Foundations of Conflict Between England and the Colonies

African women helped raise cash crops such as tobacco and indigo. White women were farm wives who helped around the house and made products their families needed. Women did not have many rights. Women could not vote. In most churches, they could not preach or hold office. (Quaker meetings were an exception.)

Most families had six to eight children. Most children were expected to start working by 4 years old. Boys were taught a craft at 6 years old. Girls learned sewing, weaving, and cheese making.

Most children were taught to read so they could read the bible. School was completed at age 7.

Region% that could read New England Colonies85% Middle Colonies60% Southern Colonies50%

Why do you think more people could read (literate) in New England compared to the Southern Colonies?

Religion was more central and important to the New England colonies, so the ability to read so one could read the Bible was stressed more.

Beginning in the 1730s, many colonists had lost their religious passion. A religious movement called the “The Great Awakening” reenergized colonists religious zeal and spirit. To reinvigorate colonists’ religious spirit, preachers traveled from town to town holding outdoor “revival” meetings. Preachers such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield held fiery sermons that warned colonists of God’s wrath, anger and the possibility of Hell if they did not revive their devotion and commitment to God.

Some churches began to invite African Americans and Native American to their services. Their attendance made some colonists begin to think about equality. Churches began helping communities. Orphanages were opened. People were donating time and money to help. People were willing to fight for what they thought was wrong.

The Great Awakening encouraged ideas of liberty, equality, and fighting for moral principles which would all provide foundations for ideas reflected in the American Revolution.

Unlike the Great Awakening, which stressed religious emotion, the Enlightenment emphasized reason, logic, and science as the paths to knowledge. The Enlightenment challenged religion and tradition, especially the rulers’ divine right to govern. The Enlightenment began in Europe, as scientists discovered natural laws governing the universe like the Law of Gravity.

John Locke argued that people have natural rights. Natural rights are rights humans have just by existing. These are rights to life, liberty, and property. 2 ideas: 1. Governments only exists to protect the people. If they fail, the government can be destroyed. 2. Kings are not given power by God to rule.

From England established a period of salutary neglect with the thirteen colonies Salutary neglect was the period of time when England essentially left the colonies alone to take care of themselves. England hardly enforced any economic or political control over the colonies during this time. The period of salutary neglect ended in 1763 with the end of the French and Indian War.

What changed in the relationship between England and the colonies after the French and Indian war?

England amassed a huge war debt from defending the colonies in the French and Indian War. To pay down the debt, England would need to exercise more political and especially economic control over the colonies.

How do you think the colonists are going to react to England taking a more active role in their economic activities and governance?

Colonists were angry about England’s increased authority.