Document Analysis Assignment

Purpose of Document Analysis Assignments

Document Analysis Assignment

The purpose of the “Document Analysis” assignments is to help you to practice making evidence based arguments about history. Every historian needs to read the original primary sources in order to write history.
Imagine the audience for this assignment is your friend, family member or a neighbor who does not know much about history. You want to analytically explain the facts about history.
Listed below are primary documents. Before each set of documents is a brief explanation of the readings followed by several questions. DO Write on one question from one set of documents, and follow this format:Type in the question you are answering above your response, clearly state your position and 2-3 of the main points you intend to discuss in the first paragraph. In the following paragraphs cite facts from the documents to support your position and explain how/why these facts support your position. The last paragraph, your conclusion, should sum up your main points/facts and explain how/why they support your position. The length requirement is 1 to 1 1/2 pages single-spaced.
Be sure to cite the documents, WITHIN your essay in parenthesis after the passage it
Only choose one prompt and do the questions for that one prompt of your choosing, there will be links for information.
Always put the source and page number in parenthesis after the sentence the information is used in. Example: For the documents put the title/author and date in parenthesis after the sentence (The Meaning of America, Christopher Columbus, 1493)
One of the defining moments in colonial history was Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia. The rebellion which was led by Nathaniel Bacon started over a Native American friendly policy by the Virginia royal governor. As you read the document and account of the revolt, think about what other issues may have led to the rebellion.

Bacon’s Rebellion 1704; Robert Beverley
Bacon’s Rebellion 1676-1677; Nathaniel Bacon’s Declaration of Grievances
1. What other factors may fueled Bacon’s Rebellion and why? Cite examples.
2. How did this rebellion aid in the establishment of slavery in the southern colonies and why?
3. In a broader sense, did Bacon’s Rebellion influence colonists to revolt against British authority a century later? If so, what is the evidence?
Shortage of labor on the plantations led Europeans to look towards Africa for labor. Many historian thus believe that African migration to the America’s was part of an involuntary migration. As you read the documents, think about reasons for slave migration to the Americas? How was slavery practiced in the Americas?

An account of the Middle Passage, Alexander Falconbridge
How slaves were acquired, John Barbot
1. How was slavery practiced in Africa? Who was involved in the African slavetrade and why?
2. How were the slaves brought to the Americas? Why did the slaves not rebel?
What happened to slaves once they arrived in the Americas?
The conclusion of the French & Indian War which is also known as the Seven Years War established Great Britain as the sole colonial power in North America. As you view this site click on the blue & shaded areas on the left to learn more about the conflict. The French & Indian war
1. What are some of the potential problems the conflict created for Great Britain with regard to relations with American colonists?
2. In what ways did the conflict revolutionize warfare?