American Life in the 17 th Century (1607-1692)

1. American Life in the 17th Century (1607-1692) AP US History Mr. Long

2. Unhealthy Chesapeake • Characteristics of Southern Colonies • Disease took its toll early (10yrs cut from life expectancy) • 50% of babies died • Settlements grew slowly • Men outnumber women 6:1 • Colonies have their early struggles but the colonists push through these tough times.

3. Tobacco Economy • The South was bad for settlement but great for tobacco • Tobacco= cash crop/savior of the south • Supply Price = Farmers plant more/more land • More Crop = Need for More Labor • Where will this new source of labor come from?

4. Tobacco Economy • Indentured Servants: Chief source of labor for the early colonies was white indentured servants from England. • 4-7 yr terms in exchange for passage to new world and eventual “freedom dues” • Reasons for Ind. Servants: • The Settlers (south) were not reproducing fast enough • African slaves are to expensive • Indians die to quickly

5. Tobacco Economy • Headright System: • Whoever paid for the passage of the indentured servants got 50 acres of land (Masters are reaping the benefits) • As time progressed land became more scarce and the indentured servants would have to hire themselves back out. • By 1700 over 100,000 indentured servants had come to New World. • ¾ of population in Maryland and Virginia

6. Frustrated Freeman and Bacon’s Rebellion • Bacon’s Rebellion: • 1676 • 1,000 indentured servants/poor farmers under Nathaniel Bacon went on a rampage of plundering and pilfering • Reason: Colonial government would not protect rural farmers from Indian attacks. • Why did this scare Virginians? • What is the Result? • Plantation owners (minority) looking for less troublesome workers. “Eyes turn to Africa”

7. Colonial Slavery • In 17th Century most African slave labor still went to sugar plantations in Caribbean. • African slaves don’t become substantial source of labor in North America until 1700. • Reasons for Increase in African Slaves: • Bacon’s Rebellion • Wages went up in England = less poor whites coming to New World • In 1698 the Royal African Company lost its charter (had monopoly on slave trade) • By 1750 African Slaves = ½ Population in Virginia and outnumber whites in S.C. 2:1

8. Colonial Slavery • Middle Passage: Name given to the trip from West Africa to the New World on slave ships. • These trips were fatal due to conditions (20% death rate) • Slavery began for economic reasons but by 1700 racial differences begin molding the American system. • Slave Codes: • As early as 1662 (S.C) • Made slavery extremely tough life (lifetime terms for slave and children) • Created a distinction between white servants and black slaves

9. Africans In America • Deep South (Caribbean): • Toughest conditions for slaves (heat, work is harder, no women, high death rate) • Chesapeake: • Tobacco is an easier crop to work • Plantations bigger (more slaves) and closer together so there is more contact with friends and relatives. • More females = family life is possible = natural reproduction = less cost for masters.

10. Africans In America • Revolts: • Many revolts due to a “natural desire for freedom” • Stono Revolt: • 1739 • Slave revolt in S.C.; slaves attempted to reach Spanish Florida but were stopped by colonial militia.

11. Southern Society (Life = Tough) • Slavery defines the social structure of the South • As it spread the gap between wealthy and poor increased • Large Spread Out Plantations • No real towns (very rural society) • Southern Life revolved around plantation system!

12. Southern Society (Life = Tough) • Southern Aristocratic Structure • Plantation Owners: hard working businesslike lot. They owned land and controlled the politics but nothing like the aristocrats in Europe. This is a distinct American Culture • Small Farmers: far below plantation owners. Owned small plots and few slaves. There were subsistence farmers. (farmed to survive). • Landless Whites: former indentured servants. No land, so many had to hire themselves out. • Indentured Servants: Serving 4-7yr service terms • African Slaves:

13. New England Family (Life = Good) • Characteristics of Northern Colonies: • Settlers added 10yrs to lifespan (clean water, cool temp = less spread of disease) • Migrated as families, not singles (natural reproduction) • Long life= stability (multi-generational guidance) • Small villages/towns: result in close knit groups (religion, geography) • Towns were orderly (Education, church led to democratic gov)

14. Halfway Convent & Salem Witch Trials • At this time the zeal of the Puritans seems to be diminishing • Halfway Convent: The practice that children of the baptized but not yet converted “elect” could also be baptized. • Churches wanted membership up • Many thought this weakened the Puritan church • No distinction between “elect” and church membership anymore. • Jeremiad:form of preaching, preachers scolded parishioners for their waning piety (warned of the pain of Hell) • Salem Witch Trials (1692): A group of young girls accused an older women of being a witch and practicing witchcraft on them

15. New England Way of Life • Puritan Work Ethic: • NE had bad soil = no real need for slaves, but there is a need for industry • Puritans were hard workers • Bad soil and strong sermons = not as many profit hungry farmers • Indian Relations • Ideals of land differed greatly • Whites = money, Indians = life/religion

16. New England Way of Life • Good Harbors • They were expert ship builders and fisherman (cod) • Movement • B/C there was bad soil many settlers spread out across the continent (west) which spread NE ideals • Organized towns • Democracy • Schools • Religion • Etc.

17. Early Settlers Days and Ways (1600-1700) • The overwhelming majority of settlers wee small farmers • Compared to England the colonists of America lived in abundance • Cheap Land • Lots of Food • High Wages (3x more than England) • Americans have their own culture • Those who tried to live by old world society led to rebellion (Bacon’s)

18. Early Settlers Days and Ways (1600-1700) • Overall New World = Equality and Democracy (for whites) • Colonists are framing their own identity by 1700 • Self Government • Self Taxation • Land Owners • Religious Freedom

19. Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution (1700-1775) AP US History Mr. Long

20. Look for distinguishing characteristics the colonies shared! • America has a distinct social, economic and political structure: An “American Way of Life” • Other British colonies DID NOT

21. Conquest By The Cradle • There is serious population growth in the New World • 1700: 300,000 people • 1775: 2.5 Million people • Most of this population boom is from natural fertility (whites in the North, blacks in the South) • Political Consequences for England • 1700: 20 English for 1 colonists • 1775: 3 – 1 • We begin to see a power shift but colonial focus is still to the East (England) not West yet.

22. Mingling the Races • America is a melting pot from the beginning • Germans: 6% by 1775 • Fleeing Religious persecution, economic oppression and ravages of war. • Settled mainly in Pa (Pa Dutch) • Built solid, permanent homes • No deep rooted loyalty to English (TREND)

23. Scots-Irish: 7% by 1775 • Did not get along w/ Catholics in Ireland, economic (restrictions by English on wool) • Settled in Pa (West) down Alleghany barrier down to S.C. • Had no love for English (treatment in Ireland, English made them move)(TREND)

24. Other European Groups: 5% by 1775 • No loyalty to British (TREND) • Africans: 20% by 1775 • 90% of African population is in the South by 1775 (Slaves) • Diversity • NE: mostly original Puritan immigrants = least ethnic diversity • Middle: bulk of white immigrants = variety of people but mostly white • South: Black and White (Diverse) • Mixed African tribes = Unique African American culture forming. • We see the foundations for a multicultural American National Identity!

25. The Structure of Colonial Society • Compared to Europe, America is a shining land of equality and opportunity (except slavery) • Cheap/Accessible Land-Majority of population were small farmers. • Social Mobility- possible to go from indenture d servant to landowner (Rare in OW) • Wages are higher- 3x higher then England • Freedom of Religion • Democracy in infancy

26. Structure of Colonial Society • Prior to Revolution we see rising worries of “Europeanization” in NW • 10% of Bostonians/Philadelphians owned 2/3 of taxable wealth. • Poor in NW increased (Widows, Orphans from war) but still less then England • NE farm size shrinking (no land left) due to generation of dividing • South: wealth in hands of few (plantation owners) • Slaves could not dream of escalating in class (Whites feared uprising)

27. Work in America • Agriculture = biggest workforce/leading industry • 90% of population involved • South: tobacco, rice; Middle: Grain “Bread” colonies • Christian minister- most honored position (remember why many colonists came) • Physicians- not highly esteemed (poor training) • Lawyers- were looked down upon b/c noisy trouble making windbags • Fishing- • major industry in NE (Bad farm land, rocky) • Stimulated Ship building industry • More money then in Incan/Mayan conquests • Manufacturing (Secondary importance) • Not many skilled craftsman in colonies so they are expensive (Rely on England) • Lumber is the most important product (1/3 of English ships built in NW)

28. Triangle Trade (Mercantilism, trade)

29. Triangle Trade • Trade imbalances • Population boom in colonies means they need more goods from England but England doesn’t need more goods from NW = money problem • Results: • Search for new foreign markets = French West Indies/Spain • Molasses Act (1733): Prohibits the colonists trading with French West Indies. • Becomes a source of REVOLUTIONARY FUEL and leads to increased smuggling/bribing

30. The Great Awakening (1730s-1740s) • Great Awakening: period of religious revival in American religious history. • The religious zeal (fire) of the Puritans had steadily decreased as time went on in colonies: WHY? • They are not being persecuted anymore • Time has passed (Think of retreat highs)

31. The Great Awakening (1730s-1740s) • Two burdens of the Puritan Church • Elaborate theology • Compromising efforts to liberalize membership requirements • Biggest Threat to Puritan Church = Arminianism • Jacob Arminius preached that individual free will not God’s divine decree determined a person’s fate (anti-predestination) • All humans not just elect could receive God’s free grace!

32. The Great Awakening (1730s-1740s) • Jonathan Edwards: • preached of the follies of believing in salvation through good works and affirmed the need for complete dependence on God’s grace. • Painted the picture of Hell and Eternal Torments in detail • Great orator • George Whitefield: • Great orator, it is said he could make people weep by merely speaking • Led tremendous revival meetings in NE

33. The Great Awakening (1730s-1740s) • Old Lights v. New Light • The Old Lights (orthodox clergy) did not agree with the emotional spirituality of New Lights b/c they get their authority from education. • This create schisms which created more denominations and more competitiveness in churches • MOST IMPROTANT: It broke down sectional/denominational lines among Americans and was the first spontaneous mass movement of people. UNITY!

34. Colonial Politics • Colonies had Two House Legislature • Upper House: appointed by the crown in royal colonies (8) or proprietor (3) • (2) colonies self-governed (Conn, RI) • Lower House: Elected by the people (property owners) Self Taxation w/ Representation = colonies hold dear to themselves

35. Colonial Politics • Governors • Often able, some very corrupt • Hard to enforce laws from 3,000 miles away (colonists saw them as bothersome) • Colonists wouldn’t pay them if they didn’t get their way • Colonial Assemblies • Found ways to assert authority and get their own way (don’t pay governors)

36. Colonial Politics • Local Governments • North: Town Meeting (Fit their society) • Middle: Mixed government (Town meeting/county gov) • South: County Government (more autocratic) • Remember: The colonies have been left to their own vices to run their own governments. (Independent minds) • Seeds of Democracy are planted in America • Free speech/press: Zenger, representative gov, equality of economic opportunity, toleration, education, etc.

37. “American Culture” vs. English Culture

38. “American Culture” v. English Culture • Colonists are still English in most customs but we begin to see trends towards a new “American Culture” • REMEMBER: • Colonists now have fewer ties to England, its been over 100 years since Jamestown. • They feel like their own nation = natural desire for freedom

39. Colonial Folkways • Similarities of Colonies by 1750 • Basically English in language and custom • Protestant in religion • Some degree of ethnic/religious tolerance (not blacks) • Social mobility possible (not slaves) • Self government (not complete democracy) • Communication was improving (roads, waterways) Like a Patchwork Quilt each part slightly different but held together by common origins, ways of life, and common beliefs in toleration, economic development and self-rule