To Market To Market

This week we focused on the economy of the colonies and we paid particular attention to how the three regions each developed their own means of making money.

The New England colonies focused on the “carrying trade” as the soil was thin and rocky and not conducive to growing large crops. This region, and most notably Rhode Island, was involved in the Triangle Trade, the trade routes between the colonies, Africa and the West Indies. We used The Providence Journal web site on “The Unrighteous Traffick” which documents Rhode Island and especially Newport and Bristol’s involvement in slave trading. I would urge all of you to revisit that site. Many of you constructed your own maps illustrating the routes and the items carried along each segment of the journey. New Englanders took sugar from the West Indies, distilled it into rum and then sailed to Africa where the rum and other goods were traded for slaves. The slaves then came to the New World, where some were sold in the West Indies and some in the thirteen Colonies. New Englanders also made money with fishing, ship building and eventually whaling.

The Middle Colonies had a mix of farming and commerce. The deep water ports supported the merchants in New York and Philadelphia. The Middle Colonies were also the destination for the numerous immigrants coming over as indentured servants. These colonies were known for their ethnic diversity.

The Southern Colonies based their economy on cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo. These large plantations required large numbers of slaves to work the fields. By 1700 28% of the Virginia population was African slaves. In 1730, 60% of the population of South Carolina were slaves. The Southern Colonies remained a region dominated by large farms with few cities and thus few merchants. Many southern families found it easier to do their shopping directly with England than to try to locate merchants in the north.

We also read about the economic theory of mercantilism. Britain, the Mother country, used the colonies as a source of raw materials that British manufacturers turned into finished goods and then sold back to the colonies. This system allowed England to amass great wealth and to deprive the colonists of their “own” raw materials. These trade restrictions on the colonies will be one of many reasons that the Colonists eventually use to justify the American Revolution.

Workers in the Colonies

For homework, you have a chart that helps organize information from multiple sources on the laborers of the colonies. Just as we classify different types of workers today, the colonial economy also depended on different types of workers. You have your text, primary source readings and a background sheet to help you put the pieces of information together to complete the chart.

Middle Passage

We also read two primary source documents on the Middle Passage. As good historians, we read the story of the Middle Passage from the perspective of a slave and a ship’s captain. The same event took on two very different perspectives, reminding us that history is not just one story found in a text book. By working with your partner you helped teach someone else and therefore are more likely to remember the information. Talking over your assignments with friends and family is a great way to better understand the material.

Around 1660, Virginia and Maryland began passing laws to define the status of Africans as slaves. Historians estimate that between 9 and 12 million slaves came to the Americas from 1600 to 1808. Of this number, approximately 350,000 came to the Colonies. Slaves in South Carolina and Georgia outnumbered the white population and thus were able to preserve many facets of their own culture. The Middle Colonies and New England also benefited from the slave labor of approximately 50,000 people.


Reading Strategies

As we read and listened to the story of slavery in Rhode Island, “Unrighteous Traffick,” we used the 3-2-1 reading strategy. This strategy asks you to identify three main ideas of the reading; make two connections to your life or prior knowledge; and finally to think of one lingering question. This is a useful strategy to use whenever you have material to read for any class. It allows you to look for key information and to relate it to your own life, which makes the reading more meaningful.

We also talked about the SQ3R method of reading. It may take more time then just reading but the method of surveying, questioning, reading, recalling and reciting makes for more effective reading.

Open House

Many thanks to all the parents, guardians and students who came to the Open House. It was a wonderful opportunity for all of us to share our goals for the year. One of the key factors in student success is family involvement. Your current events assignment is a perfect way to get the whole family involved...ask your family about the key issues of the day, or ask about their favorite presidential candidate.

Interterms

Soon you should receive your interterm report and your performance should come as no surprise as you maintain your portfolio and monitor your grades. If you are exceeding or meeting the standard, congratulations and keep up the good work. If you are below standard, let’s work on a corrective action plan. Do you keep your portfolio updated? Do you hand in all of your homework? Do you take the opportunity to revise? Are you trying to earn extra credit with the regular current events assignments? There are many ways to pull up your grade. Keep in mind that I am here early every day one and two and would be happy to meet with you.

I have no doubt that all of you can be successful. Keep in mind:

“Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.”

College Students to the Rescue

Middletown Public Library has announced that students from Roger Williams University and Salve Regina University will be available for homework assistance on Mondays (3-6 pm) Tuesdays (3-5 pm) Thursdays (4-6 pm) and Saturdays (10-2 pm). You do not have to sign up in advance and the college students are ready to help you with all types of assignments.

Did someone say Extra Credit?

To earn extra credit be prepared to answer the following question on Wednesday:

What do the red and white stripes on our flag represent?