This may seem dry, but I would like to begin by covering the logistics of this paper.
Your papers should be between three and five double-spaced pages. Please submit your papers through Blackboard on 2/27 by 2:00pm and also turn in a paper copy at the start of class. Recall that unless you have an excruciating circumstance, not including a technical problem, I will not accept late papers. In case you have technical issues please make sure you turn in a paper copy, but once we sort out your technical issues, you must also submit the file of your paper to Blackboard. Due to my horrible handwriting, I will grade the file in Blackboard and keep the paper copy in case something happens. I plan on returning your papers two weeks later via email unless you inform me that you would prefer I return a paper copy to you. Only use the readings and lectures from weeks one through four. You must also cite the evidence you use, which should only come from the readings and lectures, to avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism is the action of taking someone else’s work or ideas and claiming them as your own. By this definition, if you fail to cite the evidence you use from Foner, Berlin, or the lectures then you are claiming that the evidence you used is one you worked on and developed, which is plagiarism. Please save your papers by your last name. If you are using Apple pages or Google docs then please save your papers as a Microsoft Office (docx) document or an Open Office (odt) document or else I will be unable to open your paper. Finally, I do not want to read summaries of the readings and lectures. I want to read your interpretation of the evidence. This is the point or thesis of your paper. By now, I am expecting that you have read the writing guidelines in the syllabus, Strunk and White, Descartes, and Vonnegut (on Blackboard). At the same time, never use the first person. Now let us turn to the prompt.
During the first four weeks we have covered European exploration and colonization of the Americas since 1492, indigenous responses to that colonization, the origins of slavery, and the relationship between colonial English subjects and their crown from 1607 to 1763. Let us pretend that you are a farmer in Pennsylvania who fought for the British crown during the Seven Year’s War. In addition, let us pretend that this farmer has a historical understanding of the colonial experience of British North American colonies since 1607. By 1763 the relationship between North American British (including Canada) subjects and their crown had changed for better or worse. If you were that farmer, how would you view those changes for yourself and other subjects living in other parts of British North America? Think about events, social issues, group interests across occupations and classes, and perceptions about justice, rights, and privileges subjects believed they had. You have to take into consideration the changes and continuities that happened from 1607 to 1763. Good luck and I look forward to reading your papers.