Teaching American History Leadership in Colonial America

Agenda for the Day Intro Political leadership: William Shirley Leadership in Native American Communities: Pontiac & Neolin Cultural leadership: Benjamin Franklin [Break for Lunch] Leading voices against slavery: Venture Smith & John Woolman Economic leaders: Eliza Lucas Pinckney

Introduction – 18 th Century Colonial British North America In what contexts do you currently teach colonial America? What do you currently emphasize? What are the main points of the Countryman reading?

Political Leadership William Shirley, Governor of Massachusetts from

Questions for William Shirley How did he rise to become governor? What challenges did he face as governor? How did he respond?

Early life in England Born 1694 The Shirley family Education His patron: the Duke of Newcastle

Shirley in Massachusetts 1731: moves to Boston 1733:Judge on he admiralty court 1741: becomes governor

Shirley’s challenges Political Context Appointed Governors Elected lower house –Power to raise revenue –Sets salary of governor Governor’s council Limited enforcement mechanisms Economic Context Navigation Acts (1651) Molasses Act (1763) Enforcement?

Shirley’s Responses What are his possible options in dealing with the legislature? Dispenses patronage Seeks assistance from patrons Written appeals to responsibility to king and people King George’s war provides opportunity Visits defenses in Harbor & in Maine Greater defense spending Assault on French fort at Louisbourg (1745)

Cape Breton Island

Shirley estate in Roxbury

How does political leadership now compare to Shirley’s experience?

Native American Leadership: Pontiac & Neolin

Questions How was leadership among the Ottawa and Delaware different from leadership in colonial Massachusetts? What challenges did Pontiac face? How did he respond?

Native American Populations ca. 1740

End of French and Indian War Lord Amherst: Prohibit certain trade goods to Native Americans Refuse to establish new trade posts Limit use of gifts to cement alliances

Pontiac (ca ) Member of Ottawa nation Ottawa culture Leadership among the Ottawa Role of trade in leadership Ogema Pontiac’s challenges

Neolin Member of the Delaware (Lenni Lenape) Delaware compared with Ottawa Neolin’s response

Pontiac’s War & its aftermath First major pan-Indian uprising Ends in stalemate Effect on the British Empire Effect on Ohio Valley Indians

What is the historical significance of Pontiac and Neolin?

Benjamin Franklin Question: What does this document tell us about Franklin’s role in shaping & reflecting American culture?

Franklin as an Enlightenment Figure Enlightenment Attitudes –The nature of knowledge –Attitude toward God –Worldliness & Urbanity Enlightenment Forms –Written Word –Learned Societies

Leaders responding to slavery Venture Smith & John Woolman

Questions What kind of slave societies existed in British America? What specific challenges did Smith and Woolman face? How did they respond?

Venture Smith 1729?-1805 Born in West Africa Brought to Rhode Island at age 8 Eventually purchases freedom for himself and family Serves in Continental army Writes narrative in 1798

Slavery in the Northern Colonies One of 4 slave systems Labor Social life Change over time

How does the document illuminate the challenges facing Smith?

John Woolman Born in New Jersey Prominent Quaker Writes Journal, published in 1774 Outspoken antiwar and antislavery advocate

The Quaker context Emerges in mid-17 th Century England Founded by George Fox Radical beginnings –rejection of hierarchy –Emphasis on “inner light” More moderate by 1670s Migration to colonies

Woolman’s efforts Recognition of slavery What Woolman was up against Woolman’s appeal His legacy

Economic Leaders Eliza Lucas Pinckney

Questions How does Eliza L. Pinckney show leadership? In what ways was Pinckney representative of women in colonial British America? In what ways was she atypical?

Eliza Lucas Pinckney Early Life in England 1738: Moved to South Carolina 1744: first successful indigo crop 1753: death of husband

Pinckney and indigo “I love the vegetable world extremely” Experimentation Limits of SC’s staples Indigo’s problems and promise 1744: success

Questions How does Eliza L. Pinckney show leadership? In what ways was Pinckney representative of women in colonial British America? In what ways was she atypical?