Ch 5 PPT Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution

Population Growth Huge population growth caused shift in balance of power between colonies and England (mother country) Population: 1700 = 300,000, but by 1775 = 2.5 million 1775 Average age = 16 Only 4 major cities: Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Charleston

Philadelphia (largest in the 1750’s)

Urban Population Growth

Ethnic Groups

Other Races New societies created out of diverse ethnic groups: English, Africans, Scots-Irish, Germans, French. Scots-Irish didn’t like British government. Out of 56 signers of Declaration of Independence - 18 = non-English and 8 weren’t born in the colonies. Which non-English group was the largest?

Ethnic & Racial Composition of American People: 1790 British49% African 19% German 7% Scottish 7% Scots Irish 5% Dutch 3% Irish 3% French.4% Swedes, Jews, Swiss.3%

Scots-Irish Not really Irish, but Scottish Lowlanders Were Presbyterians (hated by Catholics) Early 1700’s – tens of thousands came to America. Most went to Pennsylvania - settled in frontier areas. Also spread to back country of Maryland and parts of Virginia and Carolinas

Government Attempts to Control Trade Map Pg 92: What are 2 products the colonies produced and at what location? 1651 Navigation Acts: passed to guarantee England alone would profit from trade with colonies English government tried to inhibit colonial trade to French West Indies by passing 1733 Molasses Act Colonists ignored it/smuggled (triangular trade)

Molasses Act 1733 British law imposed tax on molasses, sugar, rum imported from non-British foreign colonies (French W. Indies) into N. American colonies. Aimed at creating a monopoly of American sugar market Smuggling occurred

Colonial Trade (Pg 93) Triangular Trade: Rum traded to Gold Coast of Africa in exchange for African slaves. Slaves traded to West Indies for Molasses. Molasses taken back to New England and made into rum. (rum taken to Coast of Africa, etc.) Other items traded: food, forest products (timber/lumber), tobacco, indigo, furs, meat, grains.

Mercantilism AKA: English Trade System Goal - Mother country wants to: Be self-sufficient Expand trade to increase gold reserves to become rich To limit foreign imports and to encourage a favorable balance of trade Policy in which colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country, exchanging raw materials for manufactured goods

Mercantilism – How did it work? Export raw materials from America Make finished product in England Make colonists buy products only from England Export more products from England than England imports Enumerated goods: Goods that England needed, but didn’t have the natural resources to produce: Sugar, Tobacco, cotton, indigo, rice.

Too Many Products Colonies produced too many products for England so they started selling to other countries English govt “turned a blind eye” to colonies trading outside of England = Salutary neglect: Didn’t enforce Navigation Acts

But after French & Indian War French and Indian War is also known as:. Changed economic policy…. From Salutary Neglect to strict enforcement of Navigation Acts1660 and 1663 –All products must be sold through England, no direct sales to other countries

Getting Around 1700’s: roads built to connect major cities Roads poor (dirt roads) - transportation slow First “Holiday Inns” were called taverns: sprang up along the main travel routes. Taverns = information exchanged, rumors spread, public opinions discussed, agitation for revolution stirred, all classes were accepted. For amusement – pool tables, bowling, gambling

TMWK CH 5 1. chart Pg 95: What sect of protestants had the greatest # of followers in 1775 and where were they located? 2. Which colonies were mostly Anglican? 3. Which colonies had no tax supported churches in 1775?

1775 Denominations Congregational Church – Puritans, Congregationalists Anglicans - Church of England Presbyterians- Scots Irish German churches- Lutherans Dutch Reformed Quakers - Society of Friends

First Great Awakening: 1730s & 1740s Religious revivals in the English colonies spreading evangelistic fervor. Challenged the control of traditional clerics over their congregations. Pastor Jonathan Edwards: salvation isn’t given by doing good, but by the grace of God. George Whitefield: Gifted preacher – stirred emotions of the audience. “Old Light” preachers: opposed the emotionalism of the revivalists “New Light” preachers: New type of ministers upset the Orthodox clergy. Had intensely emotional sermons in order to revitalize American religion.

First Great Awakening Cont. Challenged patterns of traditional religion Individual can choose their religion 1st genuine united movement in the colonies Helped nurture seeds of independence as people felt united by a common history and shared experiences.

Results of Great Awakening Undermined prestige of the learned clergy in the colonies Congregationalists and Presbyterians split: many became Baptists and other sects who were more accepting of emotion in religion. Led to founding of Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, and Rutgers colleges – “new light” centers. Encouraged a wave of missionary work among Native Americans and Black slaves.

Schools and Colleges Education: mainly for boys - most zealously promoted in New England colonies New England - Education for religious reasons: Reading the Bible, learn doctrine, preparing men for ministry Classical languages: Latin and Greek Middle Colonies had some tax-supported schools

Today’s Ivy League Schools 1636 Harvard: Cambridge, Mass. Congregational 1693 College of William and Mary: VA – Anglican 1701 Yale: Connecticut - Congregational 1746 Princeton: NJ – Presbyterian 1751 University of Pennsylvania: PA – nonsectarian 1754 Columbia: NY – Anglican 1764 Brown: RI – Baptist 1766 Rutgers: NJ – Dutch Reformed 1769 Dartmouth: NH – Congregational

Deism Lord Edward Herbert: founder of Deism God set universe in motion and left it to natural law without intervening again Deists believed in God, but rejected organized religion Most famous Deist was Benjamin Franklin Morality could be achieved by following reason rather than teachings of the church

Ben Franklin: “First Civilized American” 1754 Political Cartoon

Franklin’s Political Cartoon Impacted History Urged colonies to join together to support Albany Plan of Union during French and Indian War 1754 cartoon published in Pennsylvania Gazette showed disunity of the colonies Later used as a symbol of colonial freedom during the Revolution

Ben Franklin – “First Civilized American”

Apprenticed as a printer Lived in Philadelphia (London-2 years) Started Univ. of Pennsylvania: 1st American college not controlled by a denomination Established 1st privately supported lending library in Philadelphia Improved the post office - became 1st Postmaster General Organized 1 st fire dept Reformed the police dept

Ben Franklin – Inventor/Scientist Invented bifocals, Franklin Stove, Glass Harmonica, Lightning rod Discovered electricity Built 1st electric battery

Founding Father and “First Civilized American” Signed Declaration of Independence, 1783 Treaty of Paris, U.S. Constitution Published Pennsylvania Gazette Wrote “The Autobiography of Ben Franklin” and “Poor Richard’s Almanac”: has many pithy sayings - “Honesty is the best policy”

Pioneer Presses John Peter Zenger – newspaper printer Jail for 9 months for printing article that was critical of Royal Gov. of NY. Charged with seditious libel. Zenger argued he had printed the truth. Jury found him innocent. Important case for freedom of press - helped establish the doctrine that true statements about public officials couldn’t be prosecuted as libel. Encouraged editors to be more critical of public officials.

Politics of colonies: had royal governors appointed by king. 1) Two-house legislator: Upper house appointed by the crown in the royal colonies. 2) Lower house: elected by property owners. 3 colonies: proprietary – proprietors chose governors (MD, PA, DE) Two-house legislature: voted for in the proprietary colonies 2 Self governing colonies - elected their own governors (CT, RI) Had religious or property qualifications to vote Taxes: voted on for necessary expenses of colonial govts. 1775: Colonies not yet a true democracy

Structure of Colonial Society Gentry Class –South = Plantation Owners: wealthy, educated –North = Lawyers (had a lot of power), Officials, Clergymen (most honored profession), Merchants Middle Class –Yeomen Farmers: small, family owned farms –Physicians (least honored and not highly trained) –Tradesmen/Artisan: blacksmith, tinsmith, printer –Merchants: shop owner Poor Class –Indentured servants, free laborers, lesser tradesmen, poor farmers Slaves: lowest class