COLONIAL SOCIETY ON THE EVE OF REVOLUTION Chapter 5 COLONIAL SOCIETY ON THE EVE OF REVOLUTION

Common Features Of Colonies Populations were growing dramatically Between 1700 -1775 colonies doubled their population every 25 years. Reasons for population growth. Change in the ratio of blacks to white 90% of population lived in rural areas.

Population Location Most of population cooped up between Atlantic and Appalachian, Vanguard of settlers across mountains and as far as Tenn. and Kentucky. Va., Mass., Pa, NC and Maryland were the biggest colonies, in that order. Philly the biggest city with 34,000.

Colonial America was a melting pot by 1775. Germans (6%) (150,000) Scots-Irish (7%) Other Europeans (5%) Africans (20%)

Structure Of Colonial Society Compared to Europe, America was a land of equality and opportunity — except for slavery. Most remarkable feature was the ease with which could go from rags to riches on the social scale.

Structure Of Colonial Society By 1776 social stratification beginning to set in. Raised some barriers to upward mobility and fears that America becoming Europeanized.

Workaday America Agriculture was the leading industry — 90% of the people Tobacco the Staple crop in Maryland and Virginia Grain the primary crop in the Middle colonies.

Workaday America Colonist standard of living compared to rest of world. Major Industry in New England? Fishing/whaling Trade

Nature of Trade What was being traded to Europe? From Europe? What is the Triangular Trade?

Map 5.3: Colonial Trade Patterns, c. 1770

Colonial Manufacturing Manufacturing was limited and only of secondary importance. Reasons: 1)partly due to lack of money to invest 2) partly due to lack of laborers and 3) partly due to mercantilism.

Lumbering Lumbering was the most important manufacturing activity. Why were British so hungry for American timber? British Navy and merchant marines needed wood 1/3 of British merchant marine (Ships) was American-built. Rosin, pitch, tar and turpentine were also highly valued by shippers

Economic Problem in the 1730s What economic problems faced US in 1730s? England saturated with American products. Americans need cash and the only way to get cash is through sale of American goods. Thus, Americans want to tap other markets to sell their goods. Are shipping a lot of timber and food to the French West Indies, which is providing cash for Americans to buy from England. But………

Molasses Act of 1733 What did it say? What was the intent of the act? How do Colonists react?

Dominant Denominations Two established (tax supported) churches were dominant in the colonies— Anglican (Church of England) Congregational (Puritan) Many colonists did not attend church.

Anglican Church Official church in Ga., North and South Carolina, Va. and Maryland. Strongest in the south Not very fervent. Clergy was poorly trained. Anglicans lacked a bishop in America, thus all ministers had to train in England. Colonists resisted idea of an American Bishop. Why?

Congregational Church Congregational church formally established in all NE colonies except RI. Was a hotbed for rebellion, and as rebellion neared ministers often preached sedition from the pulpit.

The Great Awakening Causes: People less fervent. Puritan churches struggling. Why? “Dead dog” ministers. Ministers worried that the people had grown soft. Liberal ideas began to challenge old time religion.

The Great Awakening A religious revival in 1730-40’s Spread like wildfire. Was a reaction against the rationalism and enlightenment of the period that put reason above God. Reaction against complacency of religion. First North American Mass Movement

Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards Started Great Awakening. Deep thinker; burned with righteousness Views on Salvation. Famous sermon: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. George Whitefield More eloquent. Tried to lead people back to God through the passion of his rhetoric. Revival meeting.

Results of the Great Awakening People split off to new churches Undermined older clergy New denominations Increased missionary work Founding of new colleges Broke down sectional boundaries and contributed to sense of Americans as one people.

Schools and Colleges English view of education. New England schools Middle Colonies South-Field System Universities in America

Pioneer Presses Most people could not buy books. Only a few libraries based. Colonial newspapers. Newspapers typically contained dull essays and commentaries. Zenger Case

Government In The Colonies Originally: 8 were royal colonies. 3 were proprietorships ( Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware) 2 had self-governing charters (Connecticut and Rhode Island.) By time of Revolution, most were royal.

Common Features in Governments Almost all the colonies used a two-house legislature. Ability to Control the Governors Religious and/or property-owning requirements for vote existed in all colonies.