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Explore how differences in values affected distinct American subcultures in the Chesapeake, Southern, New England, and Middle colonies during the 17th century. Discover the economic, social, and political culture of the English colonies and how they evolved over time. Learn about the unique societal structures, roles of women, social hierarchies, and the roots of slavery in colonial America.
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Essential Question: • How did differences in values affect distinct American subcultures in the Chesapeake, Southern, New England, & Middle colonies?
Life in 17th CenturyEnglish Colonies The Economic, Social, & Political Culture of the English Colonies
Colonial Society in the 17th Century: New England
Families in New England Possibly the 1st society in history to reasonably expect to live long enough to see their grandchildren • New England society was much more stable than other colonies: • New England Puritans migrated to America as families • Marriage was easy as most people shared common values • Colonists lived longer due to more a scattered population, purer water, & a cooler climate New England “invented” grandparents Towns became networks of intermarried families
Education in New England • NE towns viewed education as a basic family responsibility; towns began to create elementary schools funded with local taxes: • NE had, by far, the highest literacy (reading and writing) rate in America • In 1638, Harvard became first college
Women in New England • Was the colonial era the “golden age” for women? • Women contributed to society as wives & mothers, church members, & ran small-scale farms • But were not equals with men: • Women could not legally own or sell property; divorce was difficult • Women did what “God ordained” (“stated” that women must do).
Social Hierarchy in New England NE churches focused on its members; outsiders were not welcomed & often moved away Local upper-class of religiously devout (very religious) families guided town meetings Large population of small farmers loyal to the local community Small population of landless laborers, servants, & poor
Colonial Society in the 17th Century: The Chesapeake
Families in the Chesapeake • “Normal, English” family life was impossible in Virginia: • 70-85% of immigrants were young male indentured servants • High death rate (average age was 10-20 years lower than NE) • One married spouse often died within a decade • Children often never knew their parents (let alone grandparents)
Women in Chesapeake Society • Scarcity (low numbers) of women gave some women bargaining power in the marriage market; allowed some women to improve their social status • But women were vulnerable: • sexual exploitation • Childbearing (having babies) was dangerous • Chesapeake women died 20 years earlier than women in NE
Social Hierarchy in the Chesapeake The wealthy plantation owners dominated society & the House of Burgesses Tobacco was the basis of wealth & cause of social inequalities Small farmers were the largest class; Came as indentured servants; most lived on edge of poverty Indentured servants were often mistreated & cheated out of land African slaves
Chesapeake Culture • By 1680, social mobility (the movement from one social/economic class to another) in the Chesapeake was limited: • An American-born elite (powerful/privileged) class had emerged (this group was not around earlier) • The plantation economy & ownership of slaves allowed the wealthy plantation owners to produce more tobacco • High death rates held back the development of schools & towns
Colonial Society in the 17th Century: African Slaves
The Roots of Slavery • The importation (bringing in) of African slaves was based on a “need” for labor: • Native Americans made poor slaves because large numbers were killed-off by European disease • Available number of potential indentured servants fell off after 1660 • An estimated 11 million slaves (mostly males) were brought to the English American colonies
The Roots of Slavery • Slaves were originally treated as indentured servants but the growing black population in VA by 1672 prompted stricter slave laws: • Africans were defined as slaves for life; permanent slave status was passed on to slave children • By 1700, slavery was based exclusively on skin color
The Slave Population Free & enslaved blacks were much less numerous in NE & Middle colonies 40% in VA 60% in SC • In the Chesapeake & Southern colonies with large black populations, slaves found it easier to maintain their African culture • By 1720, the African population became self-sustaining: • Fertility rates exceeded immigration rates for the 1st time (in other words, more slaves were being born here than were being brought in from Africa) • Did not occur in the Caribbean or in South America
The Slave Population 150 blacks rose up & seized weapons & killed several white planters • Widespread resentment of their slave status led to resistance in the 18th Century: • Armed resistance such as the Stono Rebellion of 1739 (SC) • In 1741, 106 slaves were hung or deported due to a rumor that slaves planned to burn NYC • Runaway slaves were common
The Colonial Economy in the 17th Century: Commercial Empire
Rise of a Commercial Empire • English gov’t largely ignored the colonies until the 1650s; The colonies were not state-funded nor state-protected • But…King Charles II began colonial intervention in 1660 to maximize exports, decrease imports, & generate more gov’t revenue
Response to Economic Competition “Enumerated goods” (tobacco, sugar, cotton, rice, rosin, tar) could only be sent to English ports • “Mercantilism” became the blueprint for England’s empire: • Wanted more money & a favorable balance of trade • Wanted to eliminate Dutch rivals • Wanted a stronger navy • Began to restrict colonial trade: • Navigation Act of 1660 • Navigation Act of 1663 No ship could trade in colonies unless it was made in England Goods shipped to English colonies must pass through England (Increased the price paid by colonial consumers)
Implementing the Acts • NE merchants found loopholes to avoid paying taxes so the English made more restrictions: • In 1696, created a Board of Trade to oversee colonial trade • Created maritime (ocean/sailing) courts to mediate disputes • The Navigation Acts eventually benefited the colonial merchants & smuggling virtually ended
Essential Question: • How did differences in values affect distinct American subcultures in the Chesapeake, Southern, New England, & Middle colonies?
Colonial Factions (different groups) Spark Political Revolt, 1676-1691
Colonial Factions Spark Revolt • The English colonies began to experience unrest at the end of the 17th Century: • This unrest was not a social revolution (or a forecast of the American Rev) but a contest between colonial “ins” & “outs” • Bacons’ Rebellion, King Philip’s War & witchcraft panic
Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia • Former indentured servants living in the VA frontier suffered due to: • Poor tobacco prices in 1660s • Indian attacks in 1675 • These farmers blamed VA’s royal governor who did little to help; Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion in 1676 against the governor & was joined by small farmers, blacks, & women
Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia • The rebellion ended after Bacon’s death (dysentery – very severe diarrhea) but the rebellion convinced VA elite/rich that: • Indentured servants were destined to become rebellious (in the future) • African slaves were a better solution than rebellious whites because slaves had no hopes for getting for political power
King Philip’s War • In 1675, Metacom (“King Philip”) led the Wampanoag Indians against NE colonists: • 1,000+ Indians & colonists died • Large war debt led James II to get rid of the Mass Bay charter & create the “Dominion of New England” by combining Mass, Conn, RI, Plymouth, NY, NJ, & NH under a new royal charter
Dominion of New England • When King William & Queen Mary took over England, Massachusetts was given a new charter that incorporated Plymouth but shifted power from the “elect" to those with property
Witchcraft in New England • Accusations of witchcraft were common in New England • But the “Salem panic” of 1691 led to 20 public executions before the trials were ended in 1692 • Possible causes: • argument over church ministers • poor farmers accusing rich farmers to gain land • negative reactions to independent women
Conclusions • By 1700: • England’s attitude toward the colonies had changed dramatically • Sectional (the different sections/parts of the colonies) differences within the colonies were large • All the colonies were all part of Great Britain but had little to do with each other
Discussion Question: • How unified were the English colonies? • Are these colonies one society or four? • Explain with evidence • Consider political, economic, & social characteristics