SOC 134 Lecture 3: Lecture 3
Document Summary
The age of discovery: on new soil, but still seeking westward. Modern rationalism: settlers understood their position as a result of technological and moral superiority. Rise of capitalism: wealth and prosperity required a cheap labor force. Rise of the nation: those eventually considered (cid:862)a(cid:373)e(cid:396)i(cid:272)a(cid:374) (cid:272)itize(cid:374)s(cid:863) (cid:449)e(cid:396)e those who were western european. Conquest over civility: non-english settlers were uncivilized and must either be wiped out or assimilate to white culture. African, english, and irish workers collectively rose up against wealthy plantation owners and colonial government: they were crushed by english soldiers. White servants then refused to go across the color line when struggling against labor exploitation: view of white servants changed, it was possible to assimilate them as citizens. Military offered white servants freedom in exchange for service. Revolution made servitude become about race, not class. After independence was declared: stated north of virginia abolished slavery, in the south, slavery played a more important social and economic role.
