Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution

1. Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution 1700-1775

2. Fact • Britain ruled 32 colonies in North America (1775) –not 13!! • Why did only 13 rebel?? • Part of the Answer- the distinctive Social, Political, & Economic systems that developed OVER TIME in the 13 colonies.

3. Demographics • Exploding population (1700= 300,000; 1775= 2.5 million people)-natural increase • Youth- avg. age= 16 yrs. Old • Confined- most (95%) settled east of the Alleghenies • 90% farmers in rural areas

5. “What then is the American, this new man?” de Crevecoeur • Colonial America mostly English Germans • 1775- 6% of population (150,000) • Mostly Protestant (Lutheran) • Misnamed “Pennsylvania Dutch” Scots-Irish • 1775- 7% of Population (with Scots Highlanders= 12%) • Became squatters- trickled down to Maryland, Carolinas, & Georgia • 12 future presidents Scots-Irish • The Paxton Boys (1764), Leisler’s, Bacon’s –all backcountry farmers rebellions. Multicultural population (other Europeans) • 5% of population (Jews, Irish, Swedes etc. **African- 20% of the population (largest non-white population) * Most diverse population (multicultural tradition)- hard to classify!!

7. Colonial Structure • American dream- anyone who worked hard could advance Class distinctions Emerge • small group of aristocrats (clergy, rich farmers, merchants, officials) had much power • Land became more scarce • More Poverty (widows & orphans; homeless) = alms houses built.

8. The South • Planters • Yeoman farmers • Landless whites • Indentured Servants & criminals • Black slaves • 1760’s Some southern colonial legislatures tried to halt importation of new slaves- British authorities vetoed • 1800’s – many nations outlawed importation of new slaves.

9. “Professionals” Clergy • most honored professions Physicians • not well trained or highly esteemed • “bleeding” • Plagues were prevalent (1721- crude inoculation was introduced)- criticized by clergy • Barbers- filled in for doctors Lawyers • Commonly disliked • 1750- seen as more useful • Great at public speaking

10. Colonial Trade & Work Trade • Agriculture- leading industry • Middle Colonies- “Bread Colonies” • South- staple (cash) crops tobacco, rice • Fishing- NE • Manufacturing- Lumber- used by England for ships 1/3 of English fleet. (tension with colonists) Trading- common industry • Triangular Trade-trade between Europe, the colonies, Africa, and West Indies • tar, pitch, rosin, turpentine • lumber

11. MERCANTILE THEORY • Mercantilism: is an economic policy…Wealth is power, key to wealth is export more than import • European countries competed for world power and needed colonies to provide necessary raw materials. • Colonies’ role: provide raw materials (so mother country does not have to import from other nations) and markets for exports • Favorable balance of trade for England

12. MERCANTILE THEORY • European nations relied on strong central governments to enforce mercantile doctrines • Americans helped British maintain naval supremacy by providing ships, ships’ stores, sailors, trade (enumerated commodities) • Americans provide profitable market for English manufactured goods • Americans discouraged from buying these goods from other countries

13. MERCANTILE THEORY • Most famous of laws to enforce mercantilism were the Navigation Laws (1650) • Restricted trade to English vessels (no Dutch) • Additional laws: Goods bound for colonies had to go to England first for duties • Colonists also not allowed to manufacture certain products to not compete with British

14. MERCANTILE THEORY • Advantages ofmercantilism • VA/MD tobacco farmers guaranteed monopoly on English market. • Rights of Englishmen, but some self-government, no taxes to support army/navy to protect them • Until 1763, Navigation Laws were not a burden because laxly enforced (salutary neglect) • Merchants disregarded or evaded restrictions, some got rich by smuggling (e.g. John Hancock) • Average American better off economically than average English

17. *The Molasses Act (1733) • Mercantilism • Parliament attempted to hinder colonial trade with French West Indies & other countries. • Why? • American colonists smuggled & bribed to avoid the law

18. Transportation in the Colonies Roads • Dirt roads, dusty in summer-muddy in winter & spring • Dangerous- wills & prayers were common before trips • Towns – sprang up around rivers or oceans Taverns • “cradle of democracy • Place for gossip, news, & politics • All social classes mixed here Postal System • Set up mid 1700’s • Not private, not consistent early on

19. Dominant Denominations • By 1775, two tax supported (“ESTABLISHED”) churches • Anglican (Church of England) & the Congregational (rooted in Puritan New England) • The Anglican Church: official faith in Georgia, North & South Carolina, Chesapeake, & NY. • Supporter of royal authority • Less strict & more secular than Puritanical New England. • William & Mary (1693) est. to train better clergy. • No resident Bishops (rumor of an American bishopric)

20. The Congregational Church • Had grown out of the Puritan Church; est. in all New England colonies (not R.I.) • PRESBYTERIANISM – associated with Congregational churches-not official. • More political & anti-royal authority • “Presbyterianism, Congregationalism, & Rebellion” • Roman Catholics still discriminated against– but fewer existed in American colonies.

21. Contributing Causes of the Great Awakening • Early 18th century- religion was less intense • Puritan churches problems- elaborate theological doctrines & liberalization of membership rules. • Doctrine of predestination watered down by “good works doctrine” • Arminians (Jacobus Arminius) – taught that people could save themselves through free will.

22. *The Great Awakening(1730’s – 1740’s) • Began in Mass. with JonathanEdwards(regarded as greatest American theologian) • Rejected salvation by works, affirmed need for complete dependence on grace of God (“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”) • Orator George Whitefield followed, touring colonies, led revivals, countless conversions, inspired imitators Jonathan Edwards George Whitefield

23. Effects of the Great Awakening • Revival sermons across the colonies- countless sinners shrieked & rolled with emotionalism. • “Old Lights”- Orthodox clergymen skeptical of the emotionalism of Great Awakening. • “New Lights”- ministers who defended the Great Awakening.

24. Effects of the Great Awakening • Split the Congregational & Presbyterian churches • Increased the size of religious sects like the Baptists • Undermined the authority of older clergy • Increased competition among American churches (missionary work among Indians & Blacks) • Founding of New Light colleges (Dartmouth, Princeton, Brown, Rutgers) • Broke sectional differences –sense of unity? • ***1st spontaneous movement of the American people.

25. Education & Colleges • English- education reserved for privileged; for leadership not, citizenship- for males. New England • more interested education- religious reasons; later for secular reasons • Mainly for boys • Established primary & secondary schools The South & Middle Colonies • adequate elementary schools- some tax supported • Wealthy families used private tutors

26. Education • Emphasis on religion & classical languages (Greek & Latin) • Doctrine & Dogma over experience & reason • Severe discipline – “birching” Colleges • New England- prepare men for ministry at first • Wealthy southerners sent son over seas • 9 local colleges established in colonial era (theology & dead languages) * University of Pennsylvania- (Ben Franklin) 1st non-denominational college in America.

27. Culture • In art & culture, Americans relied heavily on Europe. Painters • John Trumbull (1756-1843) • Charles Wilson Peale (1741-1827) Portraits of George Washington • Benjamin West • John Singleton Copley - Official court painter; loyalist during American revolution; close friend to George III.

28. Peale- Copley- Paul Revere West- “Death of General Wolfe” Trumbull- “Declaration of Independence”

29. Architecture • Influenced by & imported from Europe • Modified to meet demands of New World • Log cabins – Sweden • Georgian-style (1720) –Williamsburg Va. Governor’s Mansion- Williamsburg

30. Literature • Undistinguished with a few exceptions. • Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)- slave girl never formally educated; published a book of poem in England at age 20. • Benjamin Franklin- “Poor Richard’sAlmanac”- contained pithy sayings & wisdom from the past (well known in Europe & America) • “Fish and visitors stink in three days” • ‘Plough deep while sluggards sleep”

31. Science • Benjamin Franklin- only 1st rank scientist produced by the American colonies. • Kite flying experiment- lightening is a form of electricity. • Bi-focals, Franklin Stove, lightening rod.

32. The Press • Americans too poor to buy books & too busy to read • Clergy held a few private libraries • Benjamin Franklin est. 1st public lending library in Philadelphia • 1776- 50 public libraries existed Printing Press • Pamphlets, leaflets, journals • 40 colonial newspapers in eve of revolution • Newspapers held essays written by anonymous authors • News lagged behind many weeks • **Peter Zinger Case 1734-1735- set precedent for freedom of press & public discourse

33. Politics • 13 colonial governments took various forms: 8 had royal governors, 3 had governors picked by proprietors, 2 had governors elected by citizens & were self-governing (RI & Conn) Almost all colonies had: • 2 house legislature (upper house appointed by crown & proprietors & lower house chosen by citizens) *Backcountry settlers were under-represented in some assemblies & hatred colonial elites even more than king. • Legislatures voted on: taxes as they chose.

34. Politics • Royal Governors- appointed by the King; sometimes incompetent & corrupt • Legislatures wielded “power of the purse” (one NC governor died with his salary 11 years in arrears) Local Government • County government- popular in south; town meetings popular in New England.

35. Politics Voting: no means a birthright • Religious or property requirements existed in all colonies in 1775. • About half adult white males could vote • Ease of land acquisition= voting not out of reach for many. • Office holders met stricter rules

36. Folkways • Life drab & tedious • Labor was heavy & constant • Food plentiful but, bland • Churches not heated, drafty homes, no running water, no plumbing • Lit homes with candles or whale-oil lamps • Amusement- house raisings, quilting bees • South- card playing, horse-racing, cock fighting, & fox hunting; stage plays • North- winter sports • Lotteries- approved & used by church & colleges • Holidays- Christmas, Thanksgiving