Pennsylvania during Colonial America Essay Example

family would make up for their loss either by serving more time as an indentured servant, or some other way. Mittleberger recommends at the end of his passage that “every one stay in his own country and support himself and his family honestly. ” Reading this particular passage makes it very easy for the reader to paint a negative picture of Pennsylvania State in the time of Colonial America, but it is imperative that while reading Mittleberger’s passage the reader remains critical.

It’s also important to keep those in mind who had nothing to live for, or not much to live for during this time. Contrary to Gotlieb Mittleberger’s passage, you have those who not only appreciated life in Pennsylvania, but valued it more so than the life they left behind, such as Gabriel Thomas. Thomas calls the benefits of Pennsylvania “inviting” for poor men and women everywhere. He states that it is easy to make “three times the wages for their labor than in England. Thomas explains that the land is more flourishing than that in England which is why farmers can afford to give workers better wages. Not only does he speak of the great money to be made in Pennsylvania, but he talks about the price of food and nourishment in comparison to England, saying that it is much cheaper to support oneself. Therefore, in order to make an accurate assumption as to whether or not life was good in Pennsylvania, you must first think about whom you’re talking about.

For instance, women were unable to own property or do anything for themselves for that matter. As well as African

Americans were never freed and were sentenced to slavery for life in most places in America during this time period. The question can be answered in many different ways depending on which perspective you are basing your opinion on. In the eyes of many, people were leaving behind a wretched life and heading towards a door of opportunity.