Billings and Fischer historiography

Question 1

Billings’ critique of Fischer

Answer 1

Sir William Berkeley - Portrait by Fischer: A Critique

Question 2

Fischer’s book that heavily explored Berkeley

Answer 2

Albion’s Seed: Four British Folkways in America

Question 3

Fischer depicts Berkeley as

Answer 3

A proud cavalier destined to rule the colony

Question 4

Fischer suggests Berkeley found favour with the king

Answer 4

Through his brother in 1639 (when both were knighted)

Question 5

Billings challenged Fischer’s view on Berkeley and the king

Answer 5

Suggests his brother did not have any relationship with the king at the time and therefore could not have introduced Berkeley to the king
Unknown who introduced them

Question 6

Fischer suggests when in Virginia, Berkeley had

Answer 6

A disregard for trade

Question 7

Billings challenges Fischer’s view on Berkeley and trade

Answer 7

Suggests he revelled in commerce
One of the reasons why he attempted to diversify the crops
Implied Fischer ignored evidence from the period

Question 8

Billings suggests Fischer clouds the true character of Berkeley

Answer 8

Suggests Fischer implied Berkeley to have had an entirely different character to what the evidence suggested