Page 88 - American Stories, A History of the United States

3 Putting Down Roots

Opportunity and

Oppression in Colonial

Society 1619–1692

Families in an
atlantic empire
T he Witherspoon

family moved from
Great britain to the south
carolina backcountry early
in the eighteenth century.
Although otherwise indistinguishable from
the thousands of other ordinary families
that put down roots in english America, the
Witherspoons were made historical figures by
the candid account of pioneer life produced
by their son, Robert, who was only a small
child at the time of their arrival.
the Witherspoons’ initial reaction
to the New World—at least, that of the
mother and children—was utter despon-
dence. “My mother and us children were
still in expectation that we were coming
to an agreeable place,” Robert confessed,
“but when we arrived and saw nothing
but a wilderness and instead of a fine tim-
bered house, nothing but a very mean

Learning O b j e c t i v e s

3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5

What factors What factors How did Why did How did
explain the contributed African england colonial
remarkable to political American discourage revolts affect The Mason Children: david, Joanna,
social stability unrest in the slaves free and the political and abigail, C. 1670 An early portrait of
three children from a wealthy Massachusetts
achieved in chesapeake preserve an open trade culture of bay colony family
early New region during independent in colonial virginia and sOuRce: the Freake-Gibbs Painter, “the Mason children:
england? this period? cultural America? New england? Davis, joanna and Abigail,” 1670. Oil on canvas, 39-1/2”
p. 57 p. 61 identity in p. 69 p. 71 42-11/16”. the Fine Arts Museum of san Francisco, san
Francisco, cA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. john D. Rockefeller, iii
the New
World? p. 63
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