1. American Life in the 17th Century
Colonial Society
American Life in the 17th Century
Learning Target: I will be able to describe the distinct societies that emerged in Britain’s American colonies.

2. New England Society

3. New England Society
Education & Literacy
Towns with more than 50 households were required to appoint teachers
Harvard College was founded in 1636 to train ministers
About 90% of adult white men & 40% of adult white women could sign their names
No more than 50% in other colonies
In England, only about 33% could read & write

4. New England Society Centered around the Meeting House
Community Life
Centered around the Meeting House
Homes were close to one another
Led to a high population density in town center
Created an atmosphere of “watchfulness”
Supported the overall goal of a “city upon a hill” without dissent
Easy to help one another & work together

5. New England Society

6. New England Society Family Life Family Organization Stability
Father - Head of the family
Mother - Manage the household
Children - Provide a labor force
Stability
80% of children reach adulthood
Life expectancy - Men: 65

7. New England Society Punishments
Convicted criminals were exposed to public ridicule
Meant to serve as a warning to others

8. The Great Awakening
Early 1700s – church membership & attendance began to decline
1730s-40s – religious fervor spread across the colonies with large revivals meeting under tents on the outskirts of town
Led by “New Light” ministers who emphasized an emotional & personal connection to God

9. Great Awakening Comparison
Identify the religious and secular issues that divide these ministers.
What aspects of revivalism merit the praise of "New Lights" and the censure of "Old Lights"?
Construct a dialogue between the "New Light" Jonathan Edwards and the "Old Light" Charles Chauncy. Include the intersections of their beliefs as well as their differences.

10. The Great Awakening Jonathan Edwards
Encouraged parishioners to absolve their sins & pay penance by praying for salvation
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

11. The Great Awakening George Whitefield
Proclaimed that ordinary people could understand the Gospel without the leadership of the church
Called for public admissions of sins & followers being “saved” in front of the congregation

12. The Great Awakening Legacy
Promoted the growth of New Light institutions such as Princeton, Dartmouth, & Rutgers
Led to new divisions within the Protestant faith & a greater diversity of religion in the colonies
Shaped church life & worship in America
Encouraged egalitarian democracy

13. Formative Assessment
What were some lasting effects of the Great Awakening?

14. Chesapeake Society

15. Chesapeake Society Tobacco cultivation dominated the region
Large profits could be made, but prices fluctuated
Indentured servants & slaves were common on the plantations

16. Chesapeake Society Community Life
Centered around large plantation homes
Homes were spread out & situated along the banks of rivers or streams
Led to a low population density – about 6 people per sq. mile

17. Chesapeake Society

18. Chesapeake Society Family Life Chaotic 50% of children reach adulthood
Life expectancy - Men: 48
Complex households

19. Chesapeake Society Headright System
Virginia Company awarded 50 acres to anyone who paid a servant’s travel costs
Between – 110,000 migrated from England to the Chesapeake Bay
Up to 90% were indentured servants
About 40% died within 6 years

20. Bacon’s Rebellion Background
Tension developed between large landowners & former indentured servants
Growing gap between the rich & poor
The price of tobacco plummeted
Conflict with Native Americans

21. Bacon’s Rebellion Conflict with Native Americans
Settlers (often former servants) encroached on land reserved for Native Americans
Indians retaliated
Virginia’s governor proposed a series of forts along the western frontier
Settlers took matters into their own hands
Led by Nathaniel Bacon

22. Bacon’s Rebellion Key Events
Wanted to exterminate Native Americans along Virginia’s western frontier
Clashed with Governor Berkley & his supporters
Issued the Declaration of the People of Virginia
Burned Jamestown to the ground
Bacon died suddenly of dysentery
Ended the rebellion

23. Bacon’s Rebellion Aftermath Shocked many of the elites of the region
Contributing factor in the shift from indentured servants to slave labor

24. Discussion Questions
Describe the tone of each piece. Is it consistent throughout each piece, or does it shift?
What is the motive behind Berkeley including the first two paragraphs of his piece?
What does Bacon accuse Berkeley and the government of? What is said will be the consequences if Berkeley doesn’t surrender?
Does Bacon have reason enough to warrant his actions? Explain.
In your opinion, is this an isolated incident or does Bacon’s Rebellion have broader consequences?

25. Slavery in the Chesapeake
1619 – First documented slaves arrived in Jamestown
1660 – Fewer than 1000 slaves in the region
1700 – At least 20,000 slaves in the region
(22% of the population)

26. Slavery outside the Chesapeake
By the early 1700s, slave labor was used extensively in South Carolina
Slavery existed in all of England’s North American colonies
Slaves made up 20% of New York City’s population in the mid-1700s

27. Formative Assessment
What are three differences in the ways of life between the Chesapeake (Southern) colonies and the New England (Northern) colonies?