Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution

1
Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution

• 1700 - 1775

2
Colonial Population by 1775

• 2.5 million people (including .5 million blacks)
• Population doubled every 25 yrs.
• Average age 16
• 90 lived in rural areas

3
A Mingling of the Races(melting pot p. 85)

• Most non-English groups moved to the frontier
• Single largest non-English group Africans (20
  in the South)

• New England least ethnically diverse
• Middle colonies most diverse population
• Intermarrying laid foundations for new
  multicultural America

4
Scots-Irish

• Great frontiersmen / anti-British government
• 1764 Paxton Boys // Philadelphia
• Protested Quakers lenient policy towards Native
  Americans
• Regulator Movement / North Carolina (a few years
  later)
• Small, nasty insurrection against eastern
  domination of colonys affairs

5
Professionals

• Most honored profession Christian ministry
• Held in low esteem Physicians
• Lawyers (until 1750)

6
Colonial Society

• More stratified with barriers to mobility (18th
  century)
• Colonies had more equality/opportunity than
  Europe
• Class of widows orphans

• Landholdings were being subdivided/ Average size
  of farms shrank
• South wealth concreted in the hands of a few
• Paupers convicts dumped by London in colonies

7
Colonial Economy

• Colonial economy based on agriculture (90)
  except in New England where shipbuilding
  commerce were important p. 91
• Most important manufacturing activity lumber
• 1730s fast-breeding Americans demanded more
  more English products. However, English
  population early reached saturation point for
  absorbing imports.
• Solution foreign (non-English) markets

8
Foreign Markets

• Triangular trade very profitable map p. 93
• West Indies especially the French islands, major
  trade partners with colonies
• Molasses Act (1773) inhibited colonial trade
  with French West Indies
• Smuggling began

9
Transportation Problems

• Roads were poor rivers most efficient means of
  travel
• Taverns along main routes
• another cradle of democracy
• hotbeds of agitation as the Revolutionary
  movement gathered momentum.
• Intercolonial postal system established by mid
  1700s

10
Colonial Religions

• 2 tax-supported churches Anglican
  Congregational
• Anglican (Church of England) less fierce, more
  worldly/ supported by the king
• Congregational grew out of Puritan Church
• Anglican -dominant in the South
• Congregational -dominant in New England
• Presbyterians were predominant on the frontier
• Catholics were discriminated against

11
The Great Awakening 1730s 1740s

• Several religious problems in the early 18th
  century
• Belief in good works individual free will
• lead to this arousing revival
• Characterized by emotional sermons
• Increased the number of church goers missionary
  work with Indians black slaves increased
• Lead to establishment of several colleges

12
Jonathan Edwards -1734

• Preached folly of believing in salvation through
  good works
• Affirmed need for Gods grace
• Preached on hell
• Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

13
George Whitefield - 1738

• Former alehouse attendant
• Great orator
• Preached on human helplessness divine
  omnipotence

14
Schools Colleges

• Education was most important in New England
• Important for Bible reading
• Primary secondary schools
• Some schools in Middle Southern colonies
• Emphasis was placed on religion/classical
  languages
• Independent thinking discouraged
• Early colonial colleges p. 98

15
Colonial Culture

• Materialistic atmosphere was not favorable to
  artistic endeavor
• Art was an invention of the Devil
• Portrait artists had to go to England
• Architecture was imported from Europe
• Colonial literature was undistinguished except
  for
• Poetry of Phillis Wheatley (slave girl)
• Benjamin Franklin Poor Richards Almanack
  1732-1758
• Scientist electricity,bifocals, stove

16
Charles Wilson Peale

• John Nicholson, 1790

17
Charles Wilson Peale

• Mrs. John Nicholson and John Nicholson, 1790

18
John Singleton Copley

• Paul Revere

19
John Singleton Copley

• Portrait of the Copley family, 1776

20
Colonial Presses

• 50 public libraries by 1776 supported by
  subscriptions
• 40 newspapers by 1776 aired colonial grievances
  rallying opposition to British control
• Peter Zenger libel case in New York (1734-35)
• Newspaper was sued for libel by Gov.
• Newspaper found not guilty / true statements
  about public officials could not be prosecuted as
  libel
• Led to freedom of the press

21
Political Situation in 1775

• 8 colonies had royal governors - appointed by the
  king
• 3 colonies had proprietors who chose governors-
  
• Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware
• 2 colonies elected their own governor
  Connecticut Rhode Island
• Colonies controlled legislatures taxes
  governors salaries

22
Political Situation conti.

• Every colony had a 2 house legislature
  bicameral
• Upper house chosen by king, proprietor, or
  voters
• Lower house elected by people
• All colonies required religious or property
  qualifications for voting holding office
  many didnt vote
• Far more democratic than England and Europe

23
Colonial Folkways

• Everyday life was difficult tedious
• Food was plentiful
• Amusement/sports p.103
• Most popular holiday Thanksgiving
• By 1775 colonists were basically English in
  language customs, Protestant in religion, some
  degree of ethnic religious toleration