Experience of Empire

1. Experience of Empire A.P. United States History Mr. Krueger

2. Living with Diversity • Throughout history, Americans have shut out any minority groups or newcomers who didn’t speak the language or share the culture of the English origin. • The separation of ethnic and racial groups caused violence and anger. • These issues intrigued public debate in the 18th century • This occurred before Americans advocated independence • Does this still occur today?

3. Growth and Diversity • Ben Franklin made demographic calculation • U.S. population was doubling every 25 years • Total population of Britain mainland population • 1700 – 250,000* • 1770 – 2,150,000* • 3% increase • Natural reproduction accounted for most of the increase • Population grew younger – ½ under 16 at the time • Population Characteristics • Dispersed • Heterogeneous

4. New Arrivals • Non-English Europeans start arriving by the thousands • Goals • Land • Independent Farmers • Tended to head to the backcountry • They found these western areas demanding and violent – Native Americans, Africans, Europeans • Non – English Colonists in numbers entered the colonies in the 18th century • Rich ethnic diversity • Largest group: Scotch – Irish • 2nd largest group: Germans

5. Scotch-Irish • Reasons to come to the colonies: • Control in Ireland (Catholics) • Scotch Irish (150,000 in the colonies pre-revolution) • In England they were held at a disadvantage when trading and taxed extremely high • Result: • Emigration to America • Freedom • Property • Most arrived in Philadelphia, but quickly moved west • They were welcomed because they created a buffer between the Native Americans and the Atlantic Settlers • Scotch-Irish challenged authority and settled large land areas

6. Germans • Similar to Quakers • Seeking religious freedom they settled in Pennsylvania • Leader – Francis Pastorius (Mennonites) • Settlement – Germantown • Lutherans also emigrated (Germany) and sought material gains more than religious freedom • Leader – Henry Melchior Muhlenberg • He organized a meeting of local pastors and organized ministers, this was very important to American Lutheran History • They were the Pennsylvania Dutch, due to the confusion with the word deutsch – which meant German

7. Ethnic Differences • Ethnic differences in Pennsylvania led to disputes • Ben Franklin referred to them as stupid, and feared that they would soon be outnumbered • Feared loss of language (English) and government • 1730’s many Irish-Germans emigrated to western Virginia due to the prejudice • Germans remained on fertile soil, while the Irish kept moving • These groups stayed outside of colonial government • Methodist ministers offered spiritual advice and created moral character.

8. Middle Ground or Native Ground • Native American groups suffered greatly in the 17th-18th centuries • War • Disease • Native Americans wanted to know where they could live • 18th century – many lived between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River • Some wandered as remnants of their pre-colonial tribes • Survivors joined other groups to form multi-ethnic communities • Strong tribes (Cherokee, Choctaws) welcomed refugees • Many found unique ways to adjust

9. Middle Ground or Native Ground • Middle Ground – term for how Native Americans held their ground beyond the Appalachians • Total isolation was not the Native American plan • They traded with the English and French for metal goods and weapons • Their goal was to maintain a strong independent voice, backed by military strength • Took advantage of rivals when possible, and compromised when necessary • Would even complain to the Europeans when prices were too high • European competition kept prices down, but the French and Indian War (1763) ended competition

10. Ben Franklin • Regarded as a philosopher – used reason and science • Grew up in Puritan New England • He loved to read and enjoyed, “The Spectator” a new British journal • With his brother published The New England Courant (Weekly Newspaper) under the name of Silence Dogood. Satirical paper directed at the Boston political – religious leaders. • Invention – Lightning Rod – it was a symbol of material progress. • Organized groups that discussed English literature, philosophy, and science • Organized groups called the Junto, a club for mutual improvement (Liberty Company) – members communicated between colonies

12. English Policy • Colonial economy increased with the population • Abundance of Land • Increase in Agriculture • America produced more tobacco, wheat, rice • Over 50% of the goods produced went to Great Britain • British Controls in the Colonies • White Pine Act – No cutting of White Pines – best for Royal Navy • Navigation Acts • Sugar Act – heavy tax on molasses from foreign ports • Hat and Felt Act – limited colonial goods that competed with foreign exports • Iron Act • British laws at this point were seldom enforced. With consumer society in GB, colonies had a market.

13. English Policy Continued • Colonies traded amongst themselves and with the West Indies – helped to cover the unfavorable balance of trade with Great Britain. • English now Exporting more than ever (1740’s-1770’s) increased 360%. • Example: china and silverware replace earthenware bowls in colonies. • English industrialization hurt the colonies • British merchants offered credit for purchase with interest • American debt continued to rise

14. Great Awakening • Mid 18th century individuals began to rethink basic ideas involving church and state • Religious revivals spring up throughout the colonies • New England – Congregational church shattered (felt organized religion had lost vitality) • In Virginia the Methodist and Baptist Churches were changing • Jonathon Edwards – Massachusetts minister (Calvinist) felt local ministers had gone soft. Felt new birth depended on God. • George Whiefield – toured colonies. Great speaker, welcomed all Protestants, used the press • Gilbert Tennent – revivalist with a sermon called Once the Danger of Unconverted Ministers

16. Positives of the Great Awakening • New light Presbyterians founded higher learning, establishing the following colleges • New Jersey (Princeton) • Brown and Rutgers University • Eleazar Wheelock – Dartmouth College • People were taught to speak up and take an active role in their salvation • African Americans sects developed • Richard Allen – African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) • It brought colonists together outside of various city boundaries • *It was a national event before a nation existed

17. British Government • Parliament provided a model for American Government, by copying the British, they saw the differences and became more American • British Constitution was not a formal document, change was dangerous and destabilizing • Monarch with hand picked court • House of Lords (180 aristocrats) Upper House • House of Commons (558 elected members) Lower House • Both Houses tend to be from the same background • Cato’s Letters – important for colonies

19. Colonial Government • Colonists thought their government was modeled after GB. • Governor = King • Council = House of Lords • Assembly = House of Commons • By mid 18th century most colonies had Royal governors • Selected through patronage • Had great power – Veto, Dismiss judge, military commanders • Councils were 12 wealthy colonists appointed by Board of Trade • Colonial Assemblies • Wanted to protect liberty • Printed many types of written work to promote ideals • Would not coop with Royal Governor

20. Colonial Wars • Colonies become more involved in conflicts between the British and French in America. • British had more population in the Colonies than the French • However, the French and Native Americans had success against the English – defended Quebec and Montreal • The fight was for the entire west including the Mississippi Valley • French Allies – Algonquin • British Allies – Iroquois • British were successful against the French • French Forts stopped English Colonial expansion – hemmed in the colonies

22. Colonial Wars • George Washington and troops constructed Fort Necessity, but were overthrown by the French • Ben Franklin sought colonial cooperation and called for the Albany Congress – discussed coop with Iroquois • Common defense • Western Expansion • Native American Affairs • B.F. suggested taxes to cover military • May 18, 1756 – Britain declares war (Seven Years War) (French and Indian War) • Perceptions of War • Colonists had cooperated • Leaders like George Washington learned the British weren’t invincible • Colonists still part of Empire – but not as willing to pay the cost.