Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution

1. Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution

2. Population Boom • In 1700 there were 250,000 people in the 13 colonies • by 1775 they had a combined population of 2.5 million • This increased population growth was due in part to the “forced immigration” of blacks and immigrants, but largely because of the natural fertility of the colonists

3. Tipping the Balance • In 1700 there was a ration of 20 to 1 English men to American colonists • By 1775 the ratio had been reduced to 3:1 • This helped to set the stage for a shift in the balance of power between Britain and the Colonies

4. Immigration: Germans • Germans made up about 6% of the colonial population by 1775 • Settled mainly in Pennsylvania beginning in the early 1700’s as they fled religious persecution, economic oppression, and war • Falsely referred to as the “Pennsylvania Dutch” • Most were Lutherans

5. Immigration: Scots-Irish • By 1775 made up 7% of population • Not actually Irish, they are Scottish but fled from Ireland early in the 1700’s to escape persecution of their Scottish Presbyterianism from the strict Irish Catholics • Upon settlement in America, pushed out on to frontier and became frontiersmen

6. Ethnic Divisions in 1775

7. Immigration: Africans • “Forced Immigration” • Brought over as slaves • By 1775 made up 20% of population (largest non-English group) • Largest concentration in the south as the south held 90% of the slaves

8. Mingling of the Races • By 1775, French Huguenots, Welsh, Dutch, Swedes, Jews, Irish, and Swiss were all on the list of immigrants • Americans were of all races and mixed bloods, so other countries had a hard time classifying them. • The South is typically associated with being the least ethically diverse of the colonies while the Middle colonies are associated with being the most ethically diverse

9. Colonial Society • In comparison to the class structure in Europe, America appeared as a land of equality • Slavery was the only exception

10. Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution (north) • Beginning to show signs of class barriers • “Gods of War” became increasingly wealthy as military suppliers • Widows and Orphans resulted from the war and developed need for charities and almshouses • The number of poor people rose furthering the divide between the classes

11. Colonial Society on the Eve or Revolution (south) • The large planters and farmers became wealthy thanks to their slave labor • Lower classes were enlarged as indentured servants and convicts were sent to America • Slaves were still the lowest of all the classes

12. Professions • Christian ministry was the most honored profession • Lawyers and Physicians were usually less esteemed • bleeding was a common practice by doctors and not very successful

13. Plagues • Smallpox (afflicting 1 of 5 persons)was rampant • a crude form of inoculation for it was introducedin 1721. • Some of the clergy and doctors didn’t like the inoculation though, preferring not to tamper with the will of God.

14. Agriculture • Agriculture was the leading industry • Farmers could seemed to have the ability to grow anything. • Tobacco was the staple crop in many of the middle and southern colonies • Southern colonies also grew indigo and rice since many of the African slaves knew how to grow these crops

15. Trade • also a prevalent industry, as commerce occurred all around the colonies. • The triangular trade was common: • New England sent rum and other manufactured goods to • West Coast of Africa and traded it for African slaves which were sent to • West Indies in exchange for molasses (for rum) and other raw materials like naval stores

16. Triangular Trade

17. Manufacturing • Not as important as other industries • Laborers and skilled craftspeople were scarce • Lumbering was most important manufacturing activity • In addition to lumber, the northern colonies exported other naval stores to Britain for ship building

18. Molasses Act • 1733, Parliament passed the Molasses Act • Designed to hinder American international trade by prohibiting it’s trade with French West Indies • Colonies were angered and responded by going around the with smuggling

19. Horsepower and Sailpower • Roads in 1700s America were very poor, and they only connected the large cites. • Roads were so bad that they were dangerous. • As a result, towns seemed to cluster around slow, navigable water sources, like gentle rivers, or by the ocean. • Taverns sprang up to serve travelers and were great places of gossip and news. • An inter-colonial mail system was set up in the mid-1700s, but, since there wasnothing else to do, mailmen often passed time by reading private letters,

20. Dominant Denominations • Two established churches (tax-supported) by 1775: Anglican and the Congregational. • The Church of England (the Anglican Church) was official in Georgia, both Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, and a part of New York. • The Congregational church had grown from the Puritan church, and it was established in all the New England colonies except for Rhode Island.

21. The Great Awakening • A religious revival which sought to revitalize religion through the emphasis of emotion in • Jonathan Edwards & George Whitefield were fiery, passionate preachers and leaders of the Great Awakening • More traditional orthodox clergy men, the “old lights,” were very skeptical of the new style of preaching which the “new lights” advocated

22. Jonathan Edwards • was a fiery preacher who described the treacherous conditions of eternal damnation. • began preaching in 1734, • his methods sparked debate among his peers • “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,”

23. George Whitfield • Began 4 years after Edwards, but was even more successful in moving his audience • A very talented orator who could be extremely persuasive • Imitators copied his emotional shaking sermons and his heaping of blame on sinners.

24. Schools and Colleges • Because of plantation farming, the South was spread out and featured very few schools; however, the North, which focused on the community, emphasized education and the construction of schools • Education was most prevalent in New England, where schools were originally used to train young future clergymen. • The were some primary and secondary schools in other areas, but only children of wealthy families could afford to attend • Most of the emphasis was placed on religion, classical languages, doctrine and orthodoxy.

25. Art and Architecture Painters (usually looked down upon) • John Trumbull • Charles Willson Peale, best know for his portraitsof George Washington • Benjamin West and John Singleton Copley had to go to England to complete their ambitious careers. • Architecture was imported from the Old World and modified to meet American needs. • The log cabin was borrowed from Sweden. • The classical, red-bricked Georgian style of architecture was introduced about 1720.

26. Literature • Phillis Wheatley, who had never been formally educated published a book of verse other polished poems that revealed the influence of Alexander Pope. • Ben Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanackwas very influential, containing many common sayings and phrases, and was widely read in America and Europe

27. The Press • There were many hand-operated presses that could cranked out leaflets, pamphlets, and journals • Allowed for an increased spread of information and exposure of world issues • John Peter Zenger was a New York newspaper printer who was taken to court and charged with seditious libel

28. The Zenger Case • Peter Zenger was sued for seditious libel • The judge urged the jury to consider whether or not publishing was a crime, no matter whether the content was derogatory or not. • Zenger won thanks to lawyer Andrew Hamilton and because he was able to provide evidence supporting his claims • The importance—freedom of the press

29. Politics • By 1775, 8 of the colonies had royal governors. appointed by the king, while 3 had governors chosen by proprietors. • Practically every colony utilized a two-house legislative body. • Self-taxation with representation came to be a cherished privilege • Some governors were extremely corrupt. • Voting was limited to white male landowners • However, the ease of acquiring land helped to make voting more easily attaianable

30. Early Colonial Amusement • In the South, card playing, horse racing, cockfighting, and fox hunting were fun as well as stage plays • Lotteries were universally approved, even by the clergy because they helped raise money for churches and colleges. • Holidays were celebrated, though New England typically didn’t participate • 1775 America was described like a quilt, each individual in its own way, but all coming together to form one single, unified piece.