Chapter 5

1. Chapter 5 Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution, 1700–1775

2. I. Conquest by the Cradle • Britain had 32 colonies in North America by 1775 • 13 rebelled – others were larger and wealthier (Canada, Jamaica) • Population grew from 300,000 in 1700 to 2.5 million in 1775 • Mostly from natural fertility of Americans • Average age 16 • Began to catch population of England itself • Most populated American colonies • Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania • Mostly rural – 90% • Only cities: Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Charleston

3. A Mingling of Races • Germans • Tried to keep own language and cultures • No loyalty to British crown • Mostly Lutheran • Settled mainly Pennsylvania • developed Conestoga wagons • developed iron stove • 6% of population (1775) • Blacks • 400,000 in 1775, 20% of population • 90% in the South • 5% of population were other Europeans • Huguenot, Welsh, Dutch, Swedes, Irish, Swiss, Jews • None had loyalty to British Crown • New England was least ethnically diverse, Middle colonies, the most • Intermarriage created American identity

4. Scots-Irish • 7% of population (1775) • Second largest white ethnic group • Pushed from Scotland to Northern Ireland to America looking for success • Irish Test Act 1704 denied limited voting to Anglicans, heavy taxes put on Scots-Irish products • Resented British authority and Anglican church • Presbyterian • Mostly to Pennsylvania, moved to frontier back country to find land • Were transient - built log cabins and moved on • Were ready to fight, fiercely independent, confronted Indians in Appalachians • Brought whiskey making to America • Paxton Boys 1764 (Pennsylvania), Regulator movement (North Carolina) • Violent revolts against colonial government because Scots-Irish disagreed with government

5. III. The Structure of Colonial Society • America had more equality than Europe in 1700s, but less than it had in 1600s • Most Americans were small farmers • Cities had artisans, shopkeepers and trades people • Social mobility was available to almost all • Increased social stratification • Increasing gap in wealth • Wealthy took control of politics, education and religion • Number of destitute increase, but not to European levels • Immigrants and indentured servants increased numbers of poor • Loss of land • More people and estates divided through inheritance made it harder to get land • Slaves were oppressed lower class • Britain would not stop slave trade because it would end cheap labor in West Indies

6. Occupations in the Colonies • Ministers were highly influential and esteemed • Physicians were poorly trained, medical care was inconsistent, epidemics common. • Physicians were not looked on favorably • Jurists - Lawyers were looked down upon because manual labor was favored • Agriculture was leading industry • 90% of people involved • Tobacco in Maryland, Virginia • Middle colonies raised cattle and grains • Fishing • New England • Encouraged shipbuilding industry

7. Manufacturing • Secondary to the economy, agriculture was main source of wealth • Iron forges allowed some manufacturing • Other products also produced • Rum, beaver hats, spinning and weaving cloth, carpentry • Lumbering important for shipbuilders • Colonial naval stores • Tar, pitch, rosin, turpentine • Britain encouraged production as way to help British fleets • Commerce and Trade • New York, Pennsylvania and New England dominated trade

8. Molasses Act 1733 • America out produced British demand, so wanted to be able to sell to foreign markets • Americans needed cash to be able to buy British finished products • By 1720s Americans were trading mostly with French colonies for sugar and molasses (for rum). • “Sugar Lobby” of British West Indian members of Parliament had Molasses Act passed to restrict trade between American colonies and French West Indies • It was a tax designed to make British molasses cheaper than French • Would hurt American economy and standard of living • Led to smuggling, bribery and breaking the law • Britain did not enforce the law

9. VI. Horsepower and Sailpower • Deep Rivers and peninsulas in South encouraged water transport • Was easier to sell goods to English textile manufacturers than overland • Reduced need for cities because trade happened directly from plantation to England • New England had rough, rocky coast • Had deep, sheltered bays • Encouraged development of cities around safe • harbors • Few navigable rivers to ocean • Rivers were steep and downhill • Ideal for running mills • Populations cluster on waterways • Roads were poorly made and maintained • Taverns • emerge to provide food, shelter, entertainment, news and gossip along journeys • Were gathering centers and incubator for democracy and revolution Green Dragon Tavern, Boston

10. VII. Dominant Denominations • Established Churches (paid with taxes) existed in 9 of 13 colonies • Congregationalist – MA, CT, NH • Anglican – NY, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA • Britain encouraged establishment of Anglican churches as way to promote authority of King • Was not popular in America because it wasn’t “Puritan” enough • Americans opposed creation of American Anglican bishop, fearing extension of King’s power • Ministers frequently addressed sinful lives and politics in sermons • Congregationalist and Presbyterians supported revolutionary ideals, Anglicans supported King

11. Religious Revivalism • Colonial Churches were not as intense as they were in 1700s. • Liberal preachers argued that good works could lead to salvation, challenging Calvinist predestination • Arminians argued free will determined salvation, not God’s will • Liberal challenges led to Halfway Covenant • Pietism • German religious movement that emphasized pious behavior • 1720s Theodore Frelinghuysen brought passionate spiritual message to Pennsylvania and New Jersey • William and Gilbert Tennent led revival with Scots-Irish Presbyterians • Jonathan Edwards “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” began the emotional, fire and brimstone sermons in Congregationalist churches in Connecticut • Believed vivid words would “fright persons from Hell” • Opposed financially motivated actions of merchants and land speculators, defended poor families

12. VIII. The Great Awakening • Great Awakening of 1730s – 1740s • George Whitefield (1739)– charismatic preacher • Inspired by Tennents and John Wesley (founder of Methodism) • Toured nation and attracted huge crowds • Preached human helplessness and divine power • Inspired evangelical, emotional imitators that led revival gatherings • Supporters of Awakening were “New Lights” • Anglican, Quakers, Baptists, and Congregationalist Churches split over their support or opposition to Awakening • Effects • First spontaneous mass movement of Americans • Revived values of individual experience and lessened need for church organization • Created sense that challenges to American values were products of satanic influences

13. Old Lights vs. New Lights • Old Lights opposed emotional theatrics of Awakenings, New Lights supported it. • Impacts local politics • Connecticut • Colonial government controlled by Old Lights • Supporters of revolution and Sons of Liberty were New Lights Disestablishment of Church • Opposition to old lights made some leave Congregationalist for Baptist and oppose tax support for churches • New light Presbyterians in Virginia were led by Samuel Morris and Samuel Davies to leave traditional churches Democratic Spirit • Dangers of an Unconverted Ministry (1740) Gilbert Tennent said minister authority come from conversion experience, not theological knowledge • Anyone who had experience could speak as minister – democratic idea • New Light Baptists welcomed everyone including slaves – focused on adult baptism after adult was “born again” • Challenged social and class distinctions • New lights, Isaac Backus – common people have as much right to judge religious matters as clergy

14. Memorial of 1st Public School in US–Latin School, Boston Education in colonies • Traditionally education limited to elite, aristocrats in England • Education for leadership, not citizenship • Protestants believed you had to read Bible • Led to increased literacy rates in America • Boys were given more formal education • Schools limited by needs of farm • South relied on tutors instead of schools because of distance • Very strict, focus on classics and religion • Girls were taught housekeeping skills

15. RutgersFounded 1766Dutch Reformed DartmouthFounded 1769Congregational Founded 1693Anglican Founded 1636Congregational Founded 1701Congregational PrincetonFounded 1746Presbyterian Founded 1764Baptist Founded 1740 ColumbiaFounded 1754Anglican IX. Schools and Colleges • Most universities were to train “New Light” preachers and lawyers • If someone wanted non-religious training, they would send their kid to Europe • Harvard was first

16. X. A Provincial Culture • Most Americans still looked to Europe for art and culture • No schools to train artists • American painters • John Trumbull, Benjamin West, John Singleton Copely • Literature • Phillis Wheatley, slave girl who became a poet • Benjamin Franklin • Scientist, inventor, businessman, philosopher • Wrote Poor Richards Almanack • Was one of few Americans known and admired in Europe

17. XI. Pioneer Presses • Libraries were rare, mostly privately owned • Ben Franklin created first circulation library • Few newspapers were made in the colonies • Benjamin Franklin was a printer and had his own paper in Philadelphia • 40 papers by Revolution, most written under pseudonyms • Played major role in criticizing policies or Britain

18. Zenger Trial • John Peter Zenger was arrested for libel because he printed articles criticizing the corrupt governor of New York • Zenger defended by Alexander Hamilton • Jury ruled in favor of Zenger despite royal judges instructions to the contrary • Zenger won the case, establishing precedent of free press in America • Establish that truth is defense against libel • Allowed Americans to criticize government

19. Structure Colonial Government • Governor • By 1775 – 8 royal colonies; 3 proprietary colonies (PA, MD, DE); 2 elected their own governors (CT, RI) • Had most authority • Colonial Legislatures • Colonial Council • Was upper house, usually chosen by king or proprietor • Colonial Assembly • Lower house • Representative governments • Voted into office by land owners • Backcountry areas were usually unrepresented and resented both colonial and royal governments • Voted for taxes • Controlled governors by limiting pay and budget

20. XII. The Great Game of Politics • Town meetings encouraged democratic spirit and political debate • Voting tied to land ownership so most males could vote • Land was available for people to own their own farm • All colonies had limitations on voting • Culturally, tended to defer to “betters”