Lecture 2

Introduction to course

“American”

Geographic definition (Hemispheric? Continental?)

Geopolitical or demographic definition

Symbolic or cultural definition

“Values”

historical questions

questions about form

questions about national identity/character (“exceptionalism”)

Guiding theme: journeys

Moving (e.g. “May Day” in New York)

Place

Region (e.g. Midwest)

Overview of each week

Objectives for this week: “Discovering” America

“Manifest Destiny”

Transatlantic voyages

History painting (Emmanuel Leutze)

Manifest Destiny

Definition

Leutze

Landing of the Norsemen (1845)

Departure of Columbus from Palos

Myths of Columbus

Columbus

Letter to the Treasurer for the King and Queen of Spain

Motivations: gold alone?

Encounters: how do they view each other

Waldseemuller’s Map of the World (1507)

Amerigo Vespucci

Handsome Lake

Iroquois religious leader

“Code of Handsome Lake” or the “Longhouse religion”

What motives did Handsome Lake ascribe to Columbus?

How does he undermine the myth of Columbus?

How did Columbus’ arrival change the lives of Indians in Handsome Lake’s view?

Question A

Puritans and slaves

The Puritans

Errand into the Wilderness

Jeremiad

Winthrop

Arbella

Purpose of Winthrop’s sermon?

John Speed’s Map of the world

Biblical precedents…

Moses’ leading the Israelites in their exodus out of Egypt

Mary and Joseph’s Flight into Egypt

Phillips and the Slave Trade

Captain Thomas Phillips

Triangular Trade

Royal African Company

“middle passage”

“John Brown”

How did they select the slaves?

How did the slaves resist?

Conditions on the Middle Passage?

Compare the two journeys: the slaves on the Hannibal with the Puritans on the Arbella

Question of moral complicity

What kind of a character is Philips?

Question B