Cassandra Rincon Document Interpretation 2: Calculus of Slavery & Provincials Category 1: Gottlieb Mittelberger, Journey to Pennsylvania (1750) Gottlieb

Mittelberger was a school master and organist from Germany. He was traveling from Germany to Pennsylvania in 1750 on a ship that was also carrying immigrants. The immigrants were soon to become indentured servants once they arrive in America. The conditions on the ship as Mittelberger described were horrid; fever, headaches, vomiting, cancer, sea-sickness, bad fumes, ugly water, and even death. This voyage he took lasted weeks, he said that with even the most wind power the trip would take about 7 weeks. He would entertain the people with prayers, singing and reading sermons. Although it seems like this is an extremely horrible way to travel to America, Slaves brought from Africa had worst conditions than that of the immigrants. Slaves from Africa were confined in small spaces on the ship and were crammed with an estimate of 400 people on board at times. When arriving in Pennsylvania, Gottlieb describes how people were only let off the ship if they have paid to come aboard or if they have good security to prove they can leave. Many others stayed onboard until they were purchased; many who were healthy were usually bought first. Those who were sick were left to be sold and would sometimes end up dying from having no care. Children who arrived about 10-15 years of age will serve time until they are 21. This differed from slaves arriving in Pennsylvania. Many were auctioned off and were not given any chance to pay for their freedom. Many were separated from their families and also slaves were not given a chance to be free, they were forever owned. When settling in the new land Gottlieb wrote about the conditions he has witness since arriving. Selling children was not of the unusual to the new world; many people were poor and ill and would have to do anything to survive. He described people not believing in a god or evil, how there was no real religious structure. Because of no real grounded religion, new religions were formed. He also

Cassandra Rincon Document Interpretation 2: Calculus of Slavery & Provincials described that living in America was much better living in Europe; people were peaceful and quite. Because of the freedom and liberty of living in the new land, everyone was equal. Category 2: Crvecoeur, Letters from an American Farmer In the letter written by Crvecoeur, he describes arriving in America and the dreams that come along with that. He writes about the English, Dutch, Irish, Scottish, Swedish and German people that came to this new land. He talks about the mixture of people; many intermixed and calling them Americans. Some of the new arrivers wish to be mixed with other races in which Crvecoeur prefers not to be. He leaves out the fact that Africans are being sent to the new world. They are just as much as Americans; since they are working the land for the people of America. He describes the life of not being ruled by a king; with no courts, bishops or any system of being rich or poor. In America, the rich and poor are near the same living situation as the other. The freedom in America is appreciated kindly; with no Princes to slave, fight or starve for, he talks about America being a perfect society. America for many arriving is a new mode of living, a place to start new and a place to become a Man. Crvecoeur portrays how Europe is filled with useless laws, plants, unnecessary starvation and wars. American people compared to their European ancestors have little to nothing in common. Europeans had many laws to go by and had no real freedom. Europeans also had it hard being ruled by a monarchy; the poor were not seen as citizens. American people possess characteristics of freedom, diversity, and tolerance to change within the new land. Crvecoeur found America to be refreshing, peaceful and welcoming to new opinions and ideas.