The Experience 78
The Ebb and Flow 79
Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children 80
Court Day in the Colonies, from The Sot-Weed Factor. Ebenezer Cook 83
III. The Land Possessed 87
From The History of the Dividing Line, William Byrd, II 89
A Modest Proposal for Civilizing the Indians 91
A Visit to the Nottoways 92
A Mission to the Iroquois, John Bartram 97
The Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards 102
A Boy’s Quest for God 104
Many Surprising Conversions 111
Protest from the Heart, John Woolman 117
The Journal, 1754: A Prophetic Dream 119
The Journal, 1757: The Campaign Against Slavery 120
From Some Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes 125
The Journal, 1756: “Free from Outward Cumbers” 129
from A Plea for the Poor 131
IV. The Making of Americans 135
An American Success Story. Benjamin Franklin 137
Bagatelles: Women and Marriage 139
Advice to a Young Man on Choosing a Mistress (1745) 140
The Speech of Polly Baker (1747) 141
Autobiography: Arrival in Philadelphia 144
Autobiography: The Method of Virtue 146
Autobiography: Resisting the Great Awakening 151
Autobiography: The Practical Man in Public Affairs 152
from America. Timothy Dwight 156
Connecticut Wit. John Trumbull 160
from The Progress of Dullness 160
from M’Fingal: The Liberty Pole 163
The First Romantic. Philip Freneau 169