Objective: The goal of this assignment is to familiarize you with how to read and interpret historical documents
Objective: The goal of this assignment is to familiarize you with how to read and interpret historical documents/visuals as part of the preparation for our first document-based question that is coming up. Reading and interpreting the meaning and significance of historical documents is a skill you must demonstrate to pass this class so let’s practice by analyzing and interpreting the following document titled “The Results of Colonization” by Adam Smith, a Scottish economist and writer, in 1776:
Document:
“The general advantages which Europe, considered as one great country, has derived from the discovery and colonization of America, consist, first, in the increase of its enjoyments; and, secondly, in the augmentation of its industry.
The surplus produce of America, imported into Europe, furnishes the inhabitants of this great continent with a variety of commodities which they could not otherwise have possessed, some for convenience and use, some for pleasure, and some for ornament, and thereby contributes to increase their enjoyments.
The discovery and colonization of America, it will readily be allowed, have contributed to augment the industry, first, of all the countries which trade to it directly; such as Spain, Portugal, France, and England; and, secondly, of all those which, without trading to it directly, send, through the medium of other countries, goods to it of their own produce; such as Austrian Flanders, and some provinces of Germany, which, through the medium of the countries before mentioned, send to it a considerable quantity of linen and other goods. All such countries have evidently gained a more extensive market for their surplus produce, and must consequently have been encouraged to increase its quantity.
The discovery of America, and that of a passage to the East Indies by the Cape of Good Hope, are the two greatest and most important events recorded in the history of mankind. Their consequences have already been very great: but, in the short period of between two and three centuries which has elapsed since these discoveries were made, it is impossible that the whole extent of their consequences can have been seen. What benefits, or what misfortunes to mankind may hereafter result from those great events, no human wisdom can foresee. By uniting, in some measure, the most distant parts of the world, by enabling them to relieve one another want, to increase one another’s enjoyments, and to encourage one another’s industry, their general tendency would seem to be beneficial.
In the meantime, one of the principal effects of those discoveries has been to raise the mercantile system to a degree of splendor and glory which it could never otherwise have attained to. It is the object of that system to enrich a great nation rather by trade and manufactures than by the improvement and cultivation of land, rather by the industry of the towns than by that of the country. But, in consequence of those discoveries, the commercial towns of Europe, instead of being the manufacturers and carriers for but a very small part of the world (that part of Europe which is washed by the Atlantic ocean, and the countries which lie round the Baltic and Mediterranean seas), have now become the manufacturers for the numerous and thriving cultivators of America, and the carriers, and in some respects the manufacturers too, for almost all the different nations of Asia, Africa, and America. Two new worlds have been opened to their industry, each of them much greater and more extensive than the old one, and the market of one of them growing still greater and greater every day….”
Document title: “The Result of Colonization” by Adam Smith (1776)
Please review the visual image above and provide a written response (short essay format ~ 650-700 word minimum/ word document file format) that answers ALL of the following questions:
What is the main point(s) of this document? Summarize in your own words, no quoting
According to Adam Smith, how did the “discovery and colonization” of America affect the economic development of Europe?
Why did Smith believe that the “benefits” outweigh the “misfortunes?”
Who do you think he was referring to by “misfortunes? and why?
PARAPHRASE instead of Quoting: Be sure to paraphrase and not quote from the content. Use “keywords” from the content instead of quoting the entire passage. I am much more interested in reading your summary and interpretation than rereading the document through your submission.
Grading Criteria:
A complete score will demonstrate:
CONTEXT: thorough knowledge of what the source is, who produced it, where, when, and why it was produced.
CONTENT: sensitive and sophisticated understanding of the meaning of the source in its historical context; appreciation of the complexity or subtlety of the source.
CONSEQUENCES: clear grasp of the effect or importance of the source in history.
An incomplete Score:
CONTEXT: little or erroneous knowledge of what the source is, who produced it, where, when, and why it was produced; more than two of the above elements incomplete or missing.
CONTENT: no understanding of the meaning of the source in its historical context; major points missing or incorrect.
CONSEQUENCES: no or erroneous understanding of the effect or importance of the source in history.
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