Social and Political Origins of the Revolution

1
Social and Political Origins of the Revolution
2
Social Origins

• Demographic trends pop. doubling every 20 yrs
  1700-1776 to 2.6 million
• Rise in non-English immigration (Scots,
  Scots-Irish, German, Irish, Austrian, French)
• High tide of slave trade400,000 forcibly
  imported 1700-50 black majorities in GA, SC, 40
  in VA, 20 in NYC, Newport RI

3
Social and Political Origins

• Economic trends
• 400 rise in imports, consume over ¼ of all
  English exports by 1750
• Increased trade, urbanization, artisan
  communities, diversification
• Anxiety over trade deficits and personal
  indebtednessthe colonial condition

4
Effects of demographic/economic changes

• Erosion of elite dominance
• VA factor system, Baptist counter-culture,
  planter debt, Indian conflicts
• NE new internal traders challenge Atlantic
  merchants land shortages and urban poverty
• PA, NY, Carolinas ethnic pluralism, westward
  expansion, E/W tensions

5
Effects of demographic/econ. changes

• Changing character of local politics
• elite infighting, mobilization of voters
• Patrick Henry, James Otisnew men, new popular
  styles
• DeLanceys v Livingstons (NY)
• Quakers v Penn Proprietors (PA)
• Popular party (Adams/Otis) v Gov. Council
  (Hutchinson/Oliver) (MA)

6
Effects of demographic/econ. changes

• Opposed to Rev. great Atlantic merchants, some
  poor farmers in NY, SC, NC, crown officials, some
  planters
• Economic interests/ Revolutionary choices
• Urban artisans, seamen
• New smaller traders
• Land speculators
• Indebted merchants planters

7
The Crowd in England and America

• posse comitatus-- the power of the country
• Hue and Cry, Riot Act
• targets theaters, Catholics, inoculation, press
  gangs, customs officials, food shortages,
  prostitution
• The Paxton Boys, S.C. Regulators, NY land
  riots--affirming the social order?

8
Shifts in Empire

• End of salutary neglect
• Four world wars, 1690-1748
• Louisbourg, 1748N.E. anger
• post-1748 activism of Board of Trade under
  Halifax
• Hat Act, Wool Act, Molasses Act, Iron Act
• Currency Act of 1751