In a 2-3 page paper, answer one or more of the questions below. You should use Document Project 3 (Tobacco and Slaves) as your main source of evidence. See the guides in the Resource folder under Course Content for assistance in organizing your paper and analyzing the sources.

Your paper should be double-spaced, typed in 12 point Times New Roman font, and have an introduction with a thesis, body paragraphs with evidence from the primary sources and analysis, and a conclusion tying everything together. You must cite your sources using Chicago style citations (see Resources folder for guidance).

You may not use any sources outside those assigned for this course. Papers using outside sources will earn an F and you will be required to rewrite them.

Discussion Questions:

The descriptions of life on a tobacco plantation in this collection are all written by white slaveholders. How can historians use these sources to understand the experiences of enslaved people? What must be taken into account when analyzing these sources? Can you write an accurate history without the words of enslaved people?
Compare the image with written sources? Which is more useful for understanding the past? How does the medium impact your understanding of the source?
Why did the colonial government of Virginia pass the two laws listed in Document 3.5? What can we infer was happening from the legal system and other documents that influenced lawmakers to pass laws like these?