University of Massachusetts, Amherst
L.Lovett
Review Strategies for the First History 388 Exam
As you review for the exam, I suggest thinking about some of the details
in course readings & lectures as exercises to prepare yourself for the
kinds of emphases and connections that should characterize a good exam question.
I think a good exam question allows for multiple ways to think about the material
and helps a student discover connections or themes.
The WebCT discussion board for this class also includes ideas about themes
and questions which I think are relevant for this exam. Please come talk to
me or email questions if you need any help.
DIFFERENT WAYS TO THINK ABOUT HISTORICAL EVIDENCE:
Use these strategies to try to find connections by seeking patterns among
the range of phenomena covered. Unless it's a primary source (P), I've identified
the author or locale who discusses the idea or individual. These are NOT exhaustive
NOR should the list be considered mandatory. These are exercises to help you
think about how you would put together individual examples from course materials.
(1) Finding the "Common Thread" can you discover common
elements among the disparate phenomena listed in each group?
a) "Positive Models of Womanhood"
representation of the "good wife" in Puritan ideology
(Ulrich)
representation of the "Indian
Princess" (Greene, Image Database on WebCT)
representation of the impact
of Christian enslavement in Wheatleyıs poem (P)
representation of "Republican Motherhood" (Kerber, P)
representation of Hannah Dunstan
and Mary Rowlandson in Matherıs introduction and sermons (P)
b) "Legal Standing"
Law of Coverture in Anglo-American law (Kerber, Ulrich)
Matrilineality in Native American
societies (Evans, Hope Coleıs Class Presentation, Brooks, P)
Virginia Law of 1662 and 1691 on Slavery (P)
Widow's portion (Ulrich, Karlsen, P, Lecture)
Wabanacki "laws" of Anglo womenıs position (Nash)
Beatrice Plummerıs Estate Inventory (Ulrich)
c). "Womenıs Labor
in the Colonies"
Rowlandsonıs sewing, nursing (P)
Weetamooıs belts (P)
Task v. gang work on plantations
(Berkin)
Hearth (Ulrich, Image database,
Porter-Phelps House)
Martha Ballardıs business and
household (A Midwiveıs Tale)
Elizabeth Phelpıs cheese business
(Porter-Phelpıs House)
Sarah Osbornıs "cooking"
(P)
d)."Sex & Gender Roles"
T. Hallıs skills (and decision about identity) (Norton)
African womenıs childcare patterns (Morgan, Image Database)
Sachem in Wampanoag/Narangansett/Pocosett (Evans, P)
Hannah Graftonıs inventory (Ulrich)
Agricultural labor among Native
American women (Evans, Hope Coleıs presentation)
Charges against Anne Hutchinson
(P)
Women accused of practicing
witchcraft (Karlsen)
Esther DeBerdt Reedıs call for flax spinning (P, Kerber)
Role of Midwife (P: Anne Hutchinson, A Midwifeıs Tale
Anne Hutchinsonıs followers
(P)
Gullah and childnaming practices on Plantations (Berkin)
Virginia Women searchers"
in T. Hall case (Norton)
Susanna Martin & Mary jones
(Karlsen)
Martha Ballardıs networks (A
Midwifeıs Tale)
Women who knew about Sarah Grosvenorıs abortion
(presentation on 10/6)
(2) Following the Trajectory what course of change or line
of development is suggested by starting with the first item in each group and
proceeding to the last?
a). "African American Women
in Colonial Context"
Image of African women in
travel narratives (Morgan)
Virginia law of 1661 (P)
Life of Mary and Anthony Johnson (Berkin)
Task v. Gang labor system on plantations (Berkin)
1691 law prohibiting "abominable mixture" (P)
Public verification that Poems
Upon Various Subjects was written by "Phillis, a young negro girl" (P)
John Addamsı response to Abigail Addams on servants/slaves
(P)
b). "Anglo American Women
in Colonial Context"
brides/ indentured servants
in Colonial Virginia (Lecture, Norton)
Widows in Colonial Virginia
goodwives in Puritan context
(Ulrich)
Anne Hutchinsonıs followers
(P)
Scoldıs bridle wearers (Image Database)
Women who inherit property
in Essex County without male heirs (Karlsen)
Entrepeneurs like Elizabeth
Phelps or Sarah Osborn (tour, Kerber)
Abigail Addams & Rachel
Wellsı expectations from Amer Revın (P)
Martha Ballard (A Midwifeıs
Tale)
c). "Native American
Women in a Colonial Context"
"Indian Queen" (Greene,
Image Database)
Iroquoian Women (Berkin)
Juana Hurtado Galvan (Brooks)
Ideal Woman in Micmaq Captivity
story (Nash)
Weetamoo (P)
Commanche Womenıs "Shakedown
Dance" (Brooks)
Indians in John Addamsı letter
or A Midwifeıs Tale
(3). Oppositions: Think about
the kinds of "confrontations" occur between the values and ideas embodied
in two elements of events which seem similar. EXAMPLES BELOW:
i.
Death of Rowlandsonıs child Death of Weetamooıs child
ii.
Rowlandsonıs experience of enslavement Wheatleyıs experience
of enslavement
(4). "Subverting Rules":
How can we understand models, practices or rules by examining exceptions to
them? You may want to think about how the following suggest normative practices:
a) Widows in Virginia
b) Anne Hutchinson
c) Women accused of being witches
d) Women in interracial relationships
e) T. Hall
f) Martha Ballard
g) Women sentenced to wear a Scoldıs Bridle
h) Hannah Dustan
i) Elizabeth Emerson (Dustanıs sister)
j)
Sarah Grosvenor
k)
Deborah Sampson or Rachel Wells