| − | Who is going to do the hard labor needed to set up a new community, such as chopping down trees, working the farms, constructing the buildings? There is almost no money to pay anyone for the work. Families might do some, but before long slavery develops as a form of labor. Another form of labor not as objectionable as slavery is the use of [[indentured servants]], who were people who promised to work for free for seven (7) years in exchange for free transportation to the New World, free housing while there, and complete freedom after seven years. | + | Who is going to do the hard labor needed to set up a new community, such as chopping down trees, working the farms, constructing the buildings? There is almost no money to pay anyone for the work. Families might do some, but before long slavery develops as a form of labor. Another form of labor less objectionable than slavery wa the use of [[indentured servants]], who were people who promised to work for free for seven (7) years in exchange for free transportation to the New World, free food and housing while there, and complete freedom after seven years. |
| | In learning history, it helps to look for unifying themes to organize events in your mind. One theme that helps explain American history well is the overall expansion of Christianity, for 2000 years. Why did [[Christopher Columbus]] and other explorers risk their lives to come to the New World? To spread Christianity. Why did families then risk their lives to settle here? To establish religious communities free of persecution. Two hundred years later, why did Massachusetts prohibit slavery and why did abolitionists President [[John Quincy Adams]] devote their lives to ending slavery? One reason is because their religious values told them slavery was wrong. | | In learning history, it helps to look for unifying themes to organize events in your mind. One theme that helps explain American history well is the overall expansion of Christianity, for 2000 years. Why did [[Christopher Columbus]] and other explorers risk their lives to come to the New World? To spread Christianity. Why did families then risk their lives to settle here? To establish religious communities free of persecution. Two hundred years later, why did Massachusetts prohibit slavery and why did abolitionists President [[John Quincy Adams]] devote their lives to ending slavery? One reason is because their religious values told them slavery was wrong. |