History 101: Module Two Textbook Assignment on Colonial America

This assignment provides detailed answers to a series of questions regarding colonial America, drawing from textbook readings. It addresses the motivations behind slavery in the 17th century, exploring the economic factors and the role of tobacco plantations. The document analyzes the development of colonial slave society and culture, the impact of the South Atlantic System, and the rising tensions between colonials and the British. Additionally, it examines the colonists' responses to land scarcity in New England and the reasons behind Great Britain's victory in the Great War for Empire. The answers provided offer specific examples and details from the readings, including page numbers, to support the responses.

Module Two Textbook Assignment
1. Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Each answer should be several
sentences for your response. Provide specific examples and details from the readings
(including page numbers)
Why did Virginians and other southern planters make the decision to implement slavery in
the seventeenth century? Did they have other options?
The Virginians aims to introduce slavery was to get slaves who would work in their tobacco
firms while they were relaxing. They would then sell the produce to England in exchange of their
products which included wigs, cloths, buttons, buckles, etc. These was the only thing that made
the planters wealthy and there was another option for them to work in the plantations of tobacco
which they avoided leaving all the work to the slaves.
Source: Chapter 1------slide 2 (pp. 1660-1713)
What factors influenced the creation and maintenance of an American colonial slave
society and culture?
Slave society and culture was created due to the emergence of Tabaco plantations which required
large number of laborers and slaves provided free labor to the planters.
Trade between the planters and the people of England also influenced the slave society and
culture as slaves were the workers in the firms to product the item which was detrimental for
exchange.
Additionally, profitability of the slaves also made the colonials buy them cheaply in Africa and
sell them at high costs in West Indies and other areas as workers in plantations.
Source: Chapter 1-----slide 7 (pp. 1660-1713)
Did American colonials benefit economically from their participation in the South Atlantic
System?
Yes. The main product for the South Atlantic System was Sugar which the most profitable crop
in Europe. Colonials became wealthy due to the large sugar plantation and also owned many
slaves who worked in the plantations. Additionally, the slaves were also sold for Guns, Iron,
Rum and clothes which were more profitable than the slaves’ costs in Africa.
Source: Chapter 1-------Slide 12 (pp. 1660-1713)

What were some of the causes of rising friction between the colonials and the British? Were
the American colonials or the British more responsible for the friction?
The reason for the raising friction between the colonials and the British was because of the
British desire to attempt and regain control of the colonial economic pursuits. These move was
made by the British officials after noting that the colonials got huge profits from the sugar
business with the French sugar islands. These move was opposed by the colonials’ side it would
deprive them of the benefits they would receive.
The people who were more responsible for the friction were the British officials as they wanted
to control and dominate the colonials. These was caused by their greed to be wealthy instead of
the colonials.
Source: Chapter 3---slide 33 (pp. 1713-1750)
How did colonists primarily in New England respond to the crisis of the shrinking supply
of land to give to their children?
Due to the changes in the family lives in England, the population increased tremendously making
land not available for division as inheritance for the children. The increase in population was due
to premarital sex and arranged marriage in the families. In order to solve this problem, the couple
tried to limit their family sizes by having less children. Additionally, able families moved into
frontiers of Massachusetts, western Connecticut, and New Hampshire and Vermont to decongest
their homeland.
Source: Chapter 4 ----slide 6 (pp. 1720–1763)
How was Great Britain, with a depleted treasury, able to defeat the French in the Great
War for Empire after having failed to achieve success against them in previous colonial
wars?
The reason for the success of Britain despites depleted treasury was the ability to control both the
commercial and military strategies. These made them have better decision making than their
enemies; British had stunning successes and acquired Cuba and the Philippines from Spain,
French Senegal, Martinique and Guadeloupe (eventually returned to France). The Treaty of Paris
of 1763 ending the war gave Britain control of over half of North America, including French
Canada.
Source: Chapter 2---slide 24 (pp. 1720–1763)