Transcript Chapter 5
Chapter 5
The Peale Family, by Charles Willson Peale, ca. 1770-73
COLONIAL SOCIETY ON THE EVE
OF REVOLUTION
Conquest by the Cradle
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Populations were growing
dramatically
In 1775, the most populous
colonies were Virginia,
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania,
North Carolina, and Maryland.
Between 1700 and 1775 colonies
doubled their population every 25
years. Reasons:
Change in the ratio of blacks to
white
90% of population lived in
rural areas.
Population Location
Most of population cooped up between Atlantic and
Appalachian,
Vanguard of settlers across mountains and as far as
Tenn. and Kentucky.
Va., Mass., Pa, NC and Maryland were the biggest
colonies, in that order.
Philly the biggest city with 34,000.
A Mingling of the Races
Colonial America was a
melting pot by 1775.
Germans (6%) (150,000)
Scots-Irish (7%)
Other Europeans (5%)
Africans (20%)
Year - 1790
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Scots-Irish
From Scotland to N Ireland
Impoverished, not well educated
Resistant to authority
Anti-English
dominant culture of the
Appalachians
Clerics, Physicians, and Jurists
Most honored of the professions was the
Christian ministry.
Most physicians were poorly trained and
not highly esteemed. The first medical
school came in 1765.
Epidemics were a constant nightmare. A
crude form of inoculation was introduced
in 1721. Powdered dried toad was a
favorite prescription for
smallpox. Diphtheria was also a killer,
especially of young people.
Structure Of Colonial Society
By the mid 1700s, the richest 10% of
Bostonians and Philadelphians owned
2/3 of the taxable wealth in their cities.
By 1750, Boston contained a large
number of homeless poor, who were
compelled to wear a large red “P” on
their clothing.
In all the colonies the ranks of the lower
classes were further swelled by the
continuing stream of indentured
servants.
Compared to Europe, America was a
land of equality and opportunity —
except for slavery.
Most remarkable feature was the ease
with which could go from rags to riches
on the social scale.
Structure Of Colonial Society
By 1776 social
stratification beginning to
set in.
Raised some barriers to
upward mobility and
fears that America
becoming Europeanized.
Reasons?
The Jethro Coffin House, in Nantucket, Massachusetts,
was built in the 1680s and is a good example of colonial
New England architecture. Because glass was quite
expensive in colonial America, houses of this period
almost all had very small windows.
Workaday America
Agriculture was the
leading industry — 90%
of the people
Tobacco the Staple
crop in Maryland and
Virginia
Grain the primary
crop in the Middle
colonies.
Workaday America
Colonist standard of living compared to rest of world.
Major Industry in New England?
Fishing/whaling
Trade
Quintessential Yankee Trader
Nature of Trade
What was being traded to
Europe?
From Europe?
What is the Triangular Trade?
Map 5.3: Colonial Trade Patterns, c. 1770
Colonial Manufacturing
Manufacturing was limited and only
of secondary importance.
Reasons:
1)partly due to lack of money to
invest
2) partly due to lack of laborers
and
3) partly due to mercantilism.
Lumbering
Lumbering was the most important
manufacturing activity.
Why were British so hungry for
American timber?
British Navy and merchant marines
needed wood
1/3 of British merchant marine
(Ships) was American-built.
Rosin, pitch, tar and turpentine were
also highly valued by shippers
Economic Problem in the 1730s
What economic problems faced US in 1730s?
England saturated with American products.
Americans need cash and the only way to get cash is
through sale of American goods.
Thus, Americans want to tap other markets to sell
their goods.
Are shipping a lot of timber and food to the French
West Indies, which is providing cash for Americans
to buy from England.
But………
Molasses Act of 1733
What did it say?
What was the intent of the
act?
How do Colonists react?
Dominant Denominations
Two established (tax
supported) churches
were dominant in the
colonies—
Anglican (Church of
England)
Congregational
(Puritan)
Many colonists did not
attend church.
Anglican Church
Official church in Ga., North
and South Carolina, Va. and
Maryland.
Strongest in the south
Why did Britain want to
increase
its power?
Not very fervent.
Clergy was poorly trained.
Anglicans lacked a bishop in
America, thus all ministers
had to train in England.
Colonists resisted idea of an
American Bishop.
Why?
Congregational Church
Congregational church formally
established in all NE colonies
except RI.
Was a hotbed for rebellion, and as
rebellion neared ministers often
preached sedition from the pulpit.
The Great Awakening
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Causes:
People less fervent.
Puritan churches
struggling. Why?
“Dead dog” ministers.
Ministers worried that
the people had grown
soft.
Liberal ideas began to
challenge old time
religion.
The Great Awakening
A religious revival in 1730-40’s
Spread like wildfire.
Was a reaction against the
rationalism and enlightenment of
the period that put reason above
God.
Reaction against complacency of
religion.
First North American Mass
Movement
Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards
Started Great Awakening.
Deep thinker; burned with righteousness
Views on Salvation.
Famous sermon: Sinners in the Hands of
an Angry God.
George Whitefield
George Whitefield
More eloquent.
Tried to lead people back to God through
the passion of his rhetoric.
Revival meeting.
His message.
Results of the Great Awakening
People split off to new churches
Undermined older clergy
New denominations
Increased missionary work
Founding of new colleges
Broke down sectional boundaries and contributed to
sense of Americans as one people.
Schools and Colleges
English view of education.
New England schools
Middle Colonies
South-Field System
Universities in America
Harvard
Pioneer Presses
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Most people could not buy
books.
Only a few libraries based.
Colonial newspapers.
Newspapers typically
contained dull essays and
commentaries.
Zenger Case
The Great Game of Politics
Originally:
8 were royal colonies.
3 were proprietorships
( Maryland,
Pennsylvania, and
Delaware)
2 had self-governing
charters (Connecticut
and Rhode Island.)
By time of Revolution,
most were royal.
The Old State House, Boston�s oldest public building, was
built in 1713 as the seat of British colonial government. Here
the Royal Governor and the Massachusetts Assembly debated
the Stamp Acts and the Writs of Assistance. The Declaration of
Independence was first read to Bostonians from the east
balcony on July 18, 1776.
Common Features in Governments
Almost all the colonies used a
two-house legislature.
Powers of Legislatures
Ability to Control the Governors
Religious and/or propertyowning requirements for vote
existed in all colonies.
Town meetings