Resources for United States History
Document 1- Of Plymouth Plantation
Bradford’s work in primarily a chronicle of Pilgrim’s settlement in Plymouth, Massachusetts, but begins with their migration from England to Holland. Before reaching Plymouth on the Mayflower, these English Puritan Separatists struggled with life in a self-imposed exile-an adventure almost desperate –and in the selection below Bradford explains some of the inducements that eventually sent them from Europe to the New World. In addition to the reasons he gives for leaving, also take note of his description of the Native Americans. How did these people perceive the New World?
Being now come into the Low Countries, they saw many goodly and fortified cities… yet it was not long before they see the grim and grisly face of poverty coming upon them like an armed man, with whom they must buckle and encounter, and from whom they could not fly.
In the agitation of their thoughts, and much discourse of things hereabout, at length they began to incline to this conclusion: of removal to some other place. Not out of any newfangledness or other such giddy humor by which men are oftentimes transported to their great hurt and danger, but for sundry weighty and solid reasons.
That which was more lamentable, and of all sorrows most heavy to be borne, and of all sorrows most heavy to be borne, was that many of their children, by these occasions and the great licentiousness of youth in that country, and the manifold temptations of the place, were drawn away by evil examples into extravagant and dangerous courses, getting the reins off their necks and departing from their parents. Some became soldiers, others took upon them far voyages by sea, and others some worse courses tending to dissoluteness and the danger of their souls, to the great grief of their parents and dishonor of God, and so that they saw their posterity would be in danger in degenerate and be corrupted.
Lastly (and which was not least), a great hope and inward zeal they had of laying some good foundation, or at least to make some way thereunto, for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world; yea, though they should be but even as the stepping-stones unto others for the performing of so great a work.
The place they had thoughts on was some of those vast and unpeopled countries of America, which are fruitful and fit for habitation, being devoid of all civil inhabitants, where they are only savage and brutish men which range up and down, little otherwise than the wild beasts of the same. This proposition being made public and coming to the scanning of all, it raised many variable opinions amongst men and caused many fears and doubts amongst themselves.
It was answered, that all great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties and must be both enterprised and overcome with answerable courage’s. It was granted the dangers were great, but not desperate. The difficulties were many, but not invincible. For though there were many of them likely, yet they were not certain. It might be sundry of the things feared might befall; others by provident care and the use of good means might in a great measure be prevented; and all of them, through the help of God, by fortitude and patience, might either be borne or overcome.
Document 2: A Modell of Christian Charity, John Winthrop, 1630
John Winthrop was the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and his, “A Modell of Christian Charity” is arguably that first major American document in English. Originally delivered on board the Arrabella as a lay-sermon, it announced the Puritan social vision behind the settlement of New England. What is Winthrop’s view of society? Why was the settlement of Massachusetts so promising?
GOD ALMIGHTY in His most holy and wise providence, hath so disposed of the condition of mankind, as in all times some must be rich, some poor, some high and eminent in power and dignity; others mean and in submission.
The Reason hereof:
1st Reason. First to hold conformity with the rest of His world, being delighted to show forth the glory of his wisdom in the variety and difference of the creatures, and the glory of His power in ordering all these differences for the preservation and good of the whole, and the glory of His greatness, that as it is the glory of princes to have many officers, so this great king will have many stewards, counting himself more honored in dispensing his gifts to man by man, than if he did it by his own immediate hands.
2nd Reason. Secondly, that He might have the more occasion to manifest the work of his Spirit: first upon the wicked in moderating and restraining them, so that the rich and mighty should not eat up the poor, nor the poor and despised rise up against and shake off their yoke. Secondly, in the regenerate, in exercising His graces in them, as in the great ones, their love, mercy, gentleness, temperance etc., and in the poor and inferior sort, their faith, patience, obedience etc.
3rd Reason. Thirdly, that every man might have need of others, and from hence they might be all knit more nearly together in the bonds of brotherly affection. From hence it appears plainly that no man is made more honorable than another or more wealthy etc., out of any particular and singular respect to himself, but for the glory of his Creator and the common good of the creature, man…
We must delight in each other, make others' conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor, and suffer together — always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, our community as members of the same body. So shall we keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace? The Lord will be our God and delight to dwell among us as His own people and will command a blessing upon us in all our ways, so that we shall see much more of His wisdom, power, goodness and truth than formerly we have been acquainted with. We shall find that the God of Israel is among us, when ten of us shall be able to resist a thousand of our enemies, when He shall make us a praise and glory, that men shall say of succeeding plantations, "the Lord make it like that of New England."
For we must consider that we shall be as a "city upon a hill."52 The eyes of all people are upon us, so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world; we shall open the mouths of enemies to speak evil of the ways of God and all professors for God's sake; we shall shame the faces of many of God's worthy servants, and cause their prayers to be turned into curses upon us till we be consumed out of the good land whither53 we are going.
Document 3: Indentured Servitude
Throughout the first century and a half of colonial history, indentured servitude stood as the most common labor arrangement n most colonies. Men and women, young and old, foreign and native born, signed indenture contracts for a variety of reasons, including transportation to the colonies from Europe, the need for basic sustenance, or to learn a skill which could eventually lead to personal independence. Because these were contracts, obligations rested with both parties: something was given, and something was returned. Why do you think such binding agreements were necessary? Do they seem coercive? Why? How is it different from the Covenant as described by Bulkeley?
This indentured made the 24th day of August in the year of our lord 1659, between Richard Smyth of Virginia, planter of the one part, and Margaret Williams of Bristol, spinster, of the other part: Witnesseth that the said Margaret doth hereby covenant, promise, and grant to and with the said Richard, his executors and assigns, from the day of the date hereof, until first and next arrival at Virginia, and after, for and during the term of four years. To serve in such service and employment as the said Richard or his assigns shall there employ her, according to the custom of the country in the like kind. In consideration whereof the said master doth hereby covenant and grant to and with the said servant to pay for her passing, and to find and allow her meat, drink, apparel, and lodging, with other necessities during the said term; and at the end of the said term to pay unto her one axe, one hoe, double apparel, fifty acres of land, one year’s provision, according to the custom of the country. In witness whereof the parties above-named to these indentured’s have interchangeably set their hands and seals the day and year above written.
Document 4: The Middle Passage, 1789
The first object which saluted my eyes when I arrived on the coast was the sea, and a slave ship, which was then riding at anchor, and waiting for its cargo.
I now saw myself deprived of all chance of returning to my native country, or even the least glimpse of hope of gaining the shore, which I now considered as friendly; and I even wished for my former slavery in preference to my present situation, which was filled with horrors of every kind, still heightened by my ignorance of what I was to undergo. I was not long suffered to indulge my grief; I was soon put down under the decks, and there I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I had never experienced in my life: so that, with the loathsomeness of the stench, and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat, nor had I the least desire to taste anything. I now wished for the last friend, death, to relieve me; but soon, to my grief, two of the white men offered me eatables; and, on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands, and laid me across I think the windlass, and tied my feet, while the other flogged me severely. I had never experienced anything of this kind before; and although, not being used to the water, I naturally feared that element the first time I saw it, yet nevertheless, could I have got over the nettings, I would have jumped over the side, but I could not; and, besides, the crew used to watch us very closely who were not chained down to the decks, lest we should leap into the water: and I have seen some of these poor African prisoners most severely cut for attempting to do so, and hourly whipped for not eating.
Document 5: The Legal Evolution of Slavery in Virginia, (1630-1691)
1630: Hugh David to be soundly whipped, before an assembly of Negroes and others for abusing himself to the dishonor of God and shame of Christians, by defiling his body in lying with a negro; which fault he is to acknowledge next Sabbath day
1640: Robert Sweet to do penance in church according to laws of England, for getting a Negro woman with child and the woman whipt.
1659-60: Whereas the act for Irish servants coming in without indentures enjoying the to serve six years, carried with it both rigor and inconvenience, many by the length of time they have to serve discouraged from coming into the country, and by that means the peopling of the country retarded, and these inconveniences augmented by the addition of the last clause in that act, That all aliens should be included, be it therefore enacted and confirmed. That the whole act be repealed and mad void and null, and that for the future no servant coming into the country without indentures, of what Christian nation soever, shall serve longer than those of our own country, of the like age: And it is further enacted, that what alien so arrive here before that clause enforced to serve any time longer then the custom of the country did oblige them to shall be allowed competent wages by their several masters for the time they have over served, Any act order of court or judgment to the contrary notwithstanding, Provided always that all such aliens as came in servants during the time that the said clause was in force shall serve according to the tenor of that act.
1659-60: Whereas the act for Irish servants coming in without indentures enjoying them to serve six years, carried with it both rigor and inconvenience, many by the length of time they have to serve discouraged from coming into the country, and by that means the peopling of the country retarded, and these inconveniences augmented by the addition of the last clause in that act. That all aliens should be included be it therefore enacted and confirmed, that the whole act be repealed and made void and null, and for that for the future no servant coming into the country without indentures, of what Christian nation soever, shall serve longer than those of our own country, of the like age: ant it is further enacted, that what alien so ever her before that clause was inserted and that hath been by virtue of the last clause enforced to serve any time longer then the custom of the country did oblige them to shall be allowed competent wages by their several masters for the time they have over served, any act, order of court or judgment to the contrary notwithstanding, Provided always that all such aliens as came in servants during the time that said clause was in force shall serve.
1659-60:
Whereas the restriction of trade hath appeared to be the greatest impediment to the advance of the estimation and value of our present only commodity tobacco, be it enacted and confirmed that the Dutch and all strangers of what Titan nation so ever in amity with the people of England shall have free liberty to trade with us, for all allowable commodities, and receive protection from us to our utmost powers while they are in our justice with our own nation in all courts of judicature, provided they give bond and pay the impost of ten shillings per hogshead laid upon all tobacco exported to any foreign dominions and give bond according to act. Always provided that if the said Dutch or other foreigners shall import any Negro slaves. They said Dutch or others shall for the tobacco really produced by the sale of the said Negro, pay only the impost of two shillings per hogshead the like being paid by our own nation.
1660-61
Be it enacted that in case any English servant shall run away in company with any Negros who are incapable of making satisfaction by addition of time, be it enacted that the English so running away in company with them shall serve for the time of the said negroes absence as they are to do for their own by a former act.
1661-62
Whereas there are diverse loitering runaways in the country who very often absent themselves from their masters service and sometimes in a long time cannot be found, the loose of time and the charge in the seeking them often exceeding the value of their labor: Be it therefore enacted that all runaways that shall absent themselves from their said masters service shall be liable to making satisfaction by addition of a time it is enacted that the English so running away in the company with them shall at the time of service to their own master expired. Serve the masters of the said Negroes for their absence so long as they should have done by this act if they had not been slaves every Christian in company serving his proportion.
1662-
Whereas some doubts have arisen whether children got by any Englishmen upon a negro woman should be slave or free, be it therefore enacted and declared by this present grand assembly, that all children born in this country shall be held bond or free only according to the condition of the mother, and that if any Christian shall commit fornication with a Negro man or woman, he or she so offending shall pay double the fines imposed by the former act.
1667-
Whereas some doubts have risen whether children that are slaves by birth, and by the charity and piety of their owners mad partakers of the blessed sacrament of baptism should by virtue of their baptism be made free; It is enacted and declared by this grand assembly and the authority thereof, that the conferring of baptism doth not alter the condition of the person as to his bondage or freedom; that diverse masters, freed from this doubt may more carefully endeavor the propagation of Christianity by permitting children, though slaves or those of greater growth if capable to be admitted to that sacrament.