1. Who wrote the source and when was it written? If unknown, note that. Be sure to include, to the best of your knowledge, the author's sex, nationality, class, religion, political identity, and race/ethnicity (1 point, 1-2 sentences).
Richard Ligon wrote his account of sugar plantations in 1673. He was a white, Christian British male, a planter on Barbadoes and likely of the upper class.
2. Who was the source written for? Who was the intended audience? You will have to make a logical guess in some cases. (1 point, 1-2 sentences)
This source was likely written for British people still living in England as a way to document what life was like in Barbadoes at this time.
3. What is the purpose or intent of the source? In other words, why was it written? (2 points, 1-2 paragraphs) The purpose of this source is to give a detailed depiction of life on a sugar plantation from the perspective of the plantation owner. Ligon describes the way each of the three types of men on the island; planters, indentured servants, and slaves live. He points out some of the cruelties that slaves, and to a greater extent, indentured servants had to face. At times he seems dissatisfied with the way some masters treat their slaves, and he certainly seems to suggest that some servants should be treated better. Yet, Ligon also gives high praise to the planters for their business savvy and ability to run very large plantations. Ligon’s account seems to be an attempt at an objective portrayal of life in Barbadoes, something that is of course not fully possible due to his position in the society.
4. What does the source say? Summarize the main points. (3 points, 2 paragraphs) Ligon first discusses the food given to the slaves and servants. He says that slaves received just a bunch of plantains per week, and the servants even less. Ligon makes it a point to mention that servants are