US History Chapter 1 Section 3 Colonial Life

Main Idea The American colonies developed politically, culturally, and economically

Reading Focus How did political and economic events lead to the beginnings of self-government in the colonies? How did the colonial economy differ in the North and the South? How did the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening contribute to America’s emerging culture? What were the causes and effects of the French and Indian War?

Beginnings of Self-Government Colonists felt the British taxed them unfairly so they began to smuggle items into colonies (very popular method) Rising tensions surfaced between colonists and British-colonists felt they should be able to make money to profit themselves Mercantilism: widely used by GB- “As a nations power derived from its wealth” Great Britain passed Navigation Acts- which restricted trade among colonists Angered Americans

Colonial Self-Government Some colonists resisted Royal rule and tried to maintain their established assemblies “ Heavy British Persuasion” Even though British officials were involved in colonial policy, they really did not rule that strictly (Salutary Neglect) Local governments were more influential than British officials

Colonial Government Each colony had a governor > Royal- governor appointed by the Monarch > Proprietary- governor chosen by the proprietor (Governor’s council chosen the same way) Colonists government modeled after Parliament Bicameral (2 houses) Governors Council Elected Assembly (Upper) (lower)

Colonial Economy Northern- Commerce based Southern- Agricultural Based North- Subsistence Farming only because of terrain / relied heavily timber, textiles, and iron- Had plentiful harbors for trade (part of the Triangular trade) South- Small farms and some large plantations (Rice, tobacco, small farms yielded livestock, beef, pork, corn, wheat, fruit, and vegetables)

Impact of Slavery As Britain and Spanish settlers established their labor –intensive plantations and haciendas. The demand for workers increased -Old Way-Indentured Servitudes / Native Americans -New Way- Africans Middle Passage- Great human suffering as thousands of Africans were kidnapped and shipped to America Both North and South housed Africans, but it was more abundant in the south…………….WHY?

America’s Emerging Culture The Enlightenment- the belief that logic and reason (tools of science) could be used to improve society law, and government GB- John Locke wrote “The Two Treatises of Government” (1690) “Government had the duty to protect citizen’s natural rights such as life, liberty, and property French- Baron Montesquieu believed powers of government should be divided so that one group wouldn’t be too powerful Social Contract Hey wait……isn’t that where we got our ideas from for our constitution?

The Great Awakening 1730- Jonathan Edwards (Puritan Clergy) was a member of the Great Awakening This was a large American Revival held in order to gain more people back to the church (many believed Enlightenment thinkers corrupted society) Great Awakening did make church more accessible to the colonists and membership grew Immigrants poured in by the thousands- Scots, Scots-Irish, Germans, Jews

Life in the Colonies Paved streets (lit by oil lamps) Busy ports Libraries Plays Newspapers Schools Major cities began to grow (New York, Philadelphia, Boston)

French and Indian War 1756-1763 (7 Year War) Power struggle between Great Britain, France, and Spain sparked constant turmoil and battles over territorial rights in the new frontier France had a large fur trade business in Central North America and had built alliances with the Algonquin and Huron Indians There was disputed territory over the Appalachian region between Great Britain and France Early part of war favored France- > unfamiliar territory to GB >Indians allied with France > GB lost many Soldiers William Pitt took over as British Military Commander and forced colonists to fight for GB / housed Soldiers in colonist’s homes Treaty Of Paris 1763 ended War

French and Indian War Battlegrounds Hot Spot Battles fought from Virginia to Nova Scotia GB- Iroquois / Cherokee France- Algonquin / Abenaki / Mohawk / Ottawa / Shawnee / Wyandot

Impact of War French and Indian War dramatically changed boundaries in North America This war prompted colonies to unify under Benjamin Franklin’s “Albany Plan” (first attempt to unify colonies) GB gained all of France’s land east of the Mississippi River and into Canada but Spain got Louisiana GB plagued with a huge war debt and thought the colonists should help pay for the war GB influence on Midwest territories prompted conflicts with the Indians (1762- Pontiac’s Rebellion) GB develops Proclamation of 1763- colonists could not settle on lands west of the Appalachian Mountains (colonists ignored this proclamation)

Colonists be like: “Hmmm…maybe we can venture westward”