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1
The British colonies were shaped by prosperity,
literacy, and new movements in religion and
thought.
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2
Early American Culture
Land, Rights, and Wealth
Cheap farmland, many resources give colonists
chance to prosper
Property owners, landowners, city dwellers who
pay fee could vote
American colonies have three classes - high
ranklarge landowners - middle ranksmall
farmers - low rankservants, slaves, hired
workers
Colonial women hold the same rank as their
husbands or fathers
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3
Women and the Economy
Enslaved African women help raise cash crops
Most white women are farm wives do housework,
tend gardens, animals
Also work in fields, barter with neighbors for
goods and services
Women in towns do housework, some run inns,
businesses
Women could not vote, preach, or hold office
Women could not own property without husbands
permission
Women working in Colonial Tin ware shop (18th
century).
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4
Young People at Work
Colonial families often large more children
means more workers
At age 6, boys are breeched, help father at
work
At age 11, boys often become apprenticeslearn
trade from craftsmen
Work free 47 years receive necessities,
training then work for wages
Girls rarely apprenticed, learn household
skills from mother
At age 13 or 14, often sent to households to
learn specialized skills
A potter and assistants working in Colonial
America (18th century).
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5
Colonial Schooling
Most children are taught to read to understand
Bible
Only children from rich families learn writing,
arithmetic
Poor children learn reading from mother or
dame schools
Textbooks emphasize religion
Colonial America has high literacy rate
Educated African Americans rare illegal to
teach enslaved to read
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6
Newspapers and Books
Many newspapers appear in colonial America
Most books come from England gradually
colonists publish own books
Almanacs, regional histories, personal stories
are popular
Captivity narratives popular, about colonists
captured by Native Americans
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7
The Great Awakening
Many colonists lose religious passion religion
seems dry, distant
In 1730s, 1740s, the Great Awakening religious
movement is influential - emphasizes inner
religious emotion - deemphasizes outward
religious behavior
Jonathan Edwards is a popular preacher involved
with Great Awakening
Continued . . .
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8
continued The Great Awakening
Great Awakening changes colonial
culture - congregations argue about religious
practices, split apart - many join other
Protestant groups - some groups welcome women
- some groups welcome African Americans,
Native Americans
Inspires George Whitefield sermons raise money
for home for orphans
Great Awakening encourages equality, right to
challenge authority
English evangelist George Whitefield giving a
sermon (18th century).
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9
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment emphasizes knowledge through
reason, science
Benjamin Franklin is famous American
Enlightenment figure
Enlightenment begins in Europe scientists
discover natural laws
Continued . . .
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10
continued The Enlightenment
English philosopher John Locke says people have
natural rights - rights to life, liberty,
property - natural rights protected by
government - if government fails, people have
right to change it
Ideas about natural rights, government
influence Europe, colonies
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11
Colonists expected their government to preserve
their basic rights as English subjects.
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12
Roots of Representation
The Rights of Englishmen
In 1215, King John is forced to accept Magna
Carta (Great Charter)
Magna Carta grants rights to English noblemen
and freemen - cannot have property seized by
king or his officials - in most cases, cannot
be taxed unless council agrees - cannot be
put on trial without witnesses - can be
punished only by jury of peers
King John signs the Magna Carta in 1215.
Illustration after Alonzo Chappel.
Over time, rights of Magna Carta are granted to
all English people
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13
Parliament and Colonial Government
ParliamentEnglands chief lawmaking body has
two houses - members of House of Commons are
elected by the people - members of House of
Lords are nonelected
English colonists form representative
assemblies like House of Commons
Continued . . .
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14
continued Parliament and Colonial Government
English colonists govern themselves in some
ways
England has authority over colonial governments
Parliament has no colonial representatives
Passes laws that affect colonies
Colonists dislike these laws, clash with
king-appointed royal governor
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15
A Royal Governors Rule
James II becomes king (1685), imposes strict
rule on colonies
Combines Massachusetts and Northern colonies
into one dominion
Appoints royal governor Edmund Andros to rule
dominion
Andros ends representative assemblies
colonists refuse to pay taxes
Sir Edmund Andros, British Colonial governor in
America.
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16
Englands Glorious Revolution
English Parliament overthrows King James,
appoints William and Mary
Change in leadership is called Englands
Glorious Revolution (1688)
Continued . . .
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17
continued Englands Glorious Revolution
William and Mary uphold the English Bill of
Rights (1689) - monarch cannot cancel laws,
- cannot impose taxes unless Parliament
agrees - free elections, frequent meetings
of Parliament - excessive fines and cruel
punishment forbidden - people can complain to
monarch without being arrested
Establishes government based on law, not on
desires of ruler
American colonists claim these rights
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18
Shared Power in the Colonies
After Glorious Revolution, Massachusetts
regains self-government
Still have king-appointed royal governor
Governor, his council, colonial assembly share
power
Continued . . .
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19
continued Shared Power in the Colonies
Royal governor can strike down laws
Colonial assembly responsible for governors
salary
If governor blocks law, assembly might refuse
to pay him
England has little involvement in colonial
affairssalutary neglect
Governors rarely enforce certain laws
colonists feel independent
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20
The Zenger Trial
John Peter Zengerpublisher of New-York Weekly
Journal
In 1735, he prints criticism of New Yorks
governor
At the time, illegal to criticize government in
print
Stands trial jury says he has right to speak
truth
Is released colonists move toward freedom of
press
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Journalist John Peter Zenger acquitted in libel
case (1735)a victory for freedom of the press.
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Britains victory in the French and Indian War
forced France to give up its North American
colonies.
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22
The French and Indian War
France Claims Western Lands
French claim territory from Appalachian range
to Rocky Mountains (1682)
Main French settlements along the St. Lawrence
River in Canada
Colony of New Frances population about 80,000
(1760)
British colonies population more than a
million settlers (1760)
A French trader visits a Native American family.
Many Europeans in New France work as fur traders
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23
Native American Alliances
English compete with French for furs
Native American groups compete to supply furs
to Europeans
Huron, Algonquin peoples allies of French
Iroquois allies of English
Series of wars between French, English, and
Native American allies
Final war is the French and Indian War
(17541763)
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24
Conflict in the Ohio River Valley
British fur traders move into Ohio River Valley
(1750s)
French destroy village and British trading post
to keep British out
French build forts to protect region Virginia
colony upset, claim region
French refuse to leave, capture English fort,
rename it Fort Duquesne
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25
War Begins and Spreads
George Washington surrenders Fort Necessity to
French troops (1754)
French and Indian War part of larger Seven
Years War
Seven Years War is worldwide struggle for
empire between Britain, France
Iroquois refuse to ally themselves with British
Benjamin Franklins plan to unite
coloniesAlbany Plan of Union
Colonial legislatures defeat this plan
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26
Braddocks Defeat
British send General Edward Braddock, two
regiments to Virginia
Braddock and his troops defeated by French and
Indian troops (1755)
Interactive
Braddock killed second-in-command Washington
miraculously survives
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27
The British Take Quebec
By 1759, British control six French forts
For two months British unable to capture the
fort at Quebec
Finally, British troops sneak up cliff path,
attack fort in morning
British commander James Wolfe, French commander
Montcalm killed
British defeat French at Battle of Quebec
turning point of war
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British troops disembark and climb cliff path in
attack on French Quebec (1759).
28
The Treaty of Paris
Britain, France battle in other parts of world
three more years
Seven Years War ends in 1763 British win
Treaty of Paris - Britain claims all of North
America east of the Mississippi - France
gives New Orleans and Louisiana territory to
Spain - Britain gives Cuba, Philippines to
Spain for Florida - ends French power in
North America
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29
Pontiacs Rebellion
British settlers move onto Native American
lands
Native Americans attack settlers, destroy
fortsPontiacs Rebellion
British give Delaware war leaders
smallpox-infected blankets
This starts deadly outbreak Native Americans
retreat
British issue Proclamation of 1763 - forbids
colonists to settle west of Appalachians
- angers colonists who thought they had won
right to settle
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