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Colonial Society: North and South Transformation in America

This text explores the maturing of colonial society in America by focusing on the North as a land of family farms and the Plantation South. It delves into the social, economic, and cultural aspects, including slave society, urban commerce, and political life, leading up to 1750.

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Colonial Society: North and South Transformation in America

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  1. 4 The Maturing of Colonial Society

  2. The Maturing of Colonial Society • The North: A Land of Family Farms • The Plantation South • Contending for a Continent • The Urban World of Commerce and Ideas • The Great Awakening • Political Life • Conclusion: America in 1750

  3. The North: A Land of Family Farms

  4. The North: A Land of Family Farms • New England attracted settlement • Scots-Irish and Germans • Most came as families

  5. German Settlement Areas, 1775 German Settlement Areas

  6. German Settlement Areas, 1775 Scots–Irish Settlement Areas, 1775

  7. The North: A Land of Family Farms • Patterns • New England – mixed economy • Middle Colonies – agriculture • Generally egalitarian • Land supply limited by 1700 • Farms become smaller, less viable • Many New Englanders leave for other areas

  8. The North: A Land of Family Farms • Both slaves and indentured servants used • Slaves – less than 10% of population • Often as domestic servants • Smaller numbers meant more assimilation • Indentured servants • Harsh life

  9. Slaves Imported to North America, 1701–1775

  10. Women and the Family • Nearly all women were married • Women gained greater property rights • Families come to be centered on the mother

  11. The Plantation South

  12. Transformation • 1680 to 1750 • Stabilized • Population growth • Economic change • Slaves completely replaces indentured servants • Diversification in north: tobacco, grain, cattle • Lower South: rice and indigo

  13. Society • Plantation society • Display of wealth important • Households become centers of production • Backcountry • Spectacular population growth • Germans and Scots-Irish • Few towns

  14. Slave Society • 1700 to 1775: 350,000 slaves to North America • Larger plantations • Better opportunities for a separate culture • South Carolina • Worst working conditions • Retained language, much of their culture

  15. Slaves on an Indigo Plantation

  16. Slave Society (cont’d) • Resistance • Stono Uprising, 1739 • Savage reprisals • Religion • Slaves influenced by Great Awakening • Kinship, family central • Children usually sold around age 8

  17. Contending for a Continent

  18. French Lands • French renew exploration, development in 1660s • Metissage (intermarriage with Indians) common • New Orleans settled, 1718 • 5000 African slaves • Directly under royal control • Grifs – mixed race children common

  19. French Lands (cont'd) • Free black class emerges

  20. French North America, 1608–1763

  21. Warfare, 1689 to 1713 • European wars spread to empires • England and France fight for control of North America • Indians drawn into alliances • Peace of Utrecht, 1713 • Great Britain • Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Hudson Bay • France • Mouth of St. Lawrence, Caribbean islands

  22. Spain in North America • Spanish settlements stagnate, 1700 to 1750 • More racial mixing • But missions oppressed Indians

  23. A Chart of Mixed-Race Families

  24. The Urban World of Commerce and Ideas

  25. Commerce • Trade networks • Urban growth as cities become trade centers • American economy part of Atlantic economy • Mercantilism • Push exports • Tax imports • Regulate production, trade • Exploit colonies as markets, and for raw materials

  26. Society • Urbanization brought polarization • Affluent, with impressive town houses • Poor • Growing gap between rich and poor • Growing consumerism • Discontent in times of shortage and inflation

  27. The “Paxton Boys” in Philadelphia

  28. Ideas • Enlightenment • Scientific Revolution • John Locke • American thinkers • John Bartram • John Winthrop III • Benjamin Franklin

  29. The Quaker Benjamin Lay

  30. The Great Awakening

  31. The Great Awakening • Background • Half-way Covenant – to expand congregation • Church and political organization joined • Great Awakening • Religious revival in mid-1700s • George Whitefield • Role of laypeople central

  32. The Great Awakening (cont'd) • Northern revivalism – brief spurt • Southern revivalism • Challenged gentry, Anglican church • Baptists, 1760s • Touched slaves as well

  33. Legacy • Religious pluralism • Reflected in new colleges • Secular matters released from church control • Allowing more citizens to take part in politics • Diversity becomes the norm

  34. “The First Fruits,” oil on canvas

  35. Political Life

  36. Political Life • Colonial government • Governor or proprietor’s agent • Assembly • Suffrage: landholding white males • Popular protest • e.g. Impressment Riot of 1747 • Southern counties become units of government

  37. Political Life (cont'd) • Whigs (republicans) • Balanced, not authoritarian, government best • Represented by newspapers

  38. Conclusion: America in 1750

  39. Conclusion:America in 1750 • Rapid development between 1690 and 1750 • Key factors in developing society • Transatlantic trade • Great Awakening • Racial and cultural divisions intact

  40. Timeline

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