Growth and Diversity in 18th Century America: Challenges, Conflict, and Cultural Transformation

1. Chapter 4: Experience of Empire — 18th Century America Mrs. Simon

2. Growth and Diversity in British America • From 1700 to 1770, the population grew really, really quickly • What exactly happened? • Some growth was natural reproduction — population was thus young • Population grew diverse and heterogeneous • More non-English Europeans • Scots-Irish fleeing English oppression, Germans in Pennsylvania • More backcountry settlers • What new and/or different challenges would they face on the frontier?

3. Growth and Diversity: Pennsylvania Dutch, Convicts, and Native Americans • From 1700 to 1770, the population grew really, really quickly, and now featured more diversity and conflict between groups • The Pennsylvania “Dutch” were actually Germans • Ethnic differences bred disputes • English settlers were suspicious of Germans and Scots-Irish • Both groups moved west • Between 1718 and 1755, British government sent convicts to the Americas • Many came as indentured servants; few prospered • Many Native Americans became refugees and fled to the Mississippi valley • Native groups remained reliant on trade with Europeans • Also played rivalries between British and French

4. Spanish Borderlands in the 18th Century • The Spanish were in North America, too, mostly maintaining a fledgling empire in the American Southwest • Spanish empire was vast, but they struggled to control it all • Pueblo Revolt of 1680 — drove Spanish out of New Mexico • Also colonized Florida (St. Augustine) and California • Neither really attracted attention or settlement • Spanish lived in constant fear of Indian attack • Also — very difficult physical environments • Largely, settlement served to discourage French, British, and Russian encroachment

5. Impact of European Ideas on American Culture • The British North American colonies transformed rapidly into an urban, cosmopolitan culture • Cities had small populations, but influenced culture heavily • Largely “just” trading posts, but were a landing-point for European culture • Profits went into architectural development • The Enlightenment found its way to North America • Philosophers embraced scientific thinking, but defended Christianity • Will we see a resurgence of religious feeling in the colonies, soon?

6. Connecticut Hall (Yale University), Sutton Lodge (England), Kosciuszko National Memorial (Philadephia)

7. Impact of European Ideas on American Culture, Part II • The British North American colonies transformed rapidly into an urban, cosmopolitan culture • Benjamin Franklin emerged as a symbol of human ingenuity • Promoted spread of reason: discussed literature, philosophy, science • Helped found University of Pennsylvania, invented lightning rod, bifocals • Colonial economy grew remarkably — land and agriculture • Increasing European demand for American goods bolstered colonial economy • Heavy reliance on trade with Europe and Caribbean • Balance-of-trade turned against colonies, who amassed debt

8. Religious Revivals — The Great Awakening • The mid-1700s also featured a sudden series of Protestant revivals known as the Great Awakening, bringing about a new thinking of church and state, institutions, and society • Complaints abounded that organized religion lost vitality • Jonathan Edwards preached that eternal fate was dependent on God’s Will • His preaching deeply influenced many • Excitement spread — Edwards saw this as an emerging evangelism • “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

9. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” • Questions… • What theme does Edwards communicate? • What is the purpose of the sermon? What response does Edwards want? • Why should he be considered an authority? • How does the sermon adhere to or change your view of Puritan life and ideology? • What about this sermon do you find striking?

10. Clash of Political Cultures • British political theory and practice eventually underscored differences between Britain and the colonies • British politics wasn't actually open to all members of society • By 1750s, most colonies had royal governors • Royal governors were immensely powerful • Suffrage was widespread in the colonies • Colonial legislatures were powerful institutions within colonies • Often, did not cooperate with royal governors

11. Century of Imperial War • After 1690, much of the conflict involving the British colonies originated in Europe, not with the Natives. • King William’s War (1689-97), Queen Anne’s War (1702-13) • Western frontier was contested area • Colonists feared French could encircle English colonies • French suspected British would take all of North America • Natives played both sides • King George’s War (1743-48): colonists won, gained Louisbourg, but handed it back to French • Colonists: “WTF??” • Colonists did not understand European interests; felt ignored

12. Century of Imperial War continues… • After 1690, much of the conflict involving the British colonies originated in Europe, not with the Natives. • French decided to seize Ohio Valley before Virginia did • Established Fort Duquesne, so George Washington established Fort Necessity • Washington was overrun (1754), one colony could not defeat the French • Ben Franklin proposed Albany Plan of Union (1754) • It lacked colonial assembly, Parliamentary support • French resisted Gen. Edward Braddock’s advance across Monongahela R.

13. Century of Imperial War: Seven Years’ War • After 1690, much of the conflict involving the British colonies originated in Europe, not with the Natives. • May 18, 1756: British declared war on French (Seven Years’ War) • Cabinet member William Pitt shifted British focus to North America • Took command of army and navy • Captured Ohio Valley, Great Lakes • September 8, 1760: French surrender in Montreal • Treaty of Paris (1763): Britain got Canada, Florida, land east of Mississippi • Other important effect: Britain became burdened with debt

14. Perceptions of War • What was the effect of the French and Indian War on the colonies? • What would happen next? • Colonies had to cooperate more closely with one another • Colonies were drawn more closely to Great Britain • The war trained a generation of military leaders • British felt the Americans were ungrateful of their effort • Was that accurate? • Colonists developed a sense of identity