1. Early Colonial Culture
Land, Rights and Wealth

2. Land By 1700’s Colonial Life was thriving Cheap farmland
Natural resources
Prosperity that would not be available in England
Land plentiful – removed Native Americans
Land Ownership = political rights

3. Rights White males vote Political rights/government
Rights derived from “natural rights” and other writings
John Locke – Enlightenment Thinker
Pursuit of life, liberty and property

4. Wealth No class of nobles
Still divided into high, middle and low ranks

5. Salutary Neglect In the beginning…the King ignored the colonies,
Colonists had laws to follow about taxes, trade & money
King hoped that not enforcing trade law would encourage the colonies to establish successful business here.
Salutary Neglect- not enforcing trade law on Colonists

6. Mercantilism
England was to be the manufacturing center while the colonies were to produce raw materials and be the market for British goods.

7. Purpose of Mercantilism
A country had a favorable balance of trade if it had more exports_ than _____imports________.
(Sale)
(Purchase)

8. Navigation Acts
But…As business become propersous, the King wanted to keep his piece of the profit (money).
He reestablishes control over the colonies by placing AND enforcing new trade laws on the colonies.
To keep his share of profits, he
creates the Navigation Acts

9. Navigation Acts
The purpose of the Navigation Acts was to create a self sufficient empire

10. Navigation Acts
European _______ to the colonies had to pass through English ports and be
_____.
goods
taxed

11. Women and the Economy Not landholders Little rights
African women worked large cash crops farms
White women were farm wives
Cooked, churned butter, made soap, spun fibers, wove cloth, sewed, and knitted clothes
Little cash – barter system

12. Children Large families Children worked to support farm and family
More children=more workers
Age 6 boys were “breeched” – expected to work
Age 11 become apprentices
Recieved food, lodging, clothes, and education as well as training in a craft

13. Education Children taught to read so they can read the Bible
Wealthy families = math and writing
Textbooks emphasized religion
School of Manners, New England Primer

14. Newspapers and Books Large literacy rate = publishing industry
Draws colonies together
Boston News-Letter
Most books imported from England
Slowly began to publish own books
Almanac – Poor Richard’s – Ben Franklin
Calendar, weather predictions, star charts, farming advice, home remedies, jokes, proverbs

15. Poor Richard’s Almanac

16. Freedom of the Press
Peter Zenger, publisher of the New York Weekly Journal
Trial for criticizing governor of New York
Illegal to criticize the government in print
Defended by Alexander Hamilton
Jury released him

17. The Great Awakening Religious Movement in he 1730’s-1740’s
Felt colonists had lost religious fervor
Traveling ministers
Inner religious emotion more important than outward religious behavior
Rise of other religious groups – ie Baptists
Churches grew
Colleges founded – Brown and Princeton
Encouraged the right to question authority and encouraged ideas of equality
Encouraged revolutionary fervor

18. The Enlightenment Emphasized reason and science
Ben Franklin, John Locke
Natural Laws to explain natural laws ie Gravity
John Locke – natural rights of man
Pursuit of life, liberty, and property
Government created to protect natural rights
If fail, right to change it