Colonial Life from 17 th to 18 th century

1. Colonial Life from 17th to 18thcentury

3. Demographics • 18th century immigration from: • Germany • France • Scotland • birth rate / population growth • Abundant resources

5. Scots-Irish & Germans • Scots-Irish #1 Euro immigrant group • Initially welcomed – buffer between Indians & PA • Anti-authority wherever they went settled • Germans #2 Euro group • Seen as hard-working farmers • Clung to German traditions rather than “Anglicizing”

7. Backcountry was most diverse section of the English colonies The American Backcountry

8. Culture of colonies vs. England • Immigrant influence • African influence (S/Ch) • Frontiersman values • “Free land” • Superiority to natives

9. Culture of colonies vs. England • Self-governance • Religious tolerance (varied) • No aristocracy • Economics > birth • Social mobility • More in north than south

10. Culture – home life • Family – center of social / economic life • Traditional gender roles • 90% of families farmed

11. Culture – home life • Men relied on wives: • Work land • Raise children • Assist in business • Women respected / included in family decision making (often)

12. NE Culture • NE colonists lived longer than southerners • Better nutrition • Purer water • Cooler climate • Grandparents!

13. Education – New England • Extreme importance • “Old Deluder” laws (MA) • Elem schools funded – local taxes • Highest colonial literacy rate (by far) • Colonial Primers

15. Higher Education • Puritans believed everyone should read bible—very high literacy rate • Universities to train ministers: Harvard, Yale, William & Mary

16. The Enlightenment • Belief that reason & science can be used to obtain knowledge • Rational explanations for natural phenomena • World run by mathematical laws, not chance

17. Enlightenment in America • Rise of intellectual thought in America • Benjamin Franklin • Started U Penn • 1st American Philosophical Society

18. Education – other colonies • No public education • Wealthy relied on private tutors for children

19. Economy • Mercantilist agricultural econ • Land = money • Growth of communities – more professionals needed • Ministers, doctors, teachers, etc.

20. Economy – Transportation • Rivers/waterways best options • Most cities on rivers or coast • Roads not well maintained • Trading posts, taverns, postal systems

21. New England Economy • Cold weather / bad soil • Subsistence farming • No need for slaves

22. New England Economy • Dominant industries: • Logging • Shipbuilding • Fishing • Whaling • Rum

23. Middle Colonies Economy • Rich soil – many farms 200+ acres • Most staffed by family / hired help • Few slaves

24. Middle Colonies Economy • Exported to Europe & Caribbean • Wheat / corn • Ports grew into major cities • NYC • Philadelphia

25. Southern / Chesapeake Economy • Farms from 100 acres to 2000+ • Cash crops • Tobacco / rice / indigo • Naval stores

26. Southern / Chesapeake Economy • Plantations self-sufficient • Many rivers – plantations shipped directly • Only major city was Charleston

27. Governments in colonies • Executive Branch • Royal & proprietor colonies: governors appointed • CT & RI – voters elected

28. Governments in colonies • Legislative Branch • Bicameral legislatures • Lower house – popular vote • Voted on local issues / taxes • Upper house – appointed by king or proprietor

29. Governments in colonies • Judicial Branch • Local magistrates – minor disputes • Royal courts – major issues • Presided by royal governor

30. Voting rights • Property owning white men • Religious voting restrictions • Halfway Covenant (1662 – MA) • Banned (in NE) by W&M (1689)

31. Salem Witch Trials 1692 • Girls accused slave woman of being a witch, then accused others • Everyone panicked • Impossible to prove innocence • If someone was accused, they’d accuse others to get lesser punishment

32. Salem Witch Trials 1692 • 19 hanged • 1 pressed with heavy stones • About 12 died in prison • 200 accused

34. The Great Awakening

35. Decline in the church • 18th C - in religious devotion: • Outside NE– 1:15 church members • NE – 1:5 church members • Sermons seen as cold & impersonal • Led to a rise in Arminianism (free will, not predestination)

36. “Established” Churches • Received tax support • Anglican (C/O England) • Prosperous farmers & merchants • No bishop in colonies – slow growth • Symbol of English control

37. “Established” Churches • Congregationalist (Puritans in MA) • Independent spirited churches • Complex doctrine – many interpretations / styles • Called “Old lights”

38. Great Awakening • Series of Protestant revivals • Religious conversions • Not unified movement • Different groups/ places/ times • NE 1730s / Virginia 1750s & 60s

39. Jonathan Edwards • Influential evangelist • “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” • Famous sermon scared people about God’s wrath

40. George Whitefield • Most popular evangelist • Preached outdoor sermons to 1000s in nearly every colony

41. George Whitefield suffered from strabismus (crossed eyes)

43. Effects of Great Awakening • Schism – Old Lights & New Lights • NE Puritanism disintegrates •  of Baptists and Methodists •  of denominational colleges • Evangelical principle & revivalism • Need for toleration, dissent, & individual decision-making

44. Newspapers & publications

45. Poor Richard’s Almanack • Published annually by Ben Franklin 1732-58 • Made him famous

46. John Peter Zenger • NYC newspaper publisher • NY gov corruption • Libel case (1735) • Cause célèbre • Innocent verdict • Freedom of the press