Chapter 5 Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution:

Conquest by the Cradle Great Britain ruled 32 colonies in North America –Only 13 of them revolted –Canada and Jamaica were wealthier than the 13 By 1775, the population numbered 2.5 million people –average age was 16 yrs old Most of the population was densely cooped up east of the Alleghenies, though by 1775, some had slowly trickled into Tennessee and Kentucky About 90% of the people lived in rural areas A Mingling of the Races Colonial America, though mostly English, had other races as well Germans accounted for about 6% –Roughly 1/3 of Pennsylvania’s population –Most were Protestant (primarily Lutheran)

7% - Scots-Irish –reached America and became squatters, quarreling with both Indians and white landowners –seemed to try to move as far from Britain as possible – the Scots-Irish led the armed march of the Paxton Boys 5% - other European groups: French Huguenots, Welsh, Dutch, Swedes, Jews, Irish, Swiss, and Scots Highlanders Americans were of all races and mixed bloods –Hard to classify them –Melting pot

Structure of the Colonial Society America was a land of opportunity. Class differences did emerge –rich farmers, lawyers, officials, clergymen South, the hugely rich plantation owners had lots of slaves least fortunate were the Black slaves, who had little or no hope of freedom again –Slavery became a divisive issue Clerics, Physicians, and Jurists most honored profession in the colonial times was the clergy Physicians were not highly esteemed and many of them were bad –Bleeding was often a favorite, and deadly, solution Plagues were a nightmare Smallpox was rampant--crude form of inoculation for it was introduced in 1721

Workday America Agriculture was the major leading industry (tobacco was the staple crop) –Primarily in VA & MD Fishing & whaling could be rewarding –Primarily in New England –Led to strong shipbuilding industry as well Middle Colonies’ economy was as varied as their population mixture –Shipbuilding, iron production, livestock & grain production all fuelled their economy Southern colonies were primarily agricultural (tobacco in NC, rice in NC, SC & GA) prized

Strong-backed laborers and skilled craftspeople were scarce and highly –One carpenter, found guilty of murder, in VA was released from jail b/c his skills were so in-demand single most important manufacturing activity was lumbering –Britain sometimes marked the tallest trees for its navy, and colonists resented that –Could face a heavy fin if caught cutting these trees down –Colonial resentment arose at this restriction of free enterprise Parliament passed the Molasses Act, which, if successful, would have struck a crippling blow to American international trade (French West Indies) –colonists got around it through smuggling.

Dominant Denominations Two “established” (tax-supported) churches by 1775 were the Anglican and the Congregational "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof“ Church of England (Anglican) was official in Georgia, both Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, and part of New York Congregational church had grown from the Puritan church, and it was established in all the New England colonies –worried that people weren’t devout enough. The Great Awakening Religious fervor was not as strong as it was a century earlier –Colonial society was becoming more liberal –The doctrine of predestination was being challenged stage was set for a revival, which occurred, and became the Great Awakening. Jonathan Edwards--fiery preaching methods moved listeners to tears while talking of the eternal damnation that nonbelievers would face after death.

George Whitefield was even better than Edwards –persuaded Ben Franklin to empty his pockets into the collection plate –Imitators copied his emotional shaking sermons and his heaping of blame on sinners new preachers were met with skepticism by the “old lights,” or the orthodox clergymen Great Awakening led to the founding of “new light” learning centers like Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, and Dartmouth GA (great awakening)--first religious experience shared by all Americans

Schools and Colleges Education was most important in New England –Diffused populations of southern colonies made effective school systems difficult –farm labor used up most of the time that would have been spent in school –Wealthy families relied heavily on private tutors Discipline was quite severe –“Spare the rod, spoil the child” c olonial schools put most of the emphasis on religion & languages (curriculum later changed) –wealthy southern families would send their children to England to acquire a “real” university education 9 universities established during the colonial period Ben Franklin helped by launching the school that would become the University of Pennsylvania –1 st American university free of denominational control

Culture in the Backwoods Pioneer life left little time for recreation –John Trumbull, Benjamin West, and John Singleton Copley had to go to London to further their career as a painter –Charles Willson Peale (best know for his portraits of George Washington) also ran a museum, stuffed birds and worked as a dentist Phillis Wheatly ( ) a slave girl brought to Boston at age 8 –No formal education –Taken to 20 and published a book of poetry –Compares favorably to the best poetry of the colonial period Ben Franklin – called “the first civilized American” –Best known for Poor Richard’s Almanac –Well known in Europe and more widely read in America than everything but the bible –Also seen as the preeminent scientist of the colonial period

John Peter Zenger account.html account.html account.html a New York newspaper printer became critical of the Governor after he replaced Lewis Morris, the Chief Justice of New York, for deciding a lawsuit against the Governor was taken to court and charged with seditious libel judge urged the jury to consider that the mere fact of publishing was a crime no matter whether the content was derogatory or not. Zenger won--freedom of the press was pretty much assured in America

Game of Politics 8 colonies had royal governors; 3 had proprietor selected governors; Connecticut and Rhode Island elected their own governors Practically every colony utilized a two-house legislative body –upper house was appointed by royal officials or proprietors –The lower house was elected by the people –Self-taxation with representation came to be a cherished privilege Often, colonial legislatures would withhold the governor’s salary to get him to do as they wished The county government of southern plantations and town meetings of New England merged in the middle colonies right to vote was not available to anyone, just white landowners 1775 – America was not a true democracy, but it was much more so that England