American Consciousness US History

Britain ruled the waves…

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• Great Britain: Scotland and England+Wales since 1707.

– Both Parliaments were united.

• 18th-century Great Britain: Age of Imperialism – GB expands through the North American and Caribbean colonies, then Canadian territories, later India.

The Colonists were British!

• English colonists considered themselves British.

– Also--sort of--the German, Swedish, Dutch, and Irish who moved to the English North American colonies.

– BUT a new American consciousness emerged out of economic, social, political circumstances.

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American Consciousness

• Compared to Europe, America provided fluid economic and social opportunity.

– Slavery was a HUGE and IMPORTANT exception.

• Big difference: no hereditary class distinctions based on old feudal order.

• New social structure emerged… QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture.

Wealthy, influential aristocracy

• Who?

– Southern planters – Large landowners – Northern merchants QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) dec ompressor are needed to s ee this pic ture.

Eliza Pinckney - southern Plantation owner (indigo)

Majority of population: middle and working classes

• Yeomen: small independent farmers • Skilled artisans • Shopkeepers • Laborers QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture.

Paul Revere - metal smith

Status of American Women

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• Broader property rights than European women (esp. in North) – Single women could own property, run businesses.

– BUT still secondary status to men • Example:

coverture

: property of married women became property of men.

Bottom of Social ladder

• Slaves • Native Americans QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture.

Economic Awareness

• The rule was mercantilism: colonies must buy from England.

– Navigation Acts were strengthened officially.

– BUT in reality England LOOSENED control (salutary neglect) so that the colonies could grow.

Political Consciousness

• Colonies were used to running themselves.

Appointed by King Appointed by governor Governor Elected by free, landowning males Advisory Council Local Assembly

Political Consciousness

• Governors were less powerful than they appeared.

– Yes, they called and disbanded assemblies.

– Yes, they appointed and dismissed judges.

– Yes they oversaw trade.

– BUT, the assembly paid his salary: power of the purse!

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Political Consciousness

• FOR THE MOST PART, colonists thought of themselves as British and a member of a specific colony.

• Some argued for banding together.

– Benjamin Franklin (1754): “join or die”: unite together to oppose the French and the Indians.

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Political Circumstances

• After French-Indian War (1763), Great Britain gained – all French territory from Appalachians to Mississippi (New France) – All of Quebec QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture.

American Urge to Expand

• American colonists wanted to move into new territories west of Appalachian… – …already from the very beginning!

– …but especially once Great Britain gained all that territory!

Great Britain afraid of Indian Problems

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• To prevent conflicts with Indians, Proclamation of 1763: – All settlement west of Appalachians were forbidden.

– Colonists: “Yeah, right….” • They ignored it.

• This is the beginning of the parting of the ways.

“That makes me SOOOO mad!”

• Things the British did to irk the colonists: – Crackdown on smuggling:

writ of assistance

in Massachusetts.

• Customs officials can search any ship or building for evidence of smuggling.

“That makes me SOOOO mad!”

• Standing army – 10,000 troops were stationed in territories to control Native Americans and former French.

– It felt like an army directed at colonists.

– It cost Great Britain money to station troops. • Sugar Act was enacted to pay down the debt.

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