Difference between revisions of "426--Week 2 Questions/Comments--Thursday"
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I was really impressed by Johnson's methodology. The way he used records of censuses, taxes, and court cases to figure out the story of these people's lives is very cool. One part that jumped out at me is when Greenleaf's mother-in-law said that her "children" were taking all of her furniture, Johnson was able to figure out that she could ONLY be talking about Greenleaf and Abigail. Another part I was impressed with was how Johnson used the tax record of Greenleaf housing the school teacher as proof that he was a trusted member of the community. I mean, that makes sense and doesn't seem like a huge leap, but when you think that all that this guy had in front of him were a bunch of government records, I think it is very impressive that he was able to infer so much about Greenleaf's character and personal life. I guess historians like Johnson have to get creative in how they use their sources. -- Rebecca | I was really impressed by Johnson's methodology. The way he used records of censuses, taxes, and court cases to figure out the story of these people's lives is very cool. One part that jumped out at me is when Greenleaf's mother-in-law said that her "children" were taking all of her furniture, Johnson was able to figure out that she could ONLY be talking about Greenleaf and Abigail. Another part I was impressed with was how Johnson used the tax record of Greenleaf housing the school teacher as proof that he was a trusted member of the community. I mean, that makes sense and doesn't seem like a huge leap, but when you think that all that this guy had in front of him were a bunch of government records, I think it is very impressive that he was able to infer so much about Greenleaf's character and personal life. I guess historians like Johnson have to get creative in how they use their sources. -- Rebecca | ||
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| + | Johnson introduces the account of Greenleaf and Abigail Patch and notes that the credibility of the inferences drawn from the scattered, impersonal records as an issue for many scholars and historians. However, the importance and validity of various sources used to form the most accurate depiction of the past justifies the accountability and validity of the sources on these particular post revolutionary individuals. This piece sheds light on the resourceful means of both women and men during this time of economic uncertainty and crisis. Men derived a strong sense of pride and self-worth from the ownership of land, and when forced to abandon the hope of simply inheriting familial land to finance the needs of the next generation, males necessarily formed new bases upon which they defined status and success in a dominantly patriarchal society. Women indeed seized opportunities to take the dominant role in the realm of domestic affairs, shifting gender roles and expectations, while helping the progression of the leveling of responsibilities between the sexes. –Augusta | ||
== Extra Credit: What did the President's inaugural address say (directly or indirectly) about American families and individuals? == | == Extra Credit: What did the President's inaugural address say (directly or indirectly) about American families and individuals? == | ||
