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Early Colonial Culture

Colonial life by the 1700s was thriving with cheap farmland, plentiful natural resources, and newfound prosperity not available in England. White male landowners enjoyed political rights derived from "natural rights" principles, shaping a society divided into high, middle, and low classes. The era of Salutary Neglect saw the colonies ignored by the King, promoting economic growth. However, Mercantilism and the Navigation Acts aimed to control colonial trade for England's benefit. Women contributed to the economy through labor, while children were vital to family farms. Education emphasized Bible reading and practical skills. Newspapers, books, and Freedom of the Press played a crucial role in spreading ideas. Religious revivals like the Great Awakening and intellectual movements such as the Enlightenment fueled revolutionary fervor, emphasizing equality and individual rights.

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Early Colonial Culture

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  1. Early Colonial Culture Land, Rights and Wealth

  2. Land • By 1700’s Colonial Life was thriving • Cheap farmland • Natural resources • Prosperity that would not be available in England • Land plentiful – removed Native Americans • Land Ownership = political rights

  3. Rights • White males vote • Political rights/government • Rights derived from “natural rights” and other writings • John Locke – Enlightenment Thinker • Pursuit of life, liberty and property

  4. Wealth • No class of nobles • Still divided into high, middle and low ranks

  5. Salutary Neglect • In the beginning…the King ignored the colonies, • Colonists had laws to follow about taxes, trade & money • King hoped that not enforcing trade law would encourage the colonies to establish successful business here. • Salutary Neglect- not enforcing trade law on Colonists

  6. Mercantilism England was to be the manufacturing center while the colonies were to produce raw materials and be the market for British goods.

  7. Purpose of Mercantilism • A country had a favorable balance of trade if it had more exports_ than _____imports________. (Sale) (Purchase)

  8. Navigation Acts • But…As business become propersous, the King wanted to keep his piece of the profit (money). • He reestablishes control over the colonies by placing AND enforcing new trade laws on the colonies. • To keep his share of profits, he creates the Navigation Acts

  9. Navigation Acts • The purpose of the Navigation Acts was to create a self sufficient empire

  10. Navigation Acts goods European _______ to the colonies had to pass through English ports and be _____. taxed

  11. Women and the Economy • Not landholders Little rights • African women worked large cash crops farms • White women were farm wives • Cooked, churned butter, made soap, spun fibers, wove cloth, sewed, and knitted clothes • Little cash – barter system

  12. Children • Large families • Children worked to support farm and family • More children=more workers • Age 6 boys were “breeched” – expected to work • Age 11 become apprentices • Recieved food, lodging, clothes, and education as well as training in a craft

  13. Education • Children taught to read so they can read the Bible • Wealthy families = math and writing • Textbooks emphasized religion • School of Manners, New England Primer

  14. Newspapers and Books • Large literacy rate = publishing industry • Draws colonies together • Boston News-Letter • Most books imported from England • Slowly began to publish own books • Almanac – Poor Richard’s – Ben Franklin • Calendar, weather predictions, star charts, farming advice, home remedies, jokes, proverbs

  15. Poor Richard’s Almanac

  16. Freedom of the Press • Peter Zenger, publisher of the New York Weekly Journal • Trial for criticizing governor of New York • Illegal to criticize the government in print • Defended by Alexander Hamilton • Jury released him

  17. The Great Awakening • Religious Movement in he 1730’s-1740’s • Felt colonists had lost religious fervor • Traveling ministers • Inner religious emotion more important than outward religious behavior • Rise of other religious groups – ie Baptists • Churches grew • Colleges founded – Brown and Princeton • Encouraged the right to question authority and encouraged ideas of equality • Encouraged revolutionary fervor

  18. The Enlightenment • Emphasized reason and science • Ben Franklin, John Locke • Natural Laws to explain natural laws ie Gravity • John Locke – natural rights of man • Pursuit of life, liberty, and property • Government created to protect natural rights • If fail, right to change it

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