People’s History of United States, Quiz Example

1.  Howard Zinn, in A People’s History of the United States, suggests that the colonial elite’s greatest fear was the prospect of poor whites and African Americans uniting with one another

True, because according to Zinn, in his article people’s history Zinn illustrates that racism was created in an artificial manner so that the economic system could be enforced effectively. Here, if the poor whites could unite with black, then the blacks will automatically get a path to escape as well as oppose the subjugation.

2.  Howard Zinn suggests that the problem of the color line was solved in the United States during the civil rights movements of the 1950s and ‘60s

False, according to Zinn, it is vivid that national government was responsible for the weakening of the law, which propagated the end of slavery, and not movement by the civil rights. The government, sternly enforced law, which geared the return of slavery from the fugitives. Further, during the J. Andrews administration, the national government with the collaboration of the south states eroded the abolition literature in the mails. End of slavery was declared in 1857 by the supreme court of the United States according to the case by slave Scott Dred.

3. William Byrd’s diary reveals that he viewed the physical punishment of his slaves with a casual, nonchalant air.

True, following the Byrd’s diary, it is true that he viewed physical punishment administered to his slaves as casual. Evidently, he did witness all the beatings and whipping that the slaves received but again he did not feel sorry or sympathize with them. July 15, was the only day he expressed sympathy by preventing his wife from causing burns to little Jenny.

4. Based upon a reading of the various slave revolt letters that we have read this week, it is reasonable to say that southern white society lived in fear of a slave revolt.

True, according to the letter from Petersburg, the whites are sure that the Negroes who are armed can descend on the whites without a notice. Further, letters from the eastern show, illustrates that the Negroes will attack the towns at night to initiate the planned massacre.

5. The institution of slavery relied upon the propagation of racist ideas, namely the erroneous idea that black people are inferior to white people. As Zinn suggests and Byrd’s diary reveals, slave masters also used violence or the threat of violence to attempt to control their slaves.

True, by discussing the Byrd’s diary, it states that he used violence for instance whipping his slave and forcefully directing the Quaker to drink the queen’s health while on his knees.

Discussion

The lesson according to Williams’ diary is that slaves where mainly corrected with a whip, and other physical pains as being burnt by a hot iron as well as mistreating them sexually, as per the case in October 6 and 21^st. Slavery life was bitter and full of both punishments and hard work. It is imperative that the order in slavery life was maintained with the infliction of pain to the slaves and threat as per the evidence in February 27. The above was the main act of maintaining order amongst the slaves.