Chapter 3: Putting Down Roots — Opportunity and Oppression in Colonial Society Mrs. Simon

17th Century New England Colonies What was a source of stability in New England Colonies in the 1600s? Answer: the family New Englanders believed God ordained family for social benefit Crossed Atlantic in nuclear families Preserved local customs Also: super high survival rate Overwhelming portion of population was married Towns were collections of families; churches built on family foundation

17th Century New England Colonies, continued What was a source of stability in New England Colonies in the 1600s? Answer: the family Household work was very demanding Family provided education Parents instructed Christianity and reading Harvard (1638) and Yale (1702) established Women worked, too, but were inferior to men in some ways Performed different tasks Worshipped in greater numbers Did not hold same political, legal standing as men

Social Hierarchy in New England Social structure was different from Europe because where were no noblemen or paupers Rulers in the colonies were men of “modest status” Wealth and education did help with social status in New England Most northern colonists were land-owning, independent farmers (yeomen) Northern colonists worked as servants (apprentices) Apprenticeship was a form of vocational education Type of labour performed did not need large groups of forced labourers

Challenge of the Chesapeake Environment The environment, labour, and economy (agriculture) account for the difference between the Chesapeake and New England Most significant: the death rate Men and women did not move as families Diseases cut life expectancy; sex ratio cut fertility rate Poor access to drinking water, hot weather Family was not an institution that provided stability

The Structure of Planter Society What factors led to the pattern of social development in the Chesapeake region? Tobacco became the staple crop of the region, but it generated inequality Growth was labour intensive; planters had to own and control labour Planters relied on unfree labours Social structure that developed centered on making groups of people dependent

The Structure of Planter Society, continued Chesapeake society was dominated by planters Eventual members of the gentry arrived with capital Invested in fertile land and laborers Freemen were the largest class Often, traveled as indentured servants and survived Indentured servants were below freemen Upward social mobility stagnated after 1680 Higher life expectancy, slave ownership helped rich become richer Gentry consolidated hold on political, economic institutions Social institutions of New England were nonexistent — schools, churches

Race and Freedom in British America Slaves were brought to the Americas to cultivate rice, sugar and tobacco Slaves were brought primarily for economic reasons — labour First landed in Virginia in 1619 By 1700, slavery was based on skin colour Size, density of slave population determined cultural identity of blacks Early 1700s: black births surpassed black deaths Stono Uprising in 1739 left whites frightened of slave revolts

Rise of a Commercial Empire — Mercantilism After Restoration of Charles II in 1660, colonies were brought tightly under control of England, until 1765 Dominant economic principle was mercantilism Argument: one nation’s commercial success meant a loss for its rivals King wanted money, gentry wanted a stronger navy, England wanted a favorable balance of trade Navigation Act of 1660 encourage domestic shipbuilding Along with 1663 act, helped eliminate Dutch and dried up smuggling

Political Revolt, 1676-1691 — Nathaniel Bacon Long-standing differences existed within colonies; these led to incidents of revolt Bacon’s Rebellion: many indentured servants found themselves without money, food, clothing 1675: Natives attacked outlying plantations Bacon responded by leading an army against the Natives Governor Berkeley called Bacon a traitor Bacon and his supporters had a grievance against Berkeley’s government, and were demanding reforms

Political Revolt, 1676-1691 — Glorious Revolution in New England Massachusetts Bay leaders were divided between Royal officials (Anglicans) and Puritans, especially over British policies King Philip’s War, 1675: Metacomet (a Wampanoag), plus Narragansett Indians, destroyed colonial villages In retaliation, Natives were forced off their land 1684: Court of Chancery annulled charter of Massachusetts Bay Company James II restructured government — created Dominion of New England Selected Sir Edmund Andros as governor 1689 — Glorious Revolution in England — Bay Colonists overthrew Andros 1691: Massachusetts got a new charter — king selected governor

Political Revolt, 1676-1691 — The Salem Witch Trials Instability in Massachusetts following Andros’ arrest contributed to fears of witchcraft overwhelming the community Salem, Massachusetts (1691): teenage girls began to act strangely The accusation was witchcraft, and it led to the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 Eventually ministers pleaded for leniency Why witchcraft accusations? Economic tensions: poorer farmers accused richer ones of witchcraft Social tensions: misogyny

Political Revolt, 1676-1691 — The Glorious Revolution in New York & Maryland Lorem ipsum Leisler’s Rebellion Jacob Leisler resented success of newer, Anglo-Dutch NY residents 1689: seized a fort in the name of William and Mary New royal governor declared Leisler a rebel and executed him Pro- and anti-Leisler factions dominated NY politics Anti-Catholic sentiment erupted in Maryland in 1689 John Coode and Protestant Association forced governor to resign 1691: Maryland transformed to royal colony; 1715: proprietorship returned to Lord Baltimore