Converging Identities, Diverging Interests
Converging Identities, Diverging Interests, 1680s-1740s I. Trade & Commerce II. Politics III. Culture IV. Immigration V. Slavery VI. Conclusions
Trade and Commerce I. Mercantilism A. Regulations 1. English language/crews 2. Trade through England; taxed 3. Subsidies to protect British products II. Cash crops A. Rice, sugar, tobacco, indigo, cotton III. Manufactured imports A. Sold back to colonies
Politics I. Glorious Revolution, 1680s A. Liberal monarchy B. “Salutary Neglect” II. Representation A. Virtual vs. Actual B. Colonial governors III. “Contentment” thru 1740s
Colonial Culture I. Want unique culture A. Colonial identity II. Similar to BR III. Feel inferior
Age of Enlightenment I. Science & philosophy A. Rxn to Christian fundamentalism B. Natural laws C. Rationality & reason D. Improve mankind E. John Locke & Isaac Newton F. Impact on Politics
Religious Change N.E.: Puritan, but more politically liberal South: Weak Anglican Church Middle: Most diverse
First “Great Awakening” 1720’s-1760s I. Religious revivalism A. Reaction to Christian fundamentalism & Puritanism B. “Populist/Frontier” tendencies C. Diversity D. Caused many churches to split up
Revivalism and George Whitefield I. Whitefield A. Tent gatherings B. Mass conversions II. “New Lights” A. Converts B. Anti-authoritarian III. Democratic
Immigration 1700: 290,000 colonists 1750: 1.5 million High birth, low mortality Death rate 20% lower than BR Land, crops, trading No large famines
Scots-Irish I. Scotland/Ireland II. Indentured servants A. Convicts/dissenters III. Push-pull factors IV. Community culture A. Carolinas
Germans I. Push-pull A. Land loss B. Pennsylvania II. Convicts & dissenters
Benjamin Franklin “Why should the Palatinate Boors be suffered to swarm into our settlements, and by herding together establish their languages and manners to the exclusion of ours? Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our customs, any more than they can acquire our complexion ? (Palatine=Southern Germany)
Immigration by 1760 Faster in South Squatting in the “backcountry” Chain migration Regional differences Native lands
Colonial Slavery A. Labor cost B. Native Resistance & Disease C. Access to land D. Race and slavery E. Investment F. Plantations
Africa and the Slave Trade
New Captives
The Middle Passage African traders Barracoons 6-8 week trip Up to 25% died 60% from “gold coast” 5% to colonies
Slavery in Colonies British West Indies, Caribbean South Carolina Profited all colonies Slave codes
Early Resistance Stono Rebellion, 1739 South Carolina Angola Dozens killed Increased fear and oppression
Conclusions Reactions to religious fundamentalism Immigration & generations of colonists “Salutary Neglect” Colonial identity Growth of slavery Native communities Enlightenment