Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions Week 3

Oscar Corona

History 111

Why would a person volunteer to become an indentured servant? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of this association?

 Being an indentured servant meant that you would give up yourself in order to work for an owner who will entitle you with amenities, but no pay. In the colonial era, most people wanted to simply survive and bring forth their children to a better life. By volunteering to become an indentured servant, many found this to be a godsend; an answer; an escape to success and to prevail, at the cost of labor. People would volunteer out of desire to succeed, they wanted what’s best for themselves and for their people; they wanted progress. The advantages included, but not limited too: lodging, food, transportation, medicine, care, etc. Indentured servants were under the care of an owner, and were not payed in cash (a major disadvantage). Servants worked on farms and plantations as helpers or house servants. As time progressed, Indentured servitude would decline for many reasons. The Industrial Revolution might’ve added to it, however African slaves began to replace indentured servants. Being an indenture servant was a sacrifice for survival.

How did life in the British colonies contribute to creating a unique American identity? How do you see that identity manifested in modern American society?

Created a new point-of-view towards the concept of Religion. As it states in the beginning chapter of Boorstin’s The Americans: The Colonial Experience, the colonists brought about their old views of religion. the “Puritans surely were theology-minded”. And there isn't anything wrong with the Colonists having a strong sense of faith. It can be inferred that they have these deep appreciation for God as stated again in the beginning chapter of Boorstin’s book: “...we have here the true Religion and holy Ordinances of Almighty. GOd taught amongst us, thus we doubt...