Transcript Founding the New Nation

c. 33,000 B.C.- A.D.1783
FOUNDING THE NEW
NATION
I. PEOPLING THE AMERICAS
I. The Land Bridge theory.
1.
End of Ice Age diminished glaciers over North America.
2.
Land Bridge emerged linking Asia & NA across Bering
Sea.
3.
People walked across the "bridge" before the sea level
rose
4.
The Land Bridge occurred around 35,000 years ago.
II. Many peoples
A.
Groups spread across North, Central, and South
America.
B.
Tribes emerged with an estimated 2,000 languages.
Notably:
1.
Incas: Peru, with elaborate network of roads and
bridges linking their empire.
2.
Mayas: Yucatan Peninsula, with their step pyramids.
3.
Aztecs: Mexico, with step pyramids and huge
sacrifices of conquered peoples.
II. EARLIEST AMERICANS
I.
A.
B.
C.
Development of corn or maize around 5,000 B.C. in Mexico was revolutionary
in that:
Didn't have to be hunter-gatherers, could settle down and be farmers.
Began to establish permanent settlements
1. No large concentration of pop. Like in SA or Mesoamerica
2. Scattered pop. allowed Europeans to defeat Native Americans easier
Corn arrived in the present day U.S. around 1,200 B.C.
II.
Pueblo Indians
A.
1st American corn growers (12,00 B.C.)
B.
C.
They lived in adobe houses and pueblos. Pueblos like apartment complex
often beneath cliffs.
Developed elaborate irrigation systems to draw water away from rivers to
grown corn.
II. EARLIEST AMERICANS
III.
A.
B.
C.
Mound Builders
Built huge ceremonial,
burial mounds- located in
the Ohio Valley.
Established large
settlements after
introduction of corn
Cahokia, near East St.
Louis today, held 40,000
people.
II. EARLIEST AMERICANS
IV.
Eastern Indians
A.
Grew corn, beans, and squash in three sister farming:
1.
Corn grew in a stalk providing a trellis for beans, beans grew up the stalk,
squash's broad leaves kept the sun off the ground, kept the moisture in the
soil.
2.
This group likely had the best (most diverse) diet of all NA Indians and is
typified by the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw (South) and Iroquois (North).
V.
Iroquois Confederation
A.
Hiawatha legendary leader
B.
Closest approximation to Mex., SA nation-states
C.
The Iroquois Confederation- group of 5 tribes in New York state.
D.
Matrilineal- authority and possessions passed down through the female line.
E.
F.
Each tribe kept their independence, met occasionally to discuss matters of
common interest, like war/defense.
Political/ military alliance menaced neighbors for over a century
II. Earliest Americans
VI.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Native Americans had different view of things as
compared to Europeans.
Native Americans-no man owned the land, the tribe did.
(Europeans- private property)
Indians- nature was mixed with many spirits. (EuropeansChristian and monotheistic)
Indians- nature was sacred. (Europeans- nature and land to
be subdued and put to use).
Indians- little or no concept or interest in money. (Europeansloved money or gold)
III. Indirect Discoverers of the New World
I.
1.
2.
II.
1.
2.
The 1st Europeans to come to America
were the Norse (Vikings from Norway).
1000 AD, the Vikings landed in
Newfoundland (L’Anse aux Meadows)
No strong nation- state to support other
voyages, settlements abandoned
Growing power of nations, governments
wanted contact with world for trade or
conquest
Christian Crusaders fought in Palestine
regain the Holy Land from Muslims.
Mixing of East and West – European desire
for Asian spices, goods
IV. Europeans Enter Africa
Marco Polo traveled to China stirred European interest.
II.
Desire for spices, East to West (Asia to Europe)
trade flourished-had to be overland, initiated new exploration down around
Africa in hopes of an easier (all water) route.
III.
Portuguese wanted a better way to get to the Spice Islands, eventually
rounding Africa's southern Cape of Good Hope.
IV.
New developments: Caravel, compass, astrolabe- allowed sea travel to be
safer more reliable
V.
Opened sub- Saharan Africa to European exploration, exploitation
VI. Slave trade begins
1.
1st slave trade across Sahara Desert.
2.
Later, along West African coast. Slave traders purposely busted up tribes,
families in order prevent resistance.
3.
Slaves wound up on sugar plantations the Portuguese had set up on the
tropical islands off Africa's coast.
4.
Spain watched Portugal's success with exploration and slaving and wanted a
piece of the pie.
I.
V. Columbus Comes upon a New World
I.
II.
III.
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Convinced King and Queen of Spain to finance
expedition to bypass Africa route to Asia
1492 “discovers” America
Voyage eventually leads to beginnings of
interdependent global system
Europe would provide the market, capital, technology.
Africa would provide the labor.
The New World would provide the raw materials (gold,
soil, lumber).
V. Columbus Comes upon a New
World
I. Causes biological flip-flop of Old and New Worlds.

traded plants, foods, animals, germs
II. Columbian Exchange:
 From the New World (America) to the Old
 corn, potatoes, tobacco, beans, peppers, manioc, pumpkin, squash, tomato,
wild rice, etc. also, syphilis
 From the Old World to the New
 cows, pigs, horses, wheat, sugar cane, apples, cabbage, citrus, carrots,
Kentucky bluegrass, etc.
 devastating diseases (smallpox, yellow fever, malaria), as Indians had no
immunities.
 The Indians had no immunities in their systems built up over generations.
 An estimated 90% of all pre-Columbus Indians died, mostly due to disease.
VII. The Spanish Conquistadores
I.
II.
III.
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Spain secured claim to Americas from Treaty of Tordesillas
(1494)
1500’s dominant explorers/ colonizers of Americas
Conquistadores explored and conquered much of N and S
America
Vasco Balboa: "discovered“ the Pacific Ocean across isthmus of
Panama
Ferdinand Magellan: circumnavigates the globe (1st to do so)
Ponce de Leon: touches and names Florida looking for
legendary Fountain of Youth
Hernando Cortes: enters Florida, travels up into present day
Southeastern U.S., dies and is "buried“ in Mississippi River
Francisco Pizarro: conquers Incan Empire of Peru
and begins shipping tons of gold/silver back to Spain. This
huge influx
of precious metals made European prices skyrocket (inflation).
Francisco Coronado: ventured into current Southwest U.S.
looking for legendary El Dorado, city of gold. He found the
Pueblo Indians.
VII. The Spanish Conquistadores
I. Flood of silver from SA, Mexico caused inflation in Europe
A. Led to rise of capitalism and commercial banking, paid for
international trade
II. Encomienda system established
A. Indians "commended“ or given to Spanish landlords
B. The idea was that Indians would work and be
converted to Christianity, but it was basically just slavery on
a sugar plantation guised as missionary work.
VIII. The Conquest of Mexico
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Hernando Cortez conquered the Aztecs at Tenochtitlan.
Cortez went from Cuba to present day Vera Cruz, then
marched over mountains to the Aztec capital.
Montezuma, Aztec king, thought Cortez might be the
god Quetzalcoatl who was due to re-appear
Montezuma welcomed Cortez into Tenochtitlan.
The Spanish lust for gold led Montezuma to attack on the
noche triste, sad night. Cortez and men fought their way out,
but it was
smallpox that eventually beat the Indians.
The Spanish then destroyed Tenochtitlan, building the
Spanish capital (Mexico City) exactly on top of the Aztec
city.
A new race of people emerged, mestizos, a mix of Spanish
and Indian blood.
IX. The Spread of Spanish America
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Spain’s empire grew quickly
Threats from other European powersEnglish, French
Spanish set up forts (presidios) to
protect borders- from Florida to
California
Rebellions in New Mexico against
Spanish (Pope’s Rebellion 1680)
Black Legend: The Black Legend was
the notion that Spaniards only brought
bad things (murder, disease, slavery);
though true, they also brought good
things such as law systems,
architecture, Christianity, language,
civilization, so that the Black Legend is
partly, but not entirely, accurate.
PLANTING OF THE
ENGLISH IN AMERICA
1500-1733
II. ELIZABETH ENERGIZES ENGLAND
Within 100 years of Columbus landing Americas radically transformed

1600 most of North America unclaimed, unexplored

In the 1500s, Britain failed to effectively colonize due to internal
conflicts.

1530’s King Henry VIII broke with the Roman Catholic Church
launched the English Protestant Reformation.

Elizabeth I became queen, Britain became basically Protestant,
rivalry with Catholic Spain intensified.

Ireland, Catholics sought Spain’s help in revolting against England,
English crushed the uprising with brutal atrocity, developed contempt
for natives.

Late 1500’s English attack Spanish ships for gold (Sir Francis
Drake)
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First English attempts at colonization (Newfoundland 1583,
Roanoke 1585) failed

1588 English defeat Spanish Armada

Allows English to cross North Atlantic

Victory gives English reason for exploration/settlement
A.
Strong government/popular monarch, more religious unity, a sense
of nationalism
B.
Beginning of British dominance at sea (which lasts until U.S. tops
them, around 1900)
III. England on the Eve of the Empire

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
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Reasons for English colonization of the Americas
1500’s growing population
New enclosure laws – less land for poor
Wool industry collapsed
Population became mobile (looking for jobs)
Tradition of primogeniture = 1st born son inherits
ALL father’s land. Younger sons tried their luck with fortunes elsewhere, like America.
Early1600s, joint-stock company perfected (investors put money into the company
with hopes for a good return), provided financing for colonization
Joint-stock companies usually did not exist long, stockholders invested to make a
profit, then quickly sell for profit a few years later
Charter gave settlers same rights as Englishmen
Joint Stock Company (Virginia Company) given charter by King James I to settle in
New World
IV. England Plants the Jamestown
Seedling
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On May 24, 1607, about 100
English settlers disembarked
from their ship and founded
Jamestown.
Problems included:
(a) the swampy site of
Jamestown, poor drinking water,
mosquitoes caused malaria and
yellow fever.
(b) men wasted time looking for
gold rather than doing useful
tasks (digging wells, building
shelter, planting crops),
(c) zero women on the initial ship.
IV. England Plants the Jamestown Seedling
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1608 Captain John Smith took over control and whipped the colonists into
shape, gave order and discipline, highlighted by his “no work, no food” policy.
Colonists had to eat cats, dogs, rats, even other people. One fellow wrote of
eating “powdered wife.”
1610 a relief party headed by Lord De La Warr arrived to alleviate the
suffering.
1625 out of an original overall total of 8,000 would-be settlers, only 1,200
had survived.
V. Culture Clash in the New World
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At first English seen potential allies, relations grew worse when English began to
raid Indian food supplies
De La Warr began “total war” against Indians
Early 1600’s clashes decimated Indians pushed them westward, removed them
from ancestral lands
European colonization disrupted way of life
Disease took out population
Trade intensified competition among tribes
Tribes along Atlantic seaboard felt effects the most
When colonists could grow their own food they had little use for Indians,
Europeans wanted their land
VII. Virginia Child of Tobacco
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Tobacco savior of Virginia Colony
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cash crop- Jamestown had found its
gold.
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Tobacco created a greed for landheavily depleted the soil and
ruined the land.
Representative self-government in
Virginia, when in 1619, settlers created
the House of Burgesses, a committee to
work out local issues. This set America
on a pathway to self-rule
1619 first Africans sold as slaves
VIII. Maryland: Catholic Haven
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
A.
B.
C.
1634 founded by Lord Baltimore as Catholic
refuge (from Protestant English)
Second plantation colony
Huge estates given to Catholic families, poorer,
Protestants settled there also, created friction
between two groups
Tobacco main crop, labor source was indentured
servants (slaves came in late 1600’s)
Religious toleration
Permitted freedom of worship to all Christians
1649- Act of Toleration, guaranteed religious
toleration to all Christians, but decreed the death
penalty to Jews, atheists, others who didn’t believe
in the divinity of Jesus
More Catholics in Maryland than any English
speaking colony in the New World
IX. The West Indies Way Station to
Mainland America
I.
II.
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III.
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IV.
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V.
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Decline of Spanish power led British to secure Caribbean Islands
Sugar main crop
Labor intensive, capital intensive
Needed to be wealthy to start plantation
Caused large numbers of slaves to be imported
Slave Codes established
1700 slaves outnumber settlers 4:1
defined the legal status of slaves and the rights of the masters. They were typically
strict and exacted severe punishments for offenders.
Sugar plantation system caused islands to depend on American colonies for food,
basic supplies
Smaller farmers left islands and settled in southern colonies
1670 group arrives in Carolina, brings slaves from Barbados
Slave codes adopted in Carolina 1696
Slave codes became model for statutes governing slavery across colonies
X. Colonizing the Carolinas
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Developed close economic ties with “sugar
islands”
Many immigrated from region , brought
slave trade with them
Traded Indian slaves throughout colonies
Rice major export crop
African slaves had knowledge to grow rice
Slaves had natural immunity to malaria
Ideal laborers for rice plantations
By 1710 majority of people in Carolinas
were African slaves
Charles Town major seaport
Diverse tolerant community
Attracted French Protestant refugees
Caused friction with Spain
XI. Emergence of North Carolina
Wild northern expanse of Carolina
 Outcasts and religious dissenters
 Raised tobacco and other crops on small
farms, little need for slaves
 Distinctive traits: irreligious, hospitable to
pirates, spirit of resistance to authority, ,
democratic, independent minded, least
aristocratic of 13 colonies
 1712 separated from S.C.
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XI. Late Coming Georgia: The Buffer Colony
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1733-Last colony to be “planted”
Savannah major port
Established as buffer between
English, Spanish
Only colony to receive money from
English government
Founded by prison reform group,
major leader James Oglethorpe
Debtors from England sent there
Diverse communities
Religious toleration for all except
Catholics
Least populous colony
Restrictive slavery laws
Plantation Colonies
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Agriculture export based
economies
Slavery in all colonies
Small group owned most of
the land
Rural population made it hard
to establish towns, schools and
churches
Religiously tolerant
Agriculture spurred expansion
and confrontation with Native
Americans
SETTLING THE NORTHERN
COLONIES
1619-1700
Overview
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Established different patterns of settlement than
plantation/southern colonies
Different economies than plantation/southern
colonies
Different set of values than plantation/southern
colonies
Distinctive regional characteristics began to develop
during this time
I. Protestant Reformation Produces Puritanism
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Social unrest and rise of Calvinism
led to attraction to Puritanism
Many from economically
depressed areas, Puritanism
provided comfort
King James I harassed Puritan
separatists, went to Holland
II. Puritans End their Pilgrimage at
Plymouth
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Looked for haven where they could
be free to worship and live
1620- Negotiated with Virginia
Company, missed destination landed
in New England
Leader Myles Standish
Signed Mayflower Compact- set up
crude government, submit to the will
of the majority, first step toward self
government
Male settlers met in open discussion
town meetings
II. Puritans End their Pilgrimage at Plymouth
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First winter took heavy toll (44 of
102 survived), nobody left colony
Next year bountiful harvests,
Pilgrims saw some sign of success
Found economic success in fish, fur,
lumber
William Bradford early leader
Colony never important politically
or economically
Significant for moral and spiritual
qualities, established pattern in
New England
1691- Merged with Massachusetts
Bay Colony
III. Bay Colony Bible Commonwealth
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Separatist Puritans wanted “purified” form of Christianity, not welcome
in England, still members of Church of England
1629 more moderate group secured royal charter, formed Mass. Bay
Company
Used charter as a form of constitution, had advantage of being out of
the reach of royal authority
Well equipped group settles 1630, larger scale than previous
settlements
Continuing turmoil in England (Great Migration), more people left
(70,000) only about 20,000 came Mass. Many others went to
Caribbean
John Winthrop gov. of Bay colony for 19 years (came because “called
by God”)
Important industries fishing, shipbuilding
Became biggest, most influential colony in New England
III. Bay Colony Bible Commonwealth
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Benefitted from shared sense of purpose, idea of “covenant” with God
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“We shall be a city upon a hill”
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Believed they had a covenant with God, society a model to humanity
IV. Building the Bay Colony
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Common convictions shaped life
All free adult males, that were members of Puritan Congregations
(Congregational Church) had right to vote, participate in political life
Three-fifths of adult males enjoyed privileges
Town governments were more inclusive, all male property holders could
participate, all business decided by majority vote
Was not a democracy
All people paid taxes
“Freemen” voted for governor and representative assembly (General Court)
Religious leaders had enormous influence, govt. duty to enforce religious rules
Congregations had right to hire, fire ministers
Clergy could not hold political office
Limited endorsement of separation of church and state
Protestant ethic emerges- serious commitment to work, worldly pursuits
For Puritans hellfire was very real
V. Trouble in the Bible Commonwealth
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Challenge to Puritan orthodoxy from Anne
Hutchinson, holy life no sure way to salvation, why
bother with following God’s laws (antinomianism)
1638- Banished from colony
Roger Williams radical separatist, wanted clean break
from English church
Challenged legality of Bay Colony charter, taking land
from Indians
Did not want civil government to regulate religion
1635- Banished from colony
Williams established religious tolerance in Rhode Island
Most liberal of all colonies
Opposed special privilege, provided freedom of
opportunity
Settlements consisted of exiles and malcontents from
Bay Colony
Strongly Independent colony
VII. New England Spreads Out
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1635 Connecticut River Valley settled,
largest area of fertile land in New
England
1639 Fundamental Orders of Connecticutlike a modern constitution, democratic
regime controlled by “substantial” citizens
Established unified government in CT
First written constitution ion America
1662- More religious colony, New Haven
merged with Connecticut colony
1677 Maine- absorbed by Mass.
1679 New Hampshire became a royal
colony
New England colonies began westward
expansion during this period
VIII. Puritans vs. Indians
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Spread of English led to conflict with
Indians
Epidemics left them with no position to
resist English
1637 Pequot War – English destroy
Pequot (in CT) led to forty years of
uneasy peace
English tried to convert natives, put
them in praying towns (early
reservations?)
Only hope for resistance was in unity
1675 King Phillip (Metacom) led
series of attacks on English
1676 King Phillips War ended, slowed
westward advance of English
settlement, ended Indian resistance in
New England
IX. Seeds of Colonial Unity and Independence
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1643 New England Confederation (two Mass. And two CT colonies)
Purpose: defense, intercolonial problems
England did not provide support b/c of Civil Wars, let colonies
become semiautonomous (salutary neglect)
Each colony had two votes
Exclusive Puritan club
Milestone toward colonial unity
1660 Royalists restored (Stuart Restoration) in England, Charles II
takes more active role
1662-Gives Connecticut a sea to sea grant, legitimized squatter
settlements
1663 Rhode Island receives new charter
1684 Bay colony charter revoked
X. Andros Promotes First American Revolution
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1686 Dominion of New England established
Created by royal authority, controlled from
London
Promoted English Navigation Laws, control trade
within English colonies to benefit England,
despised by colonists
Colonies existed to benefit mother country
Policy known as mercantilism, basically political
control of the economy by the state
1651-1696 British pass series of Navigation Acts
that spell out goods to be sold, and put the
British government in charge of trade
Unintended consequence smuggling became
popular
Sir Edmund Andros head of Dominion
Restrictions on courts, press, mail, town meetings,
schools; revoked land titles
Tax colonies without consent, enforced Navigation
Laws
X. Andros Promotes First American Revolution
Glorious Revolution ended Dominion
 1691 Mass. Made a royal colony
 Royal gov. appointed
 ALL qualified males could vote
 1681-1691 colonists resist royal authority
 Monarchs relax control of colonial trade, begin
period of salutary neglect again
 Residue: more English officials in America,
prevented rise of local leaders, resentment
toward England
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XI. Old Netherlanders at New Netherland
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17th century Dutch emerged as major
commercial, naval power
Challenged England
Leading colonial power
1609 Henry Hudson filed Dutch claim to
New York area
1623-1624 New Netherland planted
(Dutch West India Company)
New Amsterdam established for fur
trade, quick profit for stockholders, not
democratic
cosmopolitan population, landed
aristocracy
Land granted for people who would
settle 50 people on them (patroons)
XII. Friction With English and Swedish Neighbors
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Dutch directors incompetent
Shareholders wanted profit
Indians attacked New Amsterdam (Dutch erected wall for defense, later became
Wall Street)
New England hostile to growth, wanted to attack Dutch, stopped by Mass. veto
Sweden planted colonies on Delaware R.
Dutch attacked Swedes, absorbed into Dutch colony
XII. Dutch Residues in New York
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Regarded by English as
intruders, attacked by English
navy and surrendered
Became New York
English had strategic harbor in
middle of colonies
Autocratic (self- governance)
spirit remained, also influences
of architecture and place
names
XIII. Penn’s Holy Experiment in Pennsylvania
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Quakers, began in England 1600’s
“quaked” with religious conviction
Refused to support Church of England with
taxes, serve in military
William Penn establishes an asylum in New
World
1681 receives land grant from crown
Best advertised of colonies
Welcomed all types of settlers
Wanted forward looking settlers,
liberal land policy
Attracted many immigrants
XIV. Quaker Pennsylvania and Its Neighbors
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Many settlers already there- along banks of Delaware
River
Philadelphia was well planned city
Tolerant of Indians
Many came from other regions, non-Quaker settlers
undermined this treatment
XIV. Quaker Pennsylvania and Its Neighbors
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Government liberal
Representative assembly elected by
landowners
Freedom of worship for all
Death penalty only for treason and murder
No plans for military defense
Dislike of slavery (important by early 1800’s)
Liberal policies attracted rich mix of ethnic
groups
Quakers good businessmen
Exporters of grain, other foodstuffs
New Jersey started out as small Quaker
settlements
1702 New Jersey made a royal colony
Delaware had own assembly, under control of
Pennsylvania until Revolutionary War
Philadelphia & Boston Compared
XV. The Middle Way in the Middle Colonies
Middle colonies had fertile soil, known as
“bread colonies”
 Rivers- ease of travel, brought people to
backcountry
 Landholdings were intermediate in size
 Ethnically diverse, religious toleration
 Economic, social democracy found in middle
colonies
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America 1720
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Population growing
Permanent settlements
established
Transportation,
communication improving
British kept hands off
policy
Colonists developed own
churches, governments,
networks of trade
AMERICAN LIFE IN THE 17TH
CENTURY
1607-1692
I. Unhealthy Chesapeake
Disease took toll on population
 Caused region to grow slowly
 Men outnumbered women 6:1
 Hard to form families
 Eventually resistance to disease, presence
of more women allowed region’s
population to grow
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II. Tobacco Economy
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Chesapeake good for growing
tobacco
exhausted soil, constant movement
looking for more fertile land
production depressed worldwide
prices
Needed labor- Indians died too
quickly, African slaves too expensive
England had surplus of laborers,
turned to indentured servitude
By 1700 more than 100,000
indentured servants came to the
region
Eventually prime land became
scarce, land owners did not want to
give up land
Freed workers had to hire out for
low wages
II. Tobacco Economy
Headright System:
 Each Virginian got 50 acres for each person whose
passage they paid.
Indenture Contract:
 5-7 years.
 Promised “freedom dues” [land, money]
 Forbidden to marry.
 1610-1614: only 1 in 10 outlived their indentured
contracts
III. Frustrated Freeman and Bacon’s Rebellion
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Landless, penniless freemen
Single, young
No women, money
Only land in backcountry
VA Gov. Berkeley- friendly
policies toward Indians,
monopoly on fur trade
Did not retaliate after Indian
attack
1676 Nathaniel Bacon and
followers, attacked Indians ,
chased gov. from Jamestown and
burned town
Bacon dies from disease,
Berkeley captures and hangs 20
rebels
Results of Bacon’s Rebellion
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Exposed resentments between inland frontiersmen/landless former
servants against gentry on coastal plantations.
 Socio-economic class differences/clashes between rural/urban
communities would continue throughout American history.
Upper class planters searched for laborers less likely to rebelblack slaves
IV. Colonial Slavery
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Majority of African slaves arrive after 1700
Wages rise in England, shrink pool of laborers
Mid-1680’s black slaves outnumber whites in plantation colonies
Most from west Africa, high death rate on slave ships
Newport, R.I. and Charlestown, S.C. large slave markets
South, British and New England merchants all benefitted from trade
IV. Colonial Slavery

o
Some early slaves gained
freedom, as numbers increased
white colonists reacted to
perceived threat
1662 first slave codes in VA
(blacks and children property,
could not learn to read, write)
 Slavery transformed from
economic to economic and
racial institution.
 Early 1600s  differences
between slave and servant
were unclear
100000
80000
60000
White
40000
Black
20000
0
1607
1630
1650
1670
1690
V. Africans in America
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Deep south slave life severe
Rural plantations conditions poor, needed to
import more slaves for labor
Different in Virginia, tobacco farming easier,
plantations closer together
Families grew faster, population grew through
natural increase
Stable, distinctive culture
SC- Gullah language
Religious traditions
Cleared land for development
1712 slave revolt NY
1739 Stono River rebellion SC
Slaves more reliable labor source than
indentured servants
VI. Southern Society
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Social hierarchy develops by late
1600’s
Plantation owners (“first families of
Virginia)
Small farmers largest group
Landless whites, many former
indentured servants
Oppressed black slaves
Few cities, urban professional class
slow to emerge
Life revolved around plantation
Transportation by rivers, poor roads
VII. The New England Family
Climate healthier than
south
 Migrated to region as
families, population
grew by natural
increase
 Family stability,
intergenerational
continuity (concept of
grandparents)

Women New England and the
South
•
•
New England
Authoritarian male
father figures controlled
each household.
Recognition of property
rights undermine
marriage
Laws established to
defend integrity of
marriage
•
•
South
Fragility of family gave
women economic
independence
Women could own, inherit
property
VIII. Life in New England Towns
Tight knit society based on communities
 Surrounded by other colonial powers, Puritan
unity of purpose
 Society grew in orderly fashion, distribution of
land by town fathers
 Towns of more than 50 had to provide
elementary education in Mass.
 Democracy in church govt, political govt.

Land Division in
Sudbury, MA: 1639-1656
XI. Half-Way Covenant and the Salem Witch Trails
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Factors: growing population, migration from
towns, less religious zeal, decline of
conversions
1662 – Half Way Covenant, weakened
distinction from “elect” and others
Results: wider religious participation, more
women as church members
1692 – Salem, MA women accused of
bewitching others, 20 put to death
Resulted from social prejudices- Puritan ideas
vs. Rising Yankee commercialism (many accused
from prosperous part of town), mistrust of
outsiders (Quakers, Baptists accused by Puritan
settlers)), cultural mistrust of women (most
accused were old women)
XII. New England Way of Life
Lack of good farmland led to frugality of
settlers
 Region less ethnically mixed
 Diversified industry, experts in ship building
and commerce
 Slavery not profitable
 Saw duty to “improve” land, clearing, planting,
building
 Religion, soil, climate led to purposefulness,
self- reliance, resourcefulness

COLONIAL SOCIETY ON
THE EVE OF REVOLUTION
1700-1775
I. Conquest by the Cradle
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1775- British had 32 colonies in
NA
13 original colonies not the
wealthiest
Average age 16
Most population east of
Alleghenies, Appalachian Mts.
By 1775 some had moved west
90% lived in rural areas
Shifted balance of power
between colonies and British
II. Mingling of the Races
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Mostly English
Germans- 6% mostly Protestant, settled mainly in
Pennsylvania

Scots- Irish- 7%, most important non-English group

Became squatters, quarreled with Indians, white landowners

1720’s first moved into backcountry in NC, VA, MD, PA

Were squatters on land
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Tradition of violence, individualistic

1764- Paxton Boys protest Quaker treatment of Indians
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Late 1760’s Regulator Movement in NC, insurrection against
eastern dominance of colonies affairs
5% other groups- French Huguenots,, Welsh, Dutch, Swedes,
Jews, Irish, Swiss, Scots-Highlanders
African slave trade contributed to population diversity
Laid foundations for multi-cultural American national identity
III. Structure of Colonial Society
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America land of opportunity
No titled nobility
Social structure very fluid
By mid 1700’s- class differences emerge small
group of aristocrats had most power
Wars in 1700’s enriched a few merchants, made
orphans and widows (mostly in NE)
III. Structure of Colonial Society
Southern Social Pyramid
 Plantation owners at top
(planters) had many slaves
 Small farmers, owned
land, few slaves
 Landless whites, some
indentured servants
 Black slaves at the bottom
IV. Clerks, Physicians, Jurists
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Ministry most well respected
profession
Physicians poorly trained, medical
knowledge was limited and crude
Epidemics, plague feared by
people
Lawyers not respected at first,
criminals represented themselves
in court
By 1750 lawyers seen as useful,
played an important role in
American history
V. Workaday America
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Agriculture leading industry
Chesapeake staple crop tobacco
Middle colonies- grain
Fishing major industry in NE
Yankee seamen good sailors,
international commerce
Triangular trade- goods from
American colonies, travel to
Africa (or Europe) traded for
slaves, then to West Indies
traded for sugar, sold to
Americas, huge profits made on
each leg of trip
V. Workaday America
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Manufacturing not as important
Some small industry- rum, iron making, spinning weaving (by women)
Lumber most important mfg. activity (for shipbuilding)
British navy depended on American colonies to supply them
Americans demand more British products (b/c fast growing pop.)
British could not buy enough American goods
Colonists seek foreign markets
Trade imbalance between colonies, British
1733- Parliament passes Molasses Act to stop American trade with
French West Indies
American merchants bribe and smuggle their way around law,
creates resentment toward British government
VI. Transportation and Religion
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Roads dangerous, poor in 1700’s, only connected large cities
Towns clustered around water sources
Taverns, bars along roads places of gossip, news
Mail system set up by mid-1700’s, unreliable, postmen not
trustworthy
Two established (tax supported) churches by 1775 Anglican,
Congregational
Anglican- NY,NC,SC,GA,VA,MD
Closely connected with monarchy in England
Congregational- NE except in RI.
Many ministers dealt with political issues, early rumblings of
revolution from Cong. ministers
VIII. Great Awakening

Religion lost steam in 1700’s , New ideas challenged old ways (predestination), new
ideas of free will

1730’s and 1740’s -Great Awakening

Started in Mass.- Jonathan Edwards
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Deeply emotional sermons, well reasoned, Message of human helplessness, divine
omnipotence
Most famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
George Whitfield- emotional sermons, style of shaking, heaping blame on sinners
imitated by others

Orthodox clergy “old lights” skeptical of emotionalism

“New Light” ministers defended role in revitalizing religion

Split congregations, increased number and competitiveness of religions

Direct spirituality undermined older clergy

“New Light” universities Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth

First mass movement of American people
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Contributed to sense that Americans were common people united by shared experience
IX. Schools and Colleges
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Education more important in New England
Towns established primary, secondary schools,
had to be able to read Bible
High number of college graduates
South- rural population, could not effectively
establish schools
Education done on plantations by private tutors,
wealthy sent children abroad for higher education
College Education- originally to prepare people
for ministry
New England est. first colleges (Harvard first
1636)
By 1750’s move toward other subjects
First nondenominational college University of
Pennsylvania est. by Ben Franklin
X. Pioneer Presses
Many small newspapers, pamphlets, journals around colonies
 Powerful agents for airing colonial grievances, rallying
opposition
Peter Zenger Case 1734-1735
 New York printer
 Accused of seditious libel for writing about royal governor
 Case not about if statements were true or not, but fact that
they were printed

Found not guilty, allowed for freedom of the press, open
public discussion, eventually led to freedom to print responsible
criticisms
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XI. The Great Game of Politics
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Variety of governments in 13 colonies
By 1775 8 had royal governors appointed by king, 3 run by proprietors
and chose own governors, 2 had self governing charters
All had two house legislatures (upper house-appointed, lower houseelected)
Had to own property to be a voter
Self taxation through representation cherished privilege
Some governors corrupt
Most had trouble with colonial legislatures, saw gov. as British mouthpiece
Colonial legislatures held money from royal authorities
South- local government on county level (run by planters)
New England –town meeting, direct democracy
Almost half of all males “disenfranchised”
Property requirements to vote, ease of acquiring land made this attainable
XI. American Colonies in 1775
By 1775 America more democratic than
Europe
 Basically English in language and custom
 Protestant religion
 Democratic ideas of tolerance,
educational advantages, equality of
economic opportunity, freedom of speech,
assembly and representative government
emerged in this period
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