What did you learn from today’s activity?

I learned about how closely communities were knit in BNA in 1815. Everyone relied on each other for their needs in both work and their daily lives. The community was very important because it helped all those involved to survive and be successful in business.

Compare and contrast social life and the role of community in 1815 and today.

Community now is important but not quite as widely important as it was in 1815. Nowadays, communities may be small neighbourhoods or just people who all live in close proximity. Community is 1815 was absolutely essential. People needed everyone else in the community doing exactly what they were doing or it could’ve collapsed. Nowadays, people who immigrate and join a community are welcomed and are helped. However, some people’s views on immigration are negative, saying that immigrants only create strain and should not be welcomed. This is made clear through the Syrian Refugee crisis, and the fact that it is controversial whether or not we should help people from other countries who are in need. In 1815 BNA, immigrants may have been somewhat disliked because they placed strain on the connections within the community. They also might’ve displaced some people from their homes or jobs because of their credentials and this would’ve caused distrust towards them.