Government and Social Class in Colonial America

by Don Nardo

Overview

This fascinating volume explores class structure and the development of early governments in Colonial America. Readers will learn about the different types of colonies, which colonies adopted which systems, and how these systems changed over time. Chapters also cover the impact of Bacon's Rebellion and the European Enlightenment, the changing status of blacks in the colonies, and the political differences that led to the American Revolution.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781420502657
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	05/29/2010
Series:	Lucent Library of Historical Eras Series
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	13 - 16 Years

Table of Contents

Foreword 6

Introduction: Shedding Past Traditions and Customs 8

Chapter 1 Social Rank in British America 13

Chapter 2 Development of Colonial Government 25

Chapter 3 The Impact of Bacon's Rebellion 37

Chapter 4 The Changing Social Status of Blacks 49

Chapter 5 The Impact of the Enlightenment 60

Chapter 6 Growing Disputes with the Mother Country 72

Notes 84

Time Line 88

For More Information 90

Index 92

Picture Credits 96

About the Author 96

Editorial Reviews

Review: Government and Social Class in Colonial America "It is quite thoughtful in its examination of the history, and even dispels some popular myths about colonial life. This is recommended for history collections serving middle-school and high-school students studying colonial America."—Carol Kennedy, Ludington Library Reviews, January 2011

From the Publisher

Gr 6–10—Taking a more global view than some books about Colonial America, these titles examine the factors that led European explorers, then colonists, to come to America; daily lives of the people; and how ideas about social class and governing evolved to create a mindset that would produce the American Revolution. In Establishment, in particular, the author gives considerable attention to multiple ethnic groups, devoting a chapter to "Native Americans before Colonization." He also describes the Norse expeditions that took place hundreds of years before Columbus. In addition, the situations of women and Africans are examined, as are the circumstances of a variety of religious and ethnic groups who settled up and down the East Coast. Daily Life is more focused on the experiences of white middle- to upper-class families and is less diverse in its approach. Government covers a broad range of topics but jumping from discussions of social rank to the Enlightenment to taxation policies may overwhelm students without background on the time period. The mostly colorful stock images do not add a great deal to the texts. One illustration at the beginning of Establishment shows four Native Americans in feathered headdresses mounted on horses with the caption "a group of Native American men watch boatloads of settlers approach American shores." The figures and terrain strongly suggest Plains Indians, not an image of the Eastern seaboard. For libraries in need of updated materials on this topic, these books are adequate but not outstanding. An alternative resource, aimed at slightly younger readers, is "Voices from Colonial America" (National Geographic), a well-written series that focuses on individual colonies.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

School Library Journal