Chapter 4 Provincial America and the Struggle for a Continent Web

Expansion versus Anglicization Hampered by increased importation of English goods during 17th century As colonial population increased, some English traditions were altered Colonies had to educate and train their own ministers Emergence of colonial class of “gentlemen” Enthralled Women became more English the 1600s Dowry and dower right Coverture Loss of inheritance rights Adoption of double standard of sexual behavior

Expansion, Immigration, and Regional Differentiation African slave trade reached its peak between 1730 and 1775 Transformed political life, as great planters assumed leadership positions Rice Planters of Carolina became richest members of colonial society Life for slaves in Upper South (Maryland, Virginia, Albermarle region of North Carolina) Paternalism Task system Gullah

Regional Differentiation Regional Differentiation (cont) Utilized gang system to supervise slaves A small percentage of slaves learned skills Encouraged family life among slaves Life for slaves in Lower South (from Cape Fear in North Carolina through South Carolina and eventually Georgia) Utilized task system of slave supervision Relied on white artisans for manufactured products Slaves in deep South slower to assimilate into the British world

Mid-Atlantic Colonies: the “Best Poor Man’s Country” Most pluralistic region of North America from the start Ireland and Germany main sources of immigrants after 1720 Ulster Germans often arrived as “redemptioners” New immigrants populated backcountry and created distinct society there Violent, heavy drinking Hated Indians

New England: A Faltering Economy and Paper Money Economy weakened after colonial wars ended in 1713 Wheat blast Molasses act of 1733 Imposed tax on West Indies molasses Increased bribery and smuggling Region made its mark on Atlantic commerce through shipbuilding Massachusetts invented fiat money in 1690 Problems with depreciation

Anglicizing Provincial America Influence of newspapers and the printed word Few settlers owned books Newspaper printing widespread in the colonies by 1700s John Peter Zenger Seditious libel Benjamin Franklin at the Pennsylvania Gazette began branching out to other sources and original works Spread of Enlightenment values through the colonies Found ready audience among colonial elites Rise of professions Emergence of trained lawyers and doctors also helped to spread Enlightenment ideas through the colonies

Georgia: The Failure of an Enlightenment Utopia Founded in 1733 as experiment in Enlightenment belief in social improvement James Oglethorpe Land would be given away rather than sold Founders planned to produce silk and wine, items no other colony had yet succeeded in producing Banned slavery and hard liquor In practice, the experiment failed miserably Land unsuited for planned crops Settlers demanded access to alcohol Gradually came to accept need to use slave labor

The Great Awakening Swept Protestant world in 1730s and early 1740s Evangelical Emphasis on personal conversion experience Revival Presbytery and Synod More women than men experienced conversion Split established denominations Evangelical and non-evangelical sects Gave rise to Baptists, Methodists, and other evangelical denominations Spawned founding of several new colleges George Whitefield Resulted in religious transformation of America

Political Culture in the Colonies Came to resemble English politics, adopting values that took hold after the Glorious Revolution Important powers vested in colonial assemblies Patronage Suffrage more widespread than in England Dominance of “country” ideas in the South Politics of harmony Tensions remained in Maryland Dominance of “Court” principles in North Governors sought to keep the peace by rewarding all factions and groups

Renewal of Imperial Conflict The French and Indian “republics” Stono Rebellion, 1739 Rebellion south of Charleston Stemmed from Spanish promises of freedom to any slave who reached Florida Raised fears of Spanish treachery War of Jenkin’s Ear, 1741–1742 Conflict between Spain and England over Atlantic coast supremacy Inconclusive; large losses on both sides King George’s War, 1744–1747 France joined Spain in its battle with England and the colonists Ended with Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748

The War for North America French and Indian (Seven Years War), 1756–1763 Origins in desire of English colonists to expand west Led to clashes with both the French and the Indians Colonies not united 1754 plans for joint action at Albany Congress failed Irregular war Fort Duquesne Washington and Braddock War went initially against British William Pitt Colonist forces changed course of war Canada surrendered after fall of Montreal in 1760

War for North America (cont) Major British/Colonial victory Settled by Peace of Paris in 1763 France surrendered North America east of the Mississippi, except for New Orleans, to England Spain ceded Florida to England France gave Louisiana west of the Mississippi and New Orleans to Spain Western Indians, whose lands were being transferred, were not consulted

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Discussion Questions How did the economies of the southern colonies compare with those of the northern colonies in 1700s? What part did the Enlightenment play in the intellectual and social structure of the colonies? What was the Great Awakening and how did it change colonial society? Did it relate to the Enlightenment? Discuss the causes and effects of the Seven Years War. Did it have an effect on British– Colonial Relations?