2nd Practice DBQ

What do primary sources during and after the plague suggest about the direct effect of the Black Death on European society?

           The Black Death was a major historical event that took a toll on the economic, political, social, and religious standings of Europe. The economy of countries, like England, was greatly affected by the plague. Labor forces around Europe began to shrink because people were so concerned with avoiding the sickness that there wasn’t much ruling going on. This allowed for peasants to break out of their barriers and refuse to work without getting the pay or housing they wanted. According to a document written in 1349, the King of England attempted to force citizens back into working where they belonged. This document is only somewhat reliable because while there are facts, there are also the king’s opinions and views.

            The political and social aspects of Europe were also affected by the Black Death. Based on a document written by Jean Froissart, common villagers in France decided it would be in France’s best interest to destroy all knights and squires living there. The villagers gathered together and went to the castles and homes of knights and squires and murdered them and their families. Still, the villagers didn’t just murder the people. They tortured them by violating their wives and daughters, burning knights and squires, forcing families to eat their fathers or husbands, and murdering the people in gruesome ways. This rise of villagers against knights and squires was due to the fact that the Black Death was causing a lack of law and ruling in European countries. These stories, however, cannot be claimed fact nor fiction on this account because the document that wrote these stories was written ten years after the Black Death occurred.

            The Black Death caused religious division as well. The plague was causing millions of people to die all over Europe, and the Europeans wanted someone to blame. Most people chose to blame the Jews. Different cities began to capture Jews and torture them until they confessed to poisoning water sources of the Christians. Eventually most of the Jews confessed to whatever it was their torturer was suggesting. This information comes from a book written in the 17^th century and is therefore unreliable. Some cities, like Strasbourg, did not want to blame the Jews though. Eventually, however, pressure from the citizens and from other cities got to the leaders of Strasbourg. Strasbourg blamed the Jews and decided to burn them. As stated by the document, the Jews would not have been burned if they weren’t rich. Citizens would not have cared enough to burn the Jews if they were poor. This document is credible because the author lived close to the time when this occurred. He was also an archivist and wrote things based on  what his predecessor said. 

English vs. Scottish DBQ

What do the following primary sources tell us about English views of the Scots and the Scots' views of themselves? Please write a DBQ.

The late thirteenth century and early fourteenth century was filled with hatred and malice between the English and the Scots. This disgust was mainly caused by opposing views and separate leaders.

 The King of England gained control over Scottish territories, therefore, causing rebellion from the Scots. The English viewed any who tried to overthrow them, such as William Wallace or Robert the Bruce, as treacherous, dangerous, and worthy of painful death.

William Wallace, a Scottish rebel, took lead among the Scots and helped them to fight the English. In the eyes of the Scots, Wallace was a hero to be remembered for centuries to come. However, to the English he was an outcast who was trying to win a hopeless battle.

But England was challenged by yet another Scot, Robert the Bruce. The Bruce took over where Wallace had left off. The English viewed any Scot who assisted the Bruce as filthy scum. Despite this, Scotts from this time period were considered noble men and still are today.

England: Questions and Answers on Monarchy in the Later Middle Ages

What does the reign of Henry II suggest about the future of English foreign relations?

            The reign of Henry II suggests that the future of English foreign relations would be forced relations. Henry II conquered lands and immediately created vassal/lord type relationships to achieve what he wanted. Meaning that, Henry wanted allegiances swore to him as lord in exchange for control of the land. In doing this, Henry severely damaged later chances of the territories he overtook ever wanting to establish associations. Future kings of England were unlikely to overcome the problems Henry established.

Does the common conception of Richard as 'good' and John as 'bad' hold up to reality?

            When looking from a modern viewpoint, the common conception of Richard as ‘good’ and John as ‘bad’ does not hold up to reality. In many senses, Richard and John both made harsh demands and both had the ability to fight.  However, from the viewpoint in Richard and John’s time, it was the traits that made the difference. Richard was a man with talent and skill who was willing to risk everything in battle even if the odds weren’t in his favor. This gave Richard the opportunity to look like the brave and noble brother. John on the other hand lacked flair and was very calculating. If something was not in John’s odd he was not going to risk what he had. This cast John as the cowardly brother. If thinking through the mind of a historian, the common conception of Richard as ‘good’ and John as ‘bad’ does hold up to reality.

How did the Magna Carta change the relationship of the Monarch and his subjects?

            The Magna Carta caused the Monarch to be subjected to the law of Britain for the first time in the country’s history. The king now had to follow the same laws as the common people. Chapters of the Magna Carta were also designated to set up certain provisions for the king such limiting scutages and relief payments. The Magna Carta also helped to secure people’s rights and the Church’s rights. The king also received twenty five appointed officials to ensure his collaboration.

The Histories of Herbert and Sylvia Hartman

Herodotus’ Style of Writing

1.      It is said that the joining of Sylvia Washel (now Sylvia Hartman) and Herbert Hartman in marriage occurred after many years of being acquaintances and later in a relationship. According to Sylvia Hartman, who dwells in Nottingham, she met the latter while working at a store on the street of her residence. I soon discovered she was fourteen at the time that she first saw Herbert. Sylvia claimed Herbert was always hanging out on the corner near her work and home. Being only fourteen at the time, she said she didn’t pay much attention to him.

2.      It came to pass that I also spoke to Herbert Hartman, who resides in Nottingham, who gave his account of the couple’s first meeting. Herbert said that the store where she worked was a variety store and many young people chose to hang out there. I was also told that they did not really strike up a friendship but they were acquaintances. When prompted, Sylvia said that she asked him out on their first date but she could not remember where they went. At the time, she was sixteen and he was twenty. Herbert, however, remembered that their first date was to a play at her school, Seton High School.

3.      As said by Sylvia, the relationship took off from there. Herbert stated that most of their dates from that point on were to the cinema, out to eat, or just hanging out at one of their houses. Two years after they began dating, Herbert decided it was time to propose. During that time period it was customary for the man to ask the woman’s father for her hand in marriage. Herbert said he went and asked her father, Andrew Washel from Baltimore, for her hand and Andrew accepted. Soon thereafter, Herby proposed. Sylvia thinks they were at her house after a date when he asked her to marry him. Sylvia said she was overjoyed and of course she accepted.

4.      The relationship, nonetheless, took a turn for the worst a year later according to Herbert. As reported by Sylvia, Herbert was drafted to the service to fight in the Korean War. Herbert said he was sent away to fight a year after the beginning of the engagement. Sylvia said that when he went away no engagement plans had been made yet. I found out from Sylvia of Nottingham that another year passed of her love being in the service before she realized she could no longer be in the relationship. Herbert said she wrote him an eighteen page Dear John letter to break off the engagement and explain why. I was also told that she gave the engagement ring back to Herbert’s mother, Katherine Hartman.

5.      As I heard from Herbert Hartman, he remained two total years in the service before returning home. Sylvia said that when Herby came home there was still tension between them so they remained friends. Herbert told me he was still a little angry at Sylvia and so was his mother. Despite this, Sylvia claimed they were dating again within another year. Although I heard other things from Herbert who claimed they began dating again within six months of his return. I determined from my interviews that this time around Herbert was hesitant to propose again until two years later. Sylvia said Herbert proposed again with the same ring and once again she accepted.

6.      As told by Sylvia and Herbert, the wedding took place on February 20, 1954. Herbert said he was twenty-five at the time, and she was twenty-one. Herbert told me his best man was a friend from work; he said his brother was not the best man because there was a six year age difference. Upon asking Sylvia who her maid of honor was she said Barbara from Seton High School. In spite of the first broken engagement Sylvia thinks that none of the parents had any opposition to her and Herby’s marriage.

7.      I learned that the couple’s honeymoon took place in New York and when they returned to Maryland they took up a home in Baltimore. Sylvia Hartman and Hebert Hartman agreed on the fact that they produced three children from their marriage. They both told me that they have been married for fifty-six years. I took the liberty of speaking with their middle child Joanne of Bel Air, who had two children. She said her children are Katherine Clarke and I. 

 Thucydides’ Style of Writing

            Emily Clarke, a Marylander, wrote the history of how Herbert Hartman and Sylvia Washel met. As proven by a certificate of birth, Herbert Nicholas Hartman was born to Martin Hartman and Katherine Sauer of Baltimore on the day of November 1, 1928. Also documented by birth certificate, was the birth of Sylvia Washel born Charlotte Sylvia Washel to Andrew Washel and Catherine Taltus of Baltimore. Her date of birth was September 7, 1932.

            Herbert and Sylvia met while Sylvia was working in Mr. Paul’s variety store on the corner of North Curley Street Baltimore, Maryland. Sylvia also took up residence on North Curley Street. After investigation, Clarke found the house deed of 161 North Curley Street which belonged to Andrew and Catherine Washel verifying Sylvia’s home. Based on a Seton High School play program and a 1951 Seton High School graduation program, it can be ascertained that Herbert and Sylvia went on their first date to a play at Sylvia’s school, Seton High School.

            In the year 1951, Herbert proposed to Sylvia with an engagement ring, asking for her hand in marriage (see Works Cited for picture of engagement ring). On February 6, 1951 Herbert was drafted into military service. Upon looking at the United States Military Draft Form, Herbert was in the military from February 1951 to February 1953. In 1952, Sylvia sent Herbert an 18 page Dear John letter that Herbert has to this day, breaking off their engagement. A year later when Herbert was released from the military service, he returned to Baltimore. By 1954, Herbert and Sylvia had begun dating once again and Herbert re-proposed with the same ring as the first time.
            According to the Certificate of Marriage, Herbert Nicholas Hartman and Sylvia Washel were married on February 20, 1954. Herbert, twenty-five at the time, and Sylvia, twenty-one at the time, were married by Father Edward Eckle, a Catholic priest (see Works Cited for Certificate of Marriage and wedding photo). Confirmed by Clarke through a wedding photo, a friend named Barbara from Seton High School was the maid of honor to Sylvia.

                After the wedding, the couple moved into the address of 26 North Potomac Street. The house deed was archived in records belonging to the city of Baltimore, Maryland. Five years after the marriage took place Sylvia and Herbert had their first child, Michael Andrew Hartman. The Certificate of Birth was found in the records at Lutheran Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Michael was born on June 11, 1959. In 1964, Sylvia and Herbert produced their second child, Joanne. Joanne’s Birth Certificate was discovered in the annals of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Sylvia had Joanne on December 27. The husband and wife had their third and final child Paul, on March 23, 1966. Paul’s Birth Certificate was kept in the records at St. Joseph’s hospital.

            The middle child, Joanne, eventually married Brian Thomas Clarke in 1988 which is consistent with their Certificate of Marriage. Brian and Joanne had two daughters, Katherine Clarke and Emily Clarke. Katherine’s birth records are kept in Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Emily’s birth records are kept in Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

Works Cited

Birth Certificate of Herbert Nicholas Hartman

Birth Certificate of Charlotte Sylvia Washel

Birth Certificate of Michael Andrew Hartman

Birth Certificate of Joanne Louise Hartman

Birth Certificate of Paul David Hartman

Birth Certificate of Katherine Anna Clarke

Birth Certificate of Emily Anne Clarke

House Deed of 161 North Curley Street

House of 26 North Potomac Street

Seton High School Play Program

1951 Seton High School Graduation Program

Engagement Ring

Sylvia’s Wedding Band

Herbert’s Wedding Band

Wedding Photo of Herbert and Sylvia Hartman (February 20, 1954)

Certificate of Marriage of Herbert N. Hartman and Sylvia Washel

Certificate of Marriage of Brian T. Clarke and Joanne L. Hartman

Military Draft Papers of Herbert Hartman

Dear John Letter from Sylvia to Herbert