Colonial Society in the 18th Century

Population Growth From 1701-1775 colonial population grew from 250,000 to 2,500,000 for two reasons 1. immigration & high birth rate 2. fertile land & food supply encouraged large families

European Immigrants in the 18th century English – continued to settle in colonies although in smaller numbers Germans – settled on farmland west of Philadelphia. Maintained language customs & laws. 6% of pop. By 1775 Scotch – Irish – settled on the western frontier. 7% of pop. By 1776 Other Europeans – Huguenots, Dutch & Swedes. 5% of pop by 1775

All of the following statements are true about Scots-Irish immigrants to Pennsylvania EXCEPT (A) they were the first to settle the American West. (B) they were not actually of Irish descent. (C) many of them united with the American revolutionaries. (D) they brought with them the know-how for whiskey distilling. (E) they were tolerant of local Indians.

Population growth & Africans Largest single group of non – English immigrants 20 % of colonial population 90% lived in southern colonies Outside the south, thousands of African Americans worked as slaves and free wage earners Every colony had laws that discriminated & limited their rights Population growth & Africans

What were the political ramifications of the surging population growth in the American colonies from 1700 to 1775? (A) The number of colonies more than doubled from six to thirteen. (B) The ratio of American colonists to English subjects dramatically declined. (C) There were massive food shortages in the colonies. (D) The immigrant population surpassed those born in the colonies. (E) More people moved from the countryside to the growing cities.

The ethnic diversity of the eighteenth-century American colonies is significant because it (A) paved the way for a new, multicultural American identity. (B) fueled heightened tensions within the colonies. (C) made unity against the British difficult to achieve. (D) resulted in eighteen non-English signatories to the Declaration of Independence. (E) caused the eventual rift between the northern and southern colonies.

Structure of Colonial Society Dominance of English culture – majority of pop. Were of English origin. Others immigrants were creating diversity Self – government – each colony had a representative assembly that was elected by white male property owners. Only in Connecticut & Rhode Island was governor elected by people. Others were either appointed by crown or by a proprietor Religious toleration – all permitted different religions but with varying degrees of freedom. Mass. Was least tolerant. Rhode Island & Penn. Most tolerant Non hereditary aristocracy – class system based on economics. Wealthy landowners at top, craftspeople & small farmers were majority of commoners Social mobility – everybody had the opportunity to improve their social standard of living and social status through hard work. Ex – Benjamin Franklin

Which of these is NOT numbered among Benjamin Franklin’s many contributions to America? (A) Poor Richard’s Almanack (B) Inventions (C) Scientific experiments (D) Writing the Declaration Independence (E) The first public library

Family Life Center of colonial life Married at young age & had more kids 90% of people lived on farms Men – most men worked, own land & dominated politics. Unlimited power in the home, Women – confined to domestic work: educated children, worked next to husband on farm, in shop or on plantation. Divorce was rare Family Life

Economy Quickest route to wealth was through land New England: limited to subsistence farming, small family farms. Major industries - logging, shipbuilding, fishing, trading, and rum distilling Middle Colonies: wheat, corn exported to Europe. 200 acre farms worked by indentured servants. Some manufacturing – iron making & trade led to growth of New York & Philadelphia Southern Colonies: 2,000 plantations, cash crops of tobacco, rice and indigo. Shortage of indentured servants led to slave importation

Which of the following was the surest path to quick wealth in eighteenth-century America? (A) Commerce and land speculation (B) Tobacco farming (C) Wheat cultivation (D) Fishing (E) Buying and selling slaves

Monetary system: to control colonies, English tried to limit use of money. Colonists had to use hard currency, gold & silver to pay for imports from England. Colonies issued paper money to pay for trade at home which led to inflation Transportation: transported goods by water. People traveled buy horse and stage. Taverns provided food and lodging. Postal service was operating by mid-18th century over land & water Economy

Protestant Dominance – established churches - supported by taxes Protestant Dominance – established churches - supported by taxes. Two types: Church of England in Va. & Congregational Church in Massachusetts Bay & Connecticut. Anglicans - prosperous farmers and merchants in New York and plantation owners in the south. Congregationalists – successors to the Puritans, mainly in New England Religion

Great Awakening (1730’s -1740’s) Jonathan Edwards – “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon series in Mass. Argued that god was angry with human sinfulness. Only souls who expressed deep penance would be saved. All those who ignored Gods commandments were damned to hell George Whitefield - sermons on hellish torments of the damned. Preached in barns, tents & fields. Those who did not openly profess to believe in Jesus Christ would be cast into hell. Ordinary people who had faith could understand the Bible without depending on ministers to lead them Great Awakening (1730’s -1740’s)

Great Awakening (1730’s -1740’s) Religious impact – emotional ism became part of Protestant services as people tearfully confessed their guilt. Greater competition to attract followers, increased diversity and a call for separation of church & state Political influence – affected every social class. First common experience for all colonists. Increase in democratic ideals Great Awakening (1730’s -1740’s)

Which of these did NOT result from the Great Awakening? (A) The authority of older clergy was called into question. (B) Many new churches were established. (C) A new wave of Christian missionaries attempted to convert Indians and slaves. (D) Several colleges and universities were founded. (E) There was a heightened sense of sectional and regional differences.

Cultural Life Achievements Architecture – colonial houses were built in the Georgian style of London Painting Literature – most authors wrote on religion & politics. Most popular 18th century writer was Benjamin Franklin Poor Richard’s Almanac. Science – Benjamin Franklin invented the Franklin stove, bifocal glasses & discovered electricity

New England – puritans emphasized learning the Bible so they created tax supported schools. Towns of 50 families had to have a primary school for boys, more than 100 families the town had to have a grammar school to prepare boys for college Middle Colonies – either church supported or private Southern Colonies – tutors on plantations. Whatever was affordable Education

Professions From 1600’s – 1700’s Christian ministers were most popular Slowly more people became doctors due to disease and lawyers because legal problems became more complex Professions

Early college education in New England was designed to (A) prepare young men to become ministers. (B) educate future leaders. (C) create an enlightened citizenry. (D) teach boys to read and write. (E) encourage more men to enter the professions (law, medicine, etc.).

Newspapers were the most common form of communication Newspapers were the most common form of communication. Four pages, published weekly & contained ads for goods & services, news, essays for better living. First illustration was by Ben Franklin. Zenger Case – taken to trial for publishing an article that criticized New York’s governor. Jury acquitted him because the article was true & ignored English law that should have convicted him. Newspapers then start taking greater risks in criticizing colonial governments. Freedom of the press. The Press

The Zenger case is significant for (A) making sedition illegal. (B) establishing freedom of the press. (C) guaranteeing backcountry residents equal representation in colonial governments. (D) ensuring taxation through proper representation. (E) linking voting rights and office holding to property ownership.

Structure of government 8 royal colonies with governors appointed by King: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina & Georgia 3 proprietary colonies with governors appointed by proprietor: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware Connecticut & Rhode Island elected governors Local government – towns & villages common in New England = town meetings, few in south = county sheriffs Structure of government

voting Could not vote: women, poor white men, slaves & free blacks Some restrictions were removed in the 18th century. Ex – religious restrictions were removed in Mass. Voters in all colonies were required to own property Voters is all colonies deferred to the elite in society for representation. Representatives were part of the privileged elite rather than representing the larger society of plain citizens voting