FRONTIERS OF EMPIRE: EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY AMERICA America: Past and Present Chapter 4

Experiencing Diversity l colonial population rises from 250,000 to over two million l Much growth through natural increase l Large influx of non-English Europeans

Forced Migration l Transportation Act of 1718 allows judges to send convicted felons to American colonies l 50,000 convicts to America – Some felons were dangerous criminals – Most committed minor crimes against property – Life difficult for transported convicts l British praise system, colonists deplore it

Ethnic Cultures of the Backcountry l 800 miles along Appalachian Range from western Pennsylvania to western Georgia l Already populated by Native Americans and African-Americans l Large influx of European immigrants in the eighteenth century

Scotch-Irish Flee English Oppression l Many from Northern Ireland l Concentrate on the Pennsylvania frontier and Shenandoah Valley l Often regarded as a disruptive element

Germans Search for a Better Life l Fled from warfare in Germany l Admired as peaceful, hard-working farmers l Tried to preserve German language, customs l Aroused the prejudice of English neighbors

Native Americans Define the Middle Ground l Many eastern Indians moved into trans- Appalachian region – a "middle ground" where no colonial power was yet established l Remnants of different Indian peoples regrouped, formed new nations l European trade eventually weakened collective resistance to European aggression

Spanish Borderlands of the Eighteenth Century l Spain occupied a large part of America north of Mexico since sixteenth century l Range from Florida Peninsula to California l Indian resistance, lack of interest limited Spanish presence l Never a secure political or military hold on borderlands

Conquering the Northern Frontier l 1692—final establishment of Spanish rule in New Mexico after Popé’s revolt (1680) l 18 th -century St. Augustine a Spanish military outpost unattractive to settlers l 1769—belated Spanish mission settlements in California to prevent Russian claims

Peoples of the Spanish Borderlands l Slow growth of Spanish population in borderlands l Spanish influence architecture, language l Spanish influence over Native Americans – Spanish exploit native labor – Indians live in proximity to Spanish as despised lower class – Indians resist conversion to Catholicism

British Colonies in an Atlantic World l Change in eighteenth-century colonies l Growth of urban cosmopolitan culture l Aggressive participation in consumption

Provincial Cities l Urban areas included Boston, Newport, New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston l Economies were geared to commerce l Inhabitants took lead in adopting new fashions, the latest luxuries l Emulated British architecture l Cities attract colonists seeking opportunity

American Enlightenment l An intellectual movement stressing reasoned investigation of beliefs and institutions – Optimistic view of human nature – View cosmos as orderly result of natural laws – Belief in perfectibility of the world – Search for practical ways of improving life l Mixed reception in America

Benjamin Franklin l Franklin ( ) epitomized provincial, urban culture l Became a writer by emulating British literature l Achieved wealth through printing business l Dedicated to practical uses of reason, science

Economic Transformation l Rising demand for English, West Indian goods l Colonists paid for imports by – exporting tobacco, wheat, and rice – purchasing on credit l Dependence on commerce led to colonial resentment of English regulations l England restricted colonial manufacture or trade of timber, sugar, hats, and iron.

Birth of a Consumer Society l English mass-production of consumer goods stimulated rise in colonial imports l Wealthy Americans began to build up large debts to English merchants l Intercolonial, West Indian trade earn colonists the surplus needed for imports l Inter-colonial commerce gave Americans a chance to learn about one another

Religious Revivals in Provincial Societies l The Great Awakening a series of revivals – revival: a phenomenon among Protestant Christians characterized by large meetings where large numbers experience religious conversion in response to gifted preaching – Awakening occurred at different places at different times l Revivals encouraged participants to question values of themselves and society

The Voice of Popular Religion l George Whitefield symbolized the revivals l Whitefield preached outdoor sermons to thousands of people in nearly every colony l Itinerants disrupted established churches l Laypeople, including women and blacks, gain chance to shape their own religious institutions l The Awakening promoted a democratic, evangelical union of national extent

The Awakening, Education, and Patriotism l Most revivalists well-trained ministers l Revivalists found Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, and Rutgers l Revivalists held optimistic attitudes toward America's religious role in world history l Fostered American patriotism

Clash of Political Cultures l Colonists attempted to emulate British political institutions l Effort led to discovery of how different they were from the English people

The English Constitution l The British Constitution universally admired – Not a written document, but a system of government based on statute and common law l Believed to balance monarchy, aristocracy and democracy l Balance believed to guarantee liberties

The Reality of British Politics l Less than 20% of English males could vote l Members of Parliament notorious for corruption and bribery l “Commonwealthmen” criticized corruption, urged return to truly balanced constitution

Governing the Colonies: The American Experience l Colonists attempt to model England’s balanced constitution l Royal governors – Most incompetent – Most bound by instructions from England – Possessed little patronage for buying votes – Little power to force their will l Governors’ councils steadily lose influence

Governing the Colonies: Colonial Assemblies l Elected officials depended on popular sentiment l Assemblies more interested in pleasing constituents than in obeying the governor l Assemblies controlled all means of raising revenue l Assemblies jealously guarded their rights l Assemblies held more popular support than governor

Broader Horizons, Tighter Bonds l Commerce, communication, religion broaden colonists’ horizons by 1754 l Colonial law courts increasingly adopt English usage l Growing awareness of ideas, institutions, problems shared with England, each other

Century of Imperial War l British Americans increasingly drawn into European conflict during eighteenth century l Main opponents: France and Spain l Wars led to greater inter-colonial association and cooperation

King William's and Queen Anne's Wars l King William’s War ( ): French frontier raids on New York, New England l Queen Anne’s War ( ): French frontier raids on North, Spanish South l Wars settled nothing l France subsequently extended her American empire from Canada into Louisiana

King George's War ( ) and Its Aftermath l Embroiled colonists more extensively than earlier wars l New England troops captured Fort Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island l Louisbourg returned to France by Treaty of Aix-la-Chappelle l 1750s--fresh conflict over Ohio Valley

Albany Congress and Braddock's Defeat l Albany Congress, Benjamin Franklin propose plan for a central government l Albany Plan disliked by English and Americans, fails l General Edward Braddock leads force to drive French from Ohio Valley l Braddock’s army ambushed, destroyed

Seven Years' War l England declares war on France l Prime Minister William Pitt leads English to concentrate on North America l Quebec captured l Peace of Paris cedes to Great Britain all North America east of Mississippi

Perceptions of War l Colonists realize how strong they could be when they worked together l English learn that Americans took forever to organize, easier to command obedience

A Century of War

Rule Britannia? l Most Americans bound to England in 1763 l Ties included – British culture – British consumer goods – British evangelists – British military victories l Empire seemed bound by affectionate ties