Brittnie Chang

History 7A

Document Interpretation 2

I think that the document makes such a strong distinction between men and women

because it wants to emphasize the roles of gender in society. Men were expected to do the

grueling tasks that require great labor and strength. Women, at least white women, were thought

of as weaker and more fragile. Also, during that time period many women got sick or died during

childbirth. A white woman was almost "never put to work in the Ground." Laws were even put

into place in the form of taxes to make masters less inclined to force white women onto the field.

It is presumed that a woman's place in society was in the household, taking care of domestic

chores and children. Additionally, the status of one's mother decides the status of her child.

Slaves do not have the same legal rights as servants. Therefore a female slave is still expected to

do the same work as her male counterparts.

The legal rights given to indentured servants listed by Robert Beverley were extensive

and seemed to have an answer for any problem that might have come up. In reality, however, the

rights that servants were supposed to have were not enforced. The document talks about how

servants can take their masters to court whenever and wherever but that was not true. I am sure

realistically that many masters were able to find loopholes around the laws and to take advantage

of their servants. Servants were not equal in status to their masters and they certainly did not

complete the same tasks.

 I think that the concessions listed at the end are what the masters would ideally do for

their servants. In reality, however, the masters probably gave the bare minimum, if anything, to

their workers. The masters would give nothing at all if they had the choice because they would

not want to waste any more money on a former employee when they have to spend more money

on a new worker.

This article is a primary source. It was written by Robert Beverley, a Virginia planter in

1705. The reason that this source is primary is because it was written by someone was there

when the event took place. The writer was an eyewitness to what happened. Berkeley was in

favor of slave society and wrote this piece of evidence to try and justify the treatment of servants

and slaves. In the article, he wrote about how the judicial system was on the side of the servants

and would help them in the face of injustice so long as they say the word. Beverley tried to make

the usage of slaves and servants seem reasonable and fair.