Study questions for the Lovett, Chapter 4 (Staples Thesis) Readings

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1 Study questions for the Lovett, Chapter 4 ( Thesis) Readings Sample Objective section questions 1. Large deposits of natural gas have recently been discovered underneath the island of Mindanao in the Republic of the Philippines. Companies are starting to extract this natural gas. However, to get the natural gas to markets (Japan, China, Austrailia, U.S.A., etc), the gas needs to be compressed into liquefied natural gas and placed in pressure vessels. What, in the context of the thesis, is the liquefaction and storage of natural gas an example of? a. a externality 2. Scientists engineer a new variety of palm trees especially suited for the soils of Papua New Guinea. These palm trees are very disease resistant and produce a cooking oil that is incredibly healthy. It has no trans fat, saturated fat, or polyunsaturated fatty acids but is very high in Omega-3 fatty acids. The world wants this oil. Because of the nature of palm tree cultivation, this palm tree is grown by small farmers throughout Papua New Guinea. The result is that many, many Papuans gain income and wealth. Because of the nature of palm tree cultivation, income and wealth is evenly distributed in Papua New Guinea.What, in the context of the thesis, is the prevalence of many with middle incomes an example of? a. a externality 3. Thar s gold in them thar hills! Large gold deposits are discovered in rural and sparsely populated northern Laos. Within a few years of this discovery, several mining town pop up in the area. These towns are relatively large, 50,000 or more citizens each. What, in the context of the thesis, are these new town an example of? a. a externality 4 6. Assume you are Englishman in the year You want to migrate to Jamaica and start a farm in Jamaica producing Jamaica s major export staple. 4. What product will your farm be producing? i.e. What s Jamaica s export staple? 1

2 5. How large does your farm have to be to compete with others producing the same product? To successfully compete, your farm: a. can be very small. One family could run several farms, or run a single farm while pursuing other types of work on the side. b. has to be of a middling, or family, size. One family can handle the farm without any extra labor, but they won t have much time to operate other businesses on the side c. has to be a bit larger than family size. If you get 2 or 3 workers in addition to your family, you will be big enough to have an efficient, competitive, farm. d. has to be much larger than a family can handle with its own labor. You will need dozens of workers, if not more, to be a successful, competitive operator. 6. In a paragraph, explain why your farm or plantation has to be at least the size you answered in # Assume you are Englishman in the year You want to migrate to South Carolina and start a farm in South Carolina producing South Carolina s major export staple. 7. What product will your farm be producing? i.e. What s South Carolina s export staple? 8. How large does your farm have to be to compete with others producing the same product? To successfully compete, your farm: a. can be very small. One family could run several farms, or run a single farm while pursuing other types of work on the side. b. has to be of a middling, or family, size. One family can handle the farm without any extra labor, but they won t have much time to operate other businesses on the side c. has to be a bit larger than family size. If you get 2 or 3 workers in addition to your family, you will be big enough to have an efficient, competitive, farm. d. has to be much larger than a family can handle with its own labor. You will need dozens of workers, if not more, to be a successful, competitive operator Assume you are Englishman in the year You want to migrate to New England a start a business producing New England s early export staple. 9. What product will your business be producing? i.e. What s New England s export staple? 2

3 10. On the map on the facing page, indicate where each of the colonial regions is (hint: see # 11 below). Draw a line around each region and write the name of the region either inside or beside the line. 11. Fill in the chart below with each region s primary export staple or staples. Region Main export staple(s) Hudson Bay Lover Canada Northern Maritimes New England Middle Colonies The Chesapeake The Lower South The British Caribbean 12. Indicate how each region developed according to the staples thesis story taught in our readings and lecture. Use one check per row. Hey! I left out Lower Canada! Oh well. Outcome According to the Thesis Story Region Reversal Trap Success Lacuna Princess defeats evil Queen Hudson Bay Northern Maritimes New England Middle Colonies The Chesapeake The Lower South The British Caribbean Land of Dwarves and Mines 3

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5 Sample Essay questions 1. Describe the development process, for a colony, according to the staples thesis. Illustrate the staples thesis using two of the regions in Britain s American colonies. 5