1. The Growth of Religious Freedom in the English Colonies
Virginia founded mainly by Anglicans
Massachusetts founded by Pilgrims & Puritans
Puritans in Massachusetts Bay Colony originally set high standards for church membership, wanted to promote virtue(goodness), very strict and simple life

2. The Rise of Religious Toleration
Colonist that objected the strict control of the Puritans: Roger Williams & Anne Hutchinson founded Rhode Island.
Rhode Island first to establish principle of Religious Toleration
Religious Toleration: the realization that others had the right to practice their own faiths.

3. The Great Awakening -1740s
Ministers emphasized the importance of religious feelings.
Preachers like Jonathan Edwards & George Whitefield addressed crowds in open fields, and would preach about God being merciful and that people could save themselves by asking for forgiveness.
Colonist told to read Bible and learn for themselves
During this time more “equality in the eyes of God”
preachers of Great Awakening:
supporters of religious freedom & toleration
wanted Christianity to be an act of free will.

4. Economic & Social Life in the English Colonies

5. Mercantilism
European Trade With Their Colonies
Parliament passed laws controlling the trade of the colonies in order to benefit the "Mother Country”
Colonist expected to sell the raw materials cheap to Britain but in exchange we supposed to buy manufactured products at a high price.
Goal was to increase Mother Country's wealth.
Gold, Silver, Fur, Lumber, Foodstuffs
Low Prices
Mother Country
Colonies
Manufactured Goods
High Prices

6. Triangular Trades
England’s Navigation laws prevented the colonist from trading with other European countries.
Colonies became involved with several trading partners, one of the most important was the Triangular trades- named because the routes formed a triangle. the routes went between North America, Africa, & England.

7. Colonial Society few wealthy landowners & merchants
independent farmers
tradesmen, shopkeepers, & craftsmen
apprentices or servants
unskilled laborers & slaves