American History to 1783

This essay discusses the trial of British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre, highlighting the defense led by John Adams, the revolutionary sentiments of the time, and the trial's impact on American history.

Karin Wulf's article "Vast Early America" (2019) proposes a historical framework that includes diverse voices and a transnational perspective, covering Britain, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean. This approach is gaining traction in workforce equity and interdisciplinary pedagogy but faces political controversy. Historians Gould and Zagarri see it as enriching U.S. history. Michael Hatten suggests integrating it with national history for a comprehensive narrative.

These readings highlight a significant debate in early American history as the discipline transitions into the twenty-first century. Karin Wulf introduces the term "Vast Early America," emphasizing the broad and interconnected history of early America. Eliga Gould and Rosemarie Zagarri explore how U.S. history fits within this framework, while Michael D. Hattem focuses on the American Revolution's place in this expansive historical view. The discussion centers on incorporating diverse perspectives and broader contexts to enrich the understanding of early American history.

The Boston Massacre was a key event leading up to the American Revolution, inciting outrage and revolutionary sentiment. John Adams defended the British soldiers involved, arguing self-defense, resulting in the acquittal of six soldiers. This essay examines how revolutionary sentiments affected the trial and its outcomes, using primary sources to highlight the political and economic tensions between the King of England and American colonists. The trial demonstrated the American legal system's ability to deliver justice during political turmoil and served as a rallying cry for anti-British sentiment.

Bernard Bailyn and Alan Taylor offer contrasting interpretations of the American Revolution's causes. Bailyn highlights the political and ideological motivations driven by Enlightenment ideas of liberty and republican government, while Taylor emphasizes social and economic factors, particularly the struggles between common people and elites, and specific historical events like the Stamp Act and Boston Tea Party. Both historians recognize the importance of ideas and material conditions but differ in their emphasis.

In his article "Time and Space," Ira Berlin discusses the diverse experiences of enslaved Africans across various regions in early America. Berlin's excerpt "The Atlantic Creoles" highlights individual agency and resistance within the context of Atlantic slavery, while Holton and Warren focus on personal experiences of enslaved people, such as James Lafayette. The Creoles significantly contributed to early American culture by blending influences from Europe, Africa, and South America. Regional politics and social life shaped the lives of these enslaved individuals, and their stories continue to inform American politics today.

It is more accurate to speak of "slaveries in early America" to acknowledge the diverse forms and regional variations of slavery that existed across North and South America and the Caribbean. Different types of slavery included chattel slavery, forced labor, child slavery, and sex and hereditary slavery. These varied practices were influenced by regional economic and sociopolitical conditions, resulting in distinct experiences for enslaved people in the northern and southern colonies, as well as in the Caribbean. Recognizing "slaveries" provides a nuanced understanding of the complex history, but it's also important to consider "slavery" as a singular term when focusing on the specific history of the United States.

“ColJeffrey Ostler and Nancy Shoemaker's article "Colonialism in Early American History: Introduction" discusses "settler colonialism" and "borderlands" as integral concepts within the framework of a "Vast Early America." Settler colonialism focuses on the impacts of settlers who stole lands from American Indians, leading to genocide, displacement, and cultural trauma. The concept of borderlands highlights the interconnectedness of diverse regions and cultures. These ideas aim to create a more inclusive and representative American history, incorporating transnational elements and previously unheard voices.

Cornelia Hughes Dayton's essay "Taking the Trade" leverages court records to offer a unique look into the lives of participants in an 18th-century abortion case. The introduction and conclusion effectively describe the trial participants and expose the social dynamics that excuse abuses against women. Dayton uses legal documents and testimony to detail the story, making the essay accessible to all readers. The well-constructed sections, each focused on different participants, provide an effective narrative. The essay employs layman's terms, making it easy to read and understand, and is informative for various fields.

The Atlantic world was a dynamic hub of cultural, political, and economic interactions, influencing events such as the Boston Massacre. Economic concerns, especially taxes like the tea tax, fueled tensions between American colonists and British authorities. Karen Kupperman's "The Atlantic in World History" highlights how transatlantic trade and cultural exchanges shaped colonial identities and ideations of independence. This interconnectedness differentiated American colonialism and the fight for independence from other global events, such as the French and Haitian Revolutions.

This collection of primary and secondary sources provides comprehensive insights into the Boston Massacre, its aftermath, and its impact on American independence and patriotism. The primary sources include eyewitness accounts and commemorations, while the secondary sources offer historical analyses and family perspectives.

Your essay plan focuses on the Boston Massacre trial, highlighting John Adams' defense, revolutionary sentiments, and the impact of the trial's outcomes. It will leverage primary source documents to demonstrate how political and economic tensions influenced the trial and its aftermath, with sections on key themes such as the defense, politicization, reflections, propaganda, legal precedents, and the event's effect on people's lives.

This document discusses the evolution of U.S. political history, emphasizing the transition from 'founders chic' to New Political History and the emerging New New Political History.

This essay explores the intertwining themes of religion and economics in shaping the political history of early America, particularly focusing on the 19th century.

Technological advancements in the antebellum United States significantly influenced the market revolution, gender roles, and revival evangelism, shaping the political history of the period.Technological advancements in the antebellum United States significantly influenced the market revolution, gender roles, and revival evangelism, shaping the political history of the period.

This document discusses Edward E. Baptist's book, "The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism," which explores the role of slavery in the development of American capitalism.

This document discusses the PBS docudrama "American Experience: The Abolitionists" and its role in public history, highlighting the contributions of key figures in the abolitionist movement and the integration of various historical perspectives.

This essay critiques the popular Lost Cause narrative of the Civil War and emphasizes the need for modern historiography to provide more inclusive and accurate historical narratives.

Commentary: Déjà vu All Over Again: Is There a New New Political History?

Holy Warriors: The Abolitionists and American Slavery

The Half Has Never Been Told

The editors of "Beyond the Founders" highlight the importance of cultural politics in understanding political history by incorporating diverse social phenomena and actors. This week's readings on economy, gender, and religion demonstrate how cultural politics enriches political history. Larson discusses the Market Revolution's impact on political associations, Boydston adds women's perspectives to economic changes, and Johnson explores the influence of religious movements on U.S. political history. These readings show how early American political activity shaped society and politics.