1. A).

The context of the letter is that it was written in 1756 by Elizabeth Sprigs, an indentured
servant in Maryland, to her father in England. At the time, the treatment of indentured servants
in America was a major concern and issue. Elizabeth Sprigs writes about the brutal treatment
she has received from her master, as well as the harsh conditions of daily life. She describes the
lack of food and clothing, the long hours of hard labor, and the frequent beatings she receives.
The tone of the letter is one of desperation and pleading, as Elizabeth begs her father to send
her some relief in the form of clothing. In the letter, Elizabeth writes, "What we unfortunate
English People suffer here is beyond the probability of you in England to conceive… Scarce any
thing but Indian corn and salt to eat and that even begrudged… Almost naked no shoes nor
stockings to wear… This is the deplorable condition your poor Betty endures, and now I beg if
you have any bowels of compassion left show it by sending me some relief. Clothing is the
principal thing wanting." These quotes illustrate the harsh living conditions and poverty that
Elizabeth and other indentured servants were facing at the time. The brutal treatment from her
master and the lack of basic necessities are a clear indication of the poor treatment that
indentured servants were subjected to. Overall, the context of Elizabeth Sprigs' letter is one of
oppression and desperation, as she writes to her father about the harsh realities of life as an
indentured servant in colonial America.
B). The context of the Maryland Act Concerning Negroes and Other Slaves from 1664 is in the
17th century colonial Maryland, where slavery was growing in importance. The authors aimed to
regulate the treatment of black servants and slaves, declaring that they would serve for life and
that their children would also be slaves. The authors were also concerned with preventing
freeborn English women from marrying slaves, with the law stating "whatsoever freeborn
woman shall marry any slave... shall serve the master of such slave during the life of her
husband." The law aimed to regulate the status of these women and their children, with their
children being declared slaves "till they be thirty year of age and no longer."
2. A). The author of the letter is Elizabeth Sprigs, an indentured servant in Maryland. The audience
she addresses is her father in England. The letter is a personal plea for help, as Elizabeth is
suffering from the brutal treatment and harsh living conditions of being an indentured servant in
colonial America.
Indentured servants were individuals, usually from England, who agreed to work for a certain
number of years in exchange for passage to America. The treatment of indentured servants was
a major issue in colonial America, as many were subjected to brutal conditions and long hours of
hard labor.
The main interest group involved in this issue were the indentured servants themselves, who
were directly affected by the harsh treatment they received. The slave trade was also starting to
become more prominent at this time, and some masters may have been making a transition to
using enslaved Africans as labor instead of indentured servants. However, the interest of the
masters, who benefited from the cheap labor of indentured servants, was also related to this
issue.
In conclusion, Elizabeth Sprigs' letter highlights the struggles and hardships faced by indentured
servants in colonial America, and the desperate need for help and support from those who
could provide it. The author and audience are intimately connected by the bond of family, as
Elizabeth seeks help from her father in England, while the larger debate over the treatment of
indentured servants involved a wider range of individuals and interests.
 The author of the document, Elizabeth Sprigs, is deeply affected by the issues represented in her
letter to her father. As an indentured servant in colonial America, she faces brutal treatment
and harsh living conditions that were common for many in her position. The letter is a testament
to her personal suffering, as she writes about being whipped and having limited food to eat. Her
situation as an indentured servant directly affects her interests, as she is forced to work long
hours and is subjected to abuse. The wider issue of indentured servitude also affects the
interests of many individuals and groups in colonial America, including slave traders, masters
who used indentured servants as a source of cheap labor, and English authorities who regulated
the trade. Overall, the author is significantly impacted by the issues represented in her letter.

B). The authors of the Maryland Act Concerning Negroes and Other Slaves from 1664 are the
"Right Honorable the Lord Propriety by the advice and consent of the upper and lower house of
this present General Assembly." The audience addressed by the law is the colonial society in
Maryland.
The issue of slavery was of concern to slave owners and the government. The interests of slave
owners were to regulate the treatment of their slaves and to prevent freeborn English women
from marrying slaves, which could cause legal disputes. The law aimed to ensure that slave
owners maintained control over their slaves and their children, with the law stating "all Negroes
or other slaves already within the province, and all Negroes and other slaves to be hereafter
imported into the province, shall serve durante vita [for life]."

The interests of the freeborn English women and their children were also affected by the
outcome of the debate, as the law stated that a freeborn woman who married a slave would
have to serve her husband's owner for life, and that their children would be slaves until they
were thirty years old.

Overall, the authors of the law, as representatives of the colonial government, were affected by
the issue of slavery as it was a central aspect of the colonial economy and society. The law
aimed to regulate and control the treatment of slaves in the colony and to ensure the interests
of slave owners were protected.
3. A). The author, Elizabeth Sprigs, argues in her letter that indentured servants in colonial America
faced brutal treatment and harsh living conditions. She takes the position of pleading for help,
specifically clothing, due to her dire situation. Her argument is supported by quotes such as
"scarce anything but Indian corn and salt to eat and that even begrudged" and "almost naked no
shoes nor stockings to wear". The author appeals to her father's compassion and sense of duty,
dispelling arguments that her situation might be acceptable or normal. The author advocates for
better treatment and improved conditions for indentured servants, positioning herself as a
representative of the broader group facing similar conditions.
B). The authors of the Maryland Act Concerning Negroes and Other Slaves took a pro-slavery
position, as evidenced by the law stating "all Negroes or other slaves already within the
province, and all Negroes and other slaves to be hereafter imported into the province, shall
serve durante vita [for life]." The authors argued in support of slavery as a necessary aspect of
the colonial economy and society.
 The law also aimed to prevent freeborn English women from marrying slaves, with the argument
being that such marriages could lead to legal disputes, stating "for deterring such freeborn
women from such shameful matches." The authors sought to maintain the social order and the
strict boundaries between free people and slaves by preventing such marriages.

The arguments presented in support of slavery and the restrictions on marriages between
freeborn women and slaves were based on the economic and social interests of the slave
owners. The authors aimed to protect the interests of slave owners and maintain their control
over their slaves and their children.

The arguments presented in the law did not address the contrary position of those who opposed
slavery, as the law was enacted to reinforce and justify the institution of slavery in the colony.
The law aimed to dispel any arguments against slavery by clearly defining the status of slaves
and the restrictions on their relationships with freeborn individuals.
4. A?B). The two documents detail the treatment of slaves and indentured servants in colonial
Maryland in the 17th and 18th centuries. The "Maryland Act Concerning Negroes and Other
Slaves" of 1664 legally established the enslavement of black individuals in the colony, stating
that "all Negroes or other slaves already within the province, and all Negroes and other slaves to
be hereafter imported into the province, shall serve durante vita [for life]." The letter by
Elizabeth Sprigs highlights the harsh conditions faced by indentured servants, with Sprigs writing
"What we unfortunate English People suffer here is beyond the probability of you in England to
conceive. Let it suffice that I one of the unhappy number, am toiling almost day and night, and
very often in the horse’s drudgery … and then tied up and whipped to that degree that you'd not
serve an animal."
The author likely chose to include these documents to demonstrate the contrast between the
two forms of servitude, with slavery being lifelong and brutal, while indentured servitude was
often characterized by long hours of hard labor, poor treatment, and a lack of basic necessities.

5. A/B). The notion of freedom in the two documents is vastly different. In the first document,
"Maryland Act Concerning Negroes and Other Slaves (1664)," freedom is depicted as a luxury
reserved only for white people. The document enacts laws that make all black servants slaves
for life, with their children also born into slavery. The law also requires a white woman who
marries a slave to serve the slave's owner until the slave's death. "And be it enacted by the Right
Honorable the Lord Propriety by the advice and consent of the upper and lower house of this
present General Assembly, that all Negroes or other slaves already within the province, and all
Negroes and other slaves to be hereafter imported into the province, shall serve durante vita
[for life]. And all children born of any Negro or other slave shall be slaves as their fathers were,
for the term of their lives."
In contrast, in the second document, "Elizabeth Sprigs, Letter to Her Father (1756)," freedom is
depicted as a desperate plea for relief from the brutal conditions of indentured servitude. Sprigs
writes to her father in England complaining of the harsh treatment she and other English
servants endure, "What we unfortunate English People suffer here is beyond the probability of
you in England to conceive. ... Scarce any thing but Indian corn and salt to eat and that even
 begrudged. …Many Negroes are better used. Almost naked no shoes nor stockings to wear, and
the comfort after slaving during Masters pleasure, what rest we can get is to wrap ourselves up
in a blanket and lie upon the ground." Freedom in this document is used to validate Sprigs'
complaint and to beg for help from her father.

6. A). The issue of indentured servitude in colonial America highlights a dark chapter in American
history and continues to impact the country today. The harsh living and working conditions
experienced by indentured servants, as described in Elizabeth Sprigs' letter, echo similar
experiences faced by enslaved individuals in the centuries that followed. The systemic
oppression and exploitation of vulnerable populations, as evidenced in the history of indentured
servitude and slavery, continue to reverberate in current issues such as income inequality and
racial disparities in treatment and opportunities. This letter serves as a reminder of the ongoing
struggle for justice and equality in America.

B). The issue of slavery in America has had a lasting impact on American history, and the
Maryland Act Concerning Negroes and Other Slaves is an early example of legislation that
institutionalized slavery as a legal institution. The law helped establish the framework for a
slave-based economy in the American colonies, which was maintained for centuries to come.

The legacy of slavery continues to reverberate in America today, as its impact can be seen in the
ongoing struggles for racial equality and social justice. The law's restriction on marriages
between freeborn women and slaves reflected the deep-seated racial and social inequalities of
the time, and similar inequalities persist in America today.

The law's focus on the economic interests of slave owners is also reflected in the ongoing
debates surrounding issues such as reparations, wage gaps, and income inequality. The
arguments used to justify slavery in the law continue to influence contemporary discussions on
race and inequality, and the need to address the lasting impacts of slavery remains an important
aspect of the ongoing struggle for racial justice.

Overall, the Maryland Act Concerning Negroes and Other Slaves serves as an important
reminder of the historical roots of slavery in America and the ongoing need to address its lasting
impact on American society.