Everyday Life in Early America by Hawke - Book Report/Review Example

Everyday Life in Early America’ by David Freeman Hawke Table of Contents Introduction 3 Everyday Life in Early America: The Review 4 Conclusion 8 Reference 9 Bibliography 9 Introduction Change is the sole consistent phenomenon in human civilization. Still history leaves a great impression on the mindset and lifestyle of the preceding generations and always influences the contemporary societies and cultures. The trajectory of civilization always leaves its imprints on the minds of future generation and along with it comes many distorted and inhibited facts in addition to the factual perspectives of forgotten days. Books pertaining to chronology always serve as a value addition factor and the enlightening document by David Freeman Hawke, ‘Everyday Life in Early America’ bears the true testimony of early colonial life and settlement which turned out to be one of the greatest nations and powers of the world, United States of America. Along with it, the book also renders a true perspective of socio-economic scenario of the early settlers and cures many preoccupied notions regarding the cultural beliefs or customs of the time. Publisher Weekly (Amazon.Com) rightly recommended the following statement regarding the enlightening version, “In this clearly written volume, Hawke provides enlightening and colorful descriptions of early Colonial Americans and debunks many widely held assumptions about 17th century settlers” (Amazon.Com, “Editorial Reviews”). Everyday Life in Early America: The Review David Freeman Hawke in his enlightening document bearing the title ‘Everyday Life in Early America’ renders a very descriptive and detailed description full of colors about the life of the early settlers of 17th Century in America and at the same time completely demystifies many inhibited facts and figures regarding their life. There are thousands of books written on the initiating period and development of American history but this book deals neither with the fathers of the nation nor with their heroic deeds. The book also does not revolve around the great historical actions and parameters involved in the construction of the pillars of the great superpower of present day. The book rather happily focuses on the life of common man of the early settlers and sings the unsung stories of myriad cultural and social realm which actually celebrates the true democratic spirit of the nation. This valuable document, in an extreme comprehendible and lucid language yields in 195 pages, a true gaze into the ordinary life of the ordinary people. Presented in a true extraordinary way, it captivates many interesting facts about the life of the early settlers in a strong argumentative tone. The myths pertaining to the young age of the most of the pioneers and their families were much larger than present-day households and that were strongly justified by Hawke. He also focused and forwarded many facts that most of the early settlers were craftsman and artisans and had minimum knowledge of farming. The book also exposed one of the interesting facts by curing the myth that the adults lived longer than the usual belief of their short span of lives and though the early settlers were good at craftsmanship, the wilderness of the period forced them to adopt agriculture as their means of livelihood. The book “Early Life in Early America” in its truest essence bears the contents like its name. It is a vivid and detailed description of the society, food, culture, dress, religion, economy and law and order of the 17th century America. The book brings out quite interesting statistics like the food habit of the early settlers and explores and that of the first White Americans. Hawke expresses that raccoon was first served in the city of New York. Similarly, the book also throws light on the facts and procedures by which the colonial Americans were punished and focuses on the relationship of the Whites with their slaves and servants. The book recollecting colonial days in America focuses on the period precisely from 1500 A.D. to 1750 A.D. and finishes just before the days of Revolutionary War. The contemporary European powers and Holland are also mentioned in the book with their apt influence on the lives of the early settlers. The introductory chapters like “O Strange New World-Who Came and Why They Came-What They Brought with Them - What They Found” explores basically the purpose of the settlers’ arrival in the land of America. The next chapter “Settling In” focuses on the pattern of life that the early settlers adhered to and exposes many myths pertaining to their differentiation in terms of social life. Early colonial Americans like the contemporary modern man believed in society and community and started their life by building small clusters of household. The basic difference between the social structures of the early Americans with that of the modern Americans is that now the community based on professions have effaced and overlapped completely which were formed as a basic cluster or community in early period. Significantly, the true spirit of gender equality in America started from its early days and is brilliantly portrayed by David Hawke in his chronicle of American colony. As the survival was the predominant factor during the early colonial America, the traditional gender role got reversed by the similar position of the women. The preceding chapters in the book namely, “The Farm”, “The House” and “The Home” focuses on the lifestyle of the seventeenth century American on their farm and retells the true history of the colonists towards the adaptability for agriculture after the threat of violence ended in actual terms. Their deviation from expert craftsmanship to better agricultural methodologies and implementation of agricultural tools were not easy initially but the early White Americans since the time showed their truest nature as regarding flexibility and adaptability. Owing to the true necessity of time, they quickly and superbly deviated to agriculture as one of the prime professions. The next chapter “Health” focuses on one of the important phenomena that occurred during the early phase of colonialism in America. The Whites brought many contaminated diseases along with new hope for themselves and civilization. These diseases killed lot of native Indians and gradually the local rituals, holiday songs, dances and customs effaced. “The Rhythms of Life”, “Manners and Morals” and “Red, White and Black” exposes the gradual decline of relationship between the White Americans and the Native Americans. Slowly the customs of indentured servants were abolished replaced by the rituals of slavery. Around 1620s, White became quite inhibited towards Black men and women and started becoming prejudiced towards these Black men and women, brought for the purpose of slavery. It is only from this time that role of race started taking a point of dominance in the society. The differences in race became so important in and around this period that even the interracial children were viewed as Blacks and were treated as slaves. As regards to religion, the book exposes the true myth that only few selected groups like Quakers adhered to unique religious beliefs otherwise the communities had general faith. The law and order was more strict and vigilant. The early settlers always had a fear of violence so with the passing time they wanted to develop very strict law and order system. Any action that was anti-social was regarded as crime and heavy fine and punishments were levied for such criminal actions. The book also focuses on the nitty-gritty of early colonial life in America and minutely examines various race and gender relations within the society. This becomes evident when Hawke mentions that with the passing of few generations initially the gender role falls back from its unconventional place and women folk receives the subordinate position usually but after a considerable time it is worth noting that women folk started expressing strong opinion regarding myriad family affairs though their position continued to remain the same . As regards to their food, the incorporation of Mexican food with a blend of European dominance on corn and wheat started during this era. The influence of European dress also significantly started mixing with some typical native dresses and styles. Much of the influences of the Native Americans that have effaced today, retained to a great extent during the early days of colonialism in America. The book, “Everyday Life in Early America” bears the true documentation on the lives of common man during 17th century but that does not make the book mundane and commonplace at all. The vivid elaboration, colorful description and detailed research have made the book a bible for the colonial history and life in America. The book does not only captivate the life at the firms but also throws light on life beyond that which makes it unique and universal. Conclusion The book, “Everyday Life in Early America” celebrates the true spirit of American life and culture. The book helps us to know the root of this great culture which received its basic virtues of flexibility and adaptability during early 17th century. The book, “Everyday Life in Early America” enables the readers to learn American culture and history completely and unlearn many myths associated with it by the power of the true knowledge gained from the book. Reference Amazon.Com, “Editorial Reviews”. October 27, 2010. From Publishers Weekly. No Date. Bibliography Hawke, David F. Everyday Life in Early America Harper Paperbacks, 1989. Read More

He also focused and forwarded many facts that most of the early settlers were craftsman and artisans and had minimum knowledge of farming. The book also exposed one of the interesting facts by curing the myth that the adults lived longer than the usual belief of their short span of lives and though the early settlers were good at craftsmanship, the wilderness of the period forced them to adopt agriculture as their means of livelihood. The book “Early Life in Early America” in its truest essence bears the contents like its name.

It is a vivid and detailed description of the society, food, culture, dress, religion, economy and law and order of the 17th century America. The book brings out quite interesting statistics like the food habit of the early settlers and explores and that of the first White Americans. Hawke expresses that raccoon was first served in the city of New York. Similarly, the book also throws light on the facts and procedures by which the colonial Americans were punished and focuses on the relationship of the Whites with their slaves and servants.

The book recollecting colonial days in America focuses on the period precisely from 1500 A.D. to 1750 A.D. and finishes just before the days of Revolutionary War. The contemporary European powers and Holland are also mentioned in the book with their apt influence on the lives of the early settlers. The introductory chapters like “O Strange New World-Who Came and Why They Came-What They Brought with Them - What They Found” explores basically the purpose of the settlers’ arrival in the land of America.

The next chapter “Settling In” focuses on the pattern of life that the early settlers adhered to and exposes many myths pertaining to their differentiation in terms of social life. Early colonial Americans like the contemporary modern man believed in society and community and started their life by building small clusters of household. The basic difference between the social structures of the early Americans with that of the modern Americans is that now the community based on professions have effaced and overlapped completely which were formed as a basic cluster or community in early period.

Significantly, the true spirit of gender equality in America started from its early days and is brilliantly portrayed by David Hawke in his chronicle of American colony. As the survival was the predominant factor during the early colonial America, the traditional gender role got reversed by the similar position of the women. The preceding chapters in the book namely, “The Farm”, “The House” and “The Home” focuses on the lifestyle of the seventeenth century American on their farm and retells the true history of the colonists towards the adaptability for agriculture after the threat of violence ended in actual terms.

Their deviation from expert craftsmanship to better agricultural methodologies and implementation of agricultural tools were not easy initially but the early White Americans since the time showed their truest nature as regarding flexibility and adaptability. Owing to the true necessity of time, they quickly and superbly deviated to agriculture as one of the prime professions. The next chapter “Health” focuses on one of the important phenomena that occurred during the early phase of colonialism in America.

The Whites brought many contaminated diseases along with new hope for themselves and civilization. These diseases killed lot of native Indians and gradually the local rituals, holiday songs, dances and customs effaced. “The Rhythms of Life”, “Manners and Morals” and “Red, White and Black” exposes the gradual decline of relationship between the White Americans and the Native Americans. Slowly the customs of indentured servants were abolished replaced by the rituals of slavery. Around 1620s, White became quite inhibited towards Black men and women and started becoming prejudiced towards these Black men and women, brought for the purpose of slavery.

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