Axinn & Stern Text

Chapter two examines of the earliest types of social policies affecting colonial America.

Refer to the Project Outline Scoring Guide for grading criteria.

Discussion 1

Indenture Contracts

Search the Internet for additional examples of indenture contracts like those found in the text. Post the URL you find and explain why you found it useful and informative in understanding early American welfare policies.

Discussion 2

Colonial Social Thought

Choose a major theme that had the most impact in the colonial era. Analyze it in terms of its strengths and weaknesses. How did it reflect the needs of society at that time? Is there a comparable example that you can identify in today''s society?

Discussion 3

Early Protection

How did the various methods of preventing social insolvency protect the individual as well as the community during the colonial era? Do those methods reflect any methods used today to protect the individual and the community?