Life in the Colonies 17th & 18th Century

A. Slavery

Introduction of Slavery 1st slaves arrive in VA in 1619 Not numerous because of price Factors favoring slavery: Self-renewing labor force Price decreases/begins new industry Caucasian superiority By 1750, slavery legal in ALL colonies

Bacon’s Rebellion (1676) Landless farmers forced to settle in Western VA Had trouble with Natives Governor Berkley sided with the Natives Bacon & 1000 men attacked the Natives & burned the capital

Labor in the South Problem with Indentured Servants: not easy to identify would gain freedom became landless poor Colonies would turn to African slaves – more so after the 17th century Middle Passage – trans-Atlantic trip from Africa

The Atlantic Slave Trade

Slave Codes Laws put into place to control the slaves Stated: Africans & all children were property Slaves could not be taught to read Christianity or conversion were not grounds for freedom

Slave Revolts 10 or more slaves trying to gain freedom Stono Rebellion (1739) – SC slaves trying to go to FL 80 Slaves Killed or sold to West Indies

B. Religion in the Colonies

Half-Way Covenant (1662) As population of New England grows, emphasis on religion declines Church leaders designed a new formula for Church membership trying to increase participation Would allow for “partial” membership Did not have to have the conversion experience Puritans trying to maintain control over New England

The Great Awakening (1730’s – 1740’s) Enlightenment ideas decreased church attendance in ALL colonies Great Awakening was a movement to bring religion back to ALL of the colonists Jonathan Edwards preached “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Instead of predestination – promised repentance would equal salvation

C. Political Life in the Colonies

Types of Colonies Royal Colonies NY, VA, GA, NH Proprietary MD, PA, DE, NC, SC, NJ Charter MA, CT, RI

Colonial Governments Governors: Two House Assemblies: Appointed by those who controlled the colony Had most of the power Only weakness – legislature controlled their salary Two House Assemblies: Had limited power Elected by property holding men Local Government: New England Town Meetings Appointed Justices of the Peace in South Elected County officials in Middle Colonies

Evolving Home Rule Began in New England Dominion of New England rejected and overthrown Navigation Acts ignored Bacon’s Rebellion’s shows the potential of the lower classes

D. A Changing Population

A Growing Population 1700 – 300,000 colonists 1775 – 2.5 million people Increase due to natural reproduction & immigration Growing Diversity German Scots-Irish Irish

Stratification of Society Upper Class: Plantation Owners (South) Wealthy Merchants, Lawyers, Clergy (North) Middle Class: Yeoman Farmers Lower Class: Tradesmen & Manual Laborers Slaves 17thc colonists were on equal footing 18thc colonists were divided into a rigid social hierarchy

Gender Roles Men: Head of Family/Property Owner In charge of “Outside Affairs” Church Politics Law Women Few Legal Rights Essential to well being of the Family In charge of “Inside Affairs” Child rearing Cultivation of the Garden Food Production/Preparation Maintaining Home Production of Clothing

E. Economy

Means of Living 80% of the population involved in agriculture by 1775 Humble lifestyles Up at dawn Bed at dusk More Clerics, Physicians, Merchants and Jurists emerged in the 18th century Americans had a higher standard of living than England

Triangular Trade Trade with other areas of the world made the colonies a success Known as Triangular Trade

Mercantilism The economy of colonies was to benefit the mother country Colonies provided raw materials, mother country provided finished products Compatible with the Middle and Southern economies, not with New England

The Navigation Acts (1650-1696) Laws passed to enforce policy of Mercantilism All foreign goods imported had taxes placed on them (tariffs) All goods exported to foreign nations had taxes Transportation had to be English Enumerated goods: tobacco, rice, indigo, fur, skins, pine masts, tar, and resin could only be shipped to England

Molasses Act (1733) Tax placed on Molasses from foreign nations The British had difficulty enforcing the tax Colonists were outraged Most colonial merchants turned to smuggling

Limitation of Competition Britain also limited the industries that would compete with British industries. Wool Act 1699 Hat Act of 1732 Iron Act of 1750

Salutary Neglect Policy of Robert Walpole Believed that without interference, the economy of the English empire would run smoother Stopped enforcing mercantilist laws Allowed for peace and prosperity to last until 1763

F. An Informed Society

Printing Presses Many printing presses allowed for newspapers By 1775, there were 40 newspapers in the colonies Best way to disseminate news (esp. in 1775)

John Peter Zenger Trial Trial from 1734-35 Case was about Zenger’s printing about the corrupt governor of NY Accused of libel – even though he printed the truth Victory! And gave us the idea of the freedom of the press