Colonial Virginia

Colonial Virginia

Discussion & Essay Questions

Available to teachers only as part of the Teaching Colonial VirginiaTeacher Pass

Teaching Colonial Virginia Teacher Pass includes:

  • Assignments & Activities
  • Reading Quizzes
  • Current Events & Pop Culture articles
  • Discussion & Essay Questions
  • Challenges & Opportunities
  • Related Readings in Literature & History

Sample of Discussion & Essay Questions


  1. Big Picture
    • Is it possible to reconcile Virginians' political and racial views—their defense of political self-government and their enslavement of a quarter million people?
      • Were Virginians simply hypocrites?
      • Or is there a way to intellectually reconcile the two positions?
    • How about their dedication to refinement and their violent practices and entertainments?
      • Are these contradictory?
      • Or are they in some way reconcilable?
    • Think about the great Virginia leaders: Washington, Jefferson, Madison
      • Which Virginia do they represent?
      • Do these men reflect Virginia's racism as well as its political progressivism?
        • Its refinement as well as its violence?