Interpret the Evidence and Put It in Context

1. According to the 1707 entries and clearances list, what was the scope of the trade that came through Boston by the early eighteenth century (Document 4.1)? How might Boston have become such an international center of commerce?

2. What items did the Boston merchant advertise for sale (Document 4.2)? Where did the items come from? Why do you think he advertised many of his products by their place of origin? Who do you think was the market for these items?

3. What services does the merchant selling musical instruments offer (Document 4.3)? How does he describe his prices? What Bostonians do you think were interested in these items?

4. Describe the chest of drawers made and decorated by Robert Davis (Document 4.4). What functions does it serve? Why do you think the owner purchased this piece of furniture?

5. How does the Boston Post-Boy advertisement describe the runaway slave (Document 4.5)? What does the ad reveal about owner Eleanor Pullen’s knowledge of the slave Cuba? What rewards and threats does Pullen offer to ensure the return of Cuba?

6. How does the protest letter defend the destruction of the market (Document 4.6)? What do the authors say will happen if the governor brings in militia? How would you characterize the author’s rhetoric? Why do you think nobody came forward as a witness to the crime?

1. How did the commercial culture of Boston accentuate class differences in the early eighteenth century? How might it have brought people together within particular classes or across class lines?