freedom in a foundational context.
Explanation: The focus on Colonial Virginia is significant as it provides a foundational context for tracing the intertwined origins and complex development of both American slavery and the ideals of American freedom, revealing their intricate relationship.