1. Chapter 4: Experience of Empire — 18th Century America
Mrs. Simon

2. Growth and Diversity in British America
From 1700 to 1770, the population grew really, really quickly
What exactly happened?
Some growth was natural reproduction — population was thus young
Population grew diverse and heterogeneous
More non-English Europeans
Scots-Irish fleeing English oppression, Germans in Pennsylvania
More backcountry settlers
What new and/or different challenges would they face on the frontier?

3. Growth and Diversity: Pennsylvania Dutch, Convicts, and Native Americans
From 1700 to 1770, the population grew really, really quickly, and now featured more diversity and conflict between groups
The Pennsylvania “Dutch” were actually Germans
Ethnic differences bred disputes
English settlers were suspicious of Germans and Scots-Irish
Both groups moved west
Between 1718 and 1755, British government sent convicts to the Americas
Many came as indentured servants; few prospered
Many Native Americans became refugees and fled to the Mississippi valley
Native groups remained reliant on trade with Europeans
Also played rivalries between British and French

4. Spanish Borderlands in the 18th Century
The Spanish were in North America, too, mostly maintaining a fledgling empire in the American Southwest
Spanish empire was vast, but they struggled to control it all
Pueblo Revolt of 1680 — drove Spanish out of New Mexico
Also colonized Florida (St. Augustine) and California
Neither really attracted attention or settlement
Spanish lived in constant fear of Indian attack
Also — very difficult physical environments
Largely, settlement served to discourage French, British, and Russian encroachment

5. Impact of European Ideas on American Culture
The British North American colonies transformed rapidly into an urban, cosmopolitan culture
Cities had small populations, but influenced culture heavily
Largely “just” trading posts, but were a landing-point for European culture
Profits went into architectural development
The Enlightenment found its way to North America
Philosophers embraced scientific thinking, but defended Christianity
Will we see a resurgence of religious feeling in the colonies, soon?

6. Connecticut Hall (Yale University), Sutton Lodge (England), Kosciuszko National Memorial (Philadephia)

7. Impact of European Ideas on American Culture, Part II
The British North American colonies transformed rapidly into an urban, cosmopolitan culture
Benjamin Franklin emerged as a symbol of human ingenuity
Promoted spread of reason: discussed literature, philosophy, science
Helped found University of Pennsylvania, invented lightning rod, bifocals
Colonial economy grew remarkably — land and agriculture
Increasing European demand for American goods bolstered colonial economy
Heavy reliance on trade with Europe and Caribbean
Balance-of-trade turned against colonies, who amassed debt

8. Religious Revivals — The Great Awakening
The mid-1700s also featured a sudden series of Protestant revivals known as the Great Awakening, bringing about a new thinking of church and state, institutions, and society
Complaints abounded that organized religion lost vitality
Jonathan Edwards preached that eternal fate was dependent on God’s Will
His preaching deeply influenced many
Excitement spread — Edwards saw this as an emerging evangelism
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

9. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
Questions…
What theme does Edwards communicate?
What is the purpose of the sermon? What response does Edwards want?
Why should he be considered an authority?
How does the sermon adhere to or change your view of Puritan life and ideology?
What about this sermon do you find striking?

10. Clash of Political Cultures
British political theory and practice eventually underscored differences between Britain and the colonies
British politics wasn't actually open to all members of society
By 1750s, most colonies had royal governors
Royal governors were immensely powerful
Suffrage was widespread in the colonies
Colonial legislatures were powerful institutions within colonies
Often, did not cooperate with royal governors

11. Century of Imperial War
After 1690, much of the conflict involving the British colonies originated in Europe, not with the Natives.
King William’s War ( ), Queen Anne’s War ( )
Western frontier was contested area
Colonists feared French could encircle English colonies
French suspected British would take all of North America
Natives played both sides
King George’s War ( ): colonists won, gained Louisbourg, but handed it back to French
Colonists: “WTF??”
Colonists did not understand European interests; felt ignored

12. Century of Imperial War continues…
After 1690, much of the conflict involving the British colonies originated in Europe, not with the Natives.
French decided to seize Ohio Valley before Virginia did
Established Fort Duquesne, so George Washington established Fort Necessity
Washington was overrun (1754), one colony could not defeat the French
Ben Franklin proposed Albany Plan of Union (1754)
It lacked colonial assembly, Parliamentary support
French resisted Gen. Edward Braddock’s advance across Monongahela R.

13. Century of Imperial War: Seven Years’ War
After 1690, much of the conflict involving the British colonies originated in Europe, not with the Natives.
May 18, 1756: British declared war on French (Seven Years’ War)
Cabinet member William Pitt shifted British focus to North America
Took command of army and navy
Captured Ohio Valley, Great Lakes
September 8, 1760: French surrender in Montreal
Treaty of Paris (1763): Britain got Canada, Florida, land east of Mississippi
Other important effect: Britain became burdened with debt

14. Perceptions of War
What was the effect of the French and Indian War on the colonies?
What would happen next?
Colonies had to cooperate more closely with one another
Colonies were drawn more closely to Great Britain
The war trained a generation of military leaders
British felt the Americans were ungrateful of their effort
Was that accurate?
Colonists developed a sense of identity