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Lesson 2: English Perspectives
Activity 1: 30 minutes
Activity 2: 1 hour
Activity 3: 45 minutes
Activity 4: 30 minutes
Activity 5: 30 minutes
Activity 6: 30 minutes
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| Key Content Ideas Taught in this Lesson and
Teacher Background |
- The English who settled in the Deerfield area
were primarily Puritan farmers and their families who came seeking
religious freedom, land ownership, and financial gains. They hoped
to accomplish this by acquiring land, establishing communities,
and farming.
- The Puritan religion and the power of the
minister influenced every aspect of English life.
- The English concept of land ownership assumed
that individual owners had full control of their land. Those who
created settlements also set aside land to be held in common for
uses that promoted the common good.
- The economic life of the English was based
on agriculture, fur trading, and small artisan businesses.
For more information read:
Teacher background essays- English Daily
Life in Early 18th Century Deerfield, The
English Settlers in Deerfield
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| Intended Learning Outcomes |
Understandings
Students will understand:
1. that the English believed that land could
be owned by individuals and individual owners had absolute rights
to the use and occupancy of their land. This concept contrasts
with the Native Americans’ concept of land ownership.
2. that the English formed communities. Individuals owned property
on which to raise their families. Some land was reserved for communal
uses. The settlers established and promoted their religious beliefs
within their communities.
3. that the English came to North America seeking religious freedom,
land ownership, and financial gain. They tried to accomplish these
goals by establishing secure communities with houses, churches,
small businesses, and farms. The Puritan religion and the power
of the minister influenced every aspect of English life.
4. the precepts of the Puritan religion.
5. that the economic life of the English in Deerfield was based
on agriculture, fur trading, and small businesses such as cordwaining(shoemaking),
blacksmithing, tavern keeping, and milling
Skills
Students will be able to:
1. gather data from primary and secondary sources.
2. assimilate information uncovered in their research and incorporate
it into their written work.
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| In Preparation for Teaching |
Activity 1:
1. Copy Excerpts from The Compact with
the Charter and Laws of the Colony of New Plymouth, Acts and
Resolves of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, Vol.
I and VIII, and The
Basics of Puritanism.
2. Locate a copy of the book Stranded at Plimoth Plantation
by Gary Bowen, and copy pages 8, 10, 14, 15, 23, 24, 30, 43, and
45.
3. Distribute paper for the writing activity.
4. Read Teacher background essays The
English Settlers in Deerfield and English
Daily Life in Early 18th Century Deerfield.
Activity 2:
1. Contact an historian or historical re-enactor
to portray a Puritan Englishman.
Activity 3:
1. Copy town meeting notes from the Deerfield
Town Book and Vocabulary list
of Abbreviations for the Deerfield Town Book.
Activity 4:
1. Be prepared to define the terms "primary source"and
"secondary source".
2. A large piece of paper (flip chart size) will be needed for the
source lists.
Activity 5:
1. Copy c. 1686 Deerfield Lot Survey map
and 1831 Plan of Deerfield.
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Primary and Secondary Sources:
1. Teacher background essay- English
Daily Life in Early 18th Century Deerfield
2. Teacher background essay- The English
Settlers in Deerfield
3. Excerpts from The Acts and Resolves
of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, Vol. I
4. Excerpts from The Acts and
Resolves of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, Vol. VIII
5. Excerpts from The Compact with the
Charter and Laws of the Colony of New Plymouth
6. Excerpts from Stranded at Plimoth Plantation, by Gary
Bowen
7. The Basics of Puritanism,
Lynne Manring
8. Excerpts from the Deerfield Town Book,
1701/2 (town meeting notes)
9. Fragment of c. 1686 Deerfield Lot Survey
map showing house and farm lots
10. 1831 Plan of Deerfield
Other:
1. Guest speaker (local historian) portraying
a Puritan Englishman.
2. Vocabulary list of abbreviations for
the Deerfield Town Book.
3. Stranded at Plimoth Plantation by Gary Bowen.
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| Activities |
Materials in Context |
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Activity 1
Puritan Research
A. Distribute Excerpts from The Compact
with the Charter and Laws of the Colony of New Plymouth,
Acts and Resolves of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay,
Vol. I and VIII, Stranded at Plimoth Plantation, and
The Basics of Puritanism. Instruct students to read
these to learn about Puritanism. Discuss.
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Excerpts from The
Compact with the Charter and Laws of the Colony of New Plymouth
Excerpts
from Acts and Resolves of the Province of the Massachusetts
Bay, Vol. I
Excerpts
from Acts and Resolves of the Province of the Massachusetts
Bay,vol. VIII
Excerpts from Stranded at Plimoth Plantation
The Basics of
Puritanism.
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Activity 2
A Visit from a Puritan Englishman
A. Invite a historical interpreter or
re-enactor portraying an "Puritan Englishman"
to visit the class to explain the influence of the Puritan
religion on everyday life. If no interpreter is available,
explain the topic to the class and hold a discussion [note:
refer to teacher background essays- The English Settlers
in Deerfield and English Daily Life in Early 18th
Century Deerfield.
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The English Settlers in Deerfield
English Daily Life in Early 18th
Century Deerfield
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Activity 3
Town Meeting Notes
A. Distribute the Deerfield Town Book
(town meeting notes) excerpts and vocabulary list of abbreviations.
Review the abbreviations. Ask pairs of students to analyze
the excerpts to determine the kind of jobs or professions
people had. (NOTE: Where are the women?)
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Deerfield Town Book
vocabulary list
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Activity 4
Primary and Secondary Sources
A. Introduce and define the terms primary
and secondary sources. Review with class the sources used
so far, and identify which are primary or secondary sources.
Start a list for each source and add to them throughout
the unit.
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Activity 5
Proprietor's Map
A. Distribute the c. 1686 Proprietor's
map fragment and the modern version of the map fragment
(1831 Plan of Deerfield). Analyze the map with students,
noting especially the duplication of numbers. This gives
an indication of how the English organized the land in Deerfield.
[Note: Lots are numbered. Each number
corresponds to a proprietor (land owner). Owners had house
lots, farm lots, and access to wood lots. Although everyone
had land, proprietors with a more prominent position in
society had larger lots.]
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c. 1686 Proprietor's Lot Survey
1831 Plan of Deerfield
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Activity 6
Assignment
Instruct students to write a dialog between
two early seventeenth century people, or a fictional journal
entry from this period depicting an imagined event reflecting
Puritan beliefs and values. Problems and issues with Puritanism
that might be addressed include:
- People were beginning to rebel
against such a strict life
- Few ruled over many
- Being in a new, unsettled area
helped foster self-reliance and individualism
- The religion was very inflexible
- More people were interpreting
the word of God in their own ways and were not depending
upon the Bible as much
- There was a great fascination
with death
- Too much pride was being exhibited,
especially as more people became wealthier
- People were violating Sabbath
laws
- More people were swearing
- People were sleeping during
sermons
- Family government was falling
apart
- There was more alcohol abuse
- Fewer people were willing to
reform
- More people were behaving in
a less "godly" way and their social behavior
was worse than it had been
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Use the written dialogs or diary entries to assess
the degree to which students have achieved the intended learning
outcomes for this lesson.
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