Chapter 3 Colonial Society in the Eighteenth Century

POPULATION EXPLOSION AND COLONIAL SELF-RULE THE COLONIAL POPULATION INCREASED AT AN EXTREMELY FAST PACE AFTER 1700 NEW ARRIVALS MADE UP OF: INDENTURED SERVANTS FROM EUROPE, SLAVES FROM AFRICA, AND BIRTHS FROM COLONISTS CLEAN DRINKING WATER, PLENTY OF FOOD, AND GOOD CLIMATE WERE MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE SPIKE IN BIRTHS BETWEEN 1680-1776 MOST COLONIES HAD SOME FORM OF AN ELECTED LEGISLATURE WHICH FOSTERED A DESIRE TO SELF-RULE

Women in the Northern Colonies Women in the Middle Colonies Women in the Southern Colonies Were considered “second class citizens”, similar to the Northern colonies Did not have the right to vote, own property, or preach in church Were “in charge” of most domestic chores, such as cooking, tending livestock, cleaning, sewing, and washing clothes Women in middle class and upper class were spared most of the mundane chores of everyday life, but still were submissive to their husbands Had few social, legal, or political rights Daily chores included: weaving, sewing, tending the family garden, feeding livestock, baking for the family as well as serving food. She would also be in charge of making soap and candles. Only single or widowed women could own property or be business owners Since agriculture was the major industry women played a role in the success of the farm. Women milked cows, and churned the milk into butter and cream. Women collected animal fat to make soap. They also picked fruits from the orchards like apples, pears and peaches.

Northern Colonial Economy This region is often referred to as “New England” Soil was infertile which led many to the sea to make their living Codfish fisheries soon became the “goldmine” of New England Whale hunting became profitable Rum from New England used in Triangular Trade routes Small factory manufacturing became common British government paid bounties for maritime products such as pitch, tar, and rosin

Overview of the New England colonies New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut Long, cold winters as well as mountains did not allow for large-scale farming Most settlers came from England Main industries were lumbering, shipbuilding, fishing, iron works, and wool production Most villages and towns were near harbors In the early years life was regulated by strict religious beliefs

Middle Colonies Economy Called the breadbasket of the colonies because of the large amount of grain they produced Forests provided raw materials for ship building and lumber industries Manufacturers also sold iron, glass, and pottery products Some estates were similar to southern plantations, but relied on free labor and indentured servants rather than slaves

Overview of the Middle Colonies NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE Ethnically diverse, especially along the Hudson river Busy shipping ports Lush farmland led to grain and livestock production like wheat and rye, beef and pork Cottage industries were weaving, shoemaking, cabinet making, and other artisan crafts Additional workers were recruited from Europe as indentured servants, who would work for a specified number of years to pay for their passage

LARGE SCALE FARMING DOMINATED THE SOUTHERN COLONIES Two distinct regions: the Tidewater (close to water transportation) and the Piedmont Chief products of the Tidewater area included rice, indigo, and tobacco Chief products in the Piedmont included farming on a smaller scale, trapping game, and hunting Tidewater residents and Piedmont residents frequently clashed (as in Bacon’s Rebellion) as Piedmont residents felt their concerns were ignored by colonial legislatures

Overview of the Southern Colonies MARYLAND, VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA The economy was based on the large scale cash crops of tobacco, rice, and indigo Class division between very wealthy and poor Reliant on slave labor Some religious toleration as the focus of the region was to make money The Atlantic Ocean served as the middle passage for the slave trade Mostly rural areas, less urban growth

The Great Awakening Some Puritans had moved away from the original Puritan ideal and were beginning to seek material comforts. Puritan church attendance declined Some Puritan clergy, such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, sought to restore the original Puritan ideal and increase church attendance The Great Awakening also targeted African Americans and Native Americans RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE COLONIES IN THE EARLY 1700s. IT WAS BASED ON REVIVALISM WHICH STRESSED INDIVIDUAL RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE RATHER THAN NEEDING CHURCH LEADERS TO CONNECT WITH GOD CONTRIBUTED TO A SENSE OF EQUALITY SINCE ALL PEOPLE WERE QUALIFIED TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE CHURCH IT IS WIDELY BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR FACTOR WHICH LED TO THE SENSE OF FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE UNDERLYING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION While Enlightenment figures sought to explain natural phenomena in scientific terms, another group of colonists sought to return back to a religious revival. Many, such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, sought to return to the basic Puritan philosophy. Their concern was that Puritans had become so enamored with worldly goods and comforts, that they were forsaking the Puritan ideal. It was the goal of these ministers to bring Puritans back to the fold. In addition to bringing back “straying” Puritans, the Great Awakening also brought Native Americans and African Americans to organized religion.

IMPACT OF THE GREAT AWAKENING • Divisions in American Protestantism – “Old Lights”—opponents of Great Awakening – “New Lights”—supporters of Great Awakening • New Protestant sects created – increased need for religious toleration in America • Institutions of higher education created – needed to develop an educated, “American” clergy • Empowered women • Introduced revivalism into American religion • Stressed egalitarianism • Influenced political behavior

The Trial of John Peter Zenger (August 4, 1735)

Arguments of Case Verdict of Case Background to Case Prosecution argued that Zenger “wickedly and maliciously” printed articles against the governor and his ministers Zenger legally couldn’t defend himself by trying to prove that he published the truth Zenger’s lawyer, Andrew Hamilton, argued that the truth should determine if the articles were libelous or not The jury only took a “short time” to rule not guilty in favor of Zenger Jury initiated the practice of jury nullification The case opened the turn for the freedom of press rights found in Bill of Rights (1789) Zenger was a German printer who worked for the New York Weekly Journal He wrote articles that criticized NY governor, William Cosby Cosby had Zenger arrested for “seditious libel” The Weekly Journal was not published the next day, November 18.  It would be the only issue missed in its publishing history.  The next week, with the help of Zenger's wife, Anna, the Journal resumed publication with an issue that included this "apology": As you last week were disappointed of my Journal, I think it incumbent on me to publish my apology, which is this.  On the Lord's Day, the seventeenth, I was arrested, taken and imprisoned in the common jail of this City by virtue of a warrant from the Governor, the honorable Francis Harison, and others in the Council (of which, God willing, you will have a copy); whereupon I was put under such restraint that I had not the liberty of pen, ink or paper, or to see or speak with people, until my complaint to the honorable Chief Justice at my appearing before him upon my habeas corpus on the Wednesday following.  He discountenanced that proceeding, and therefore I have had since that time the liberty of speaking thro' the hole of the door to my wife and servants.  By which I doubt not you will think me sufficiently excused for not sending my last week's Journal, and hope for the future, by the liberty of speaking to my servants thro' the hole of the door of my prison, to entertain you with my weekly Journal as formerly.