1. Life in the English Colonies (1630 – 1770)
Chapter 5
Life in the English Colonies
(1630 – 1770)

2. Section 1
Forms of Government

3. Colonial Governments
Privy Council set English policy in the colonies – allowed most to run own affairs
Each colony had a governor (head of government)
Most assisted by advisory council
Job was to carry out policies set by England

4. Colonial Assemblies
In the colonies the government was based on Parliament, the English lawmaking body (bicameral legisltature-2 houses)
Colonial assemblies had the power to
Raise taxes and organize local governments.
Shared control of the military with the governor.
And approve laws
Virginia’s Assembly (Jamestown 1619) first colonial legislature in North America
First house-Council of State
Second House-House of Burgess (elected by colonists)
Town meetings are center of politics; governor has final say if there is a disagreement; developed tradition of holding 2 or more a year

5. Colonial Courts Colonists used courts to control local affairs
Supported interests and ideas of their communities
Ex. Laws in Massachusetts enforced Puritan’s religious views (efforts to combine church and state)
Sometimes protected individual freedoms
Ex. John Peter Zenger – freedom of the press
charged with committing libel (a false statement) against a public official
Andrew Hamilton, his attorney, argued he could publish whatever he wanted as long as it was true
jury’s verdict = not guilty

6. Dominion of New England
King James II
King James II became King of England and was determined to take more control of England and the colonies.
Dominion of New England united the northern colonies under one government
Edmund Andros was the appointed royal governor
Limited powers of towns meetings to prevent protests
Dominion of New England- included Connecticut, Maine, Massachuetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island

7. The Glorious Revolution
King James tried to change England from a Protestant country to a Catholic one.
The Glorious Revolution was when William and Mary overthrew James without a single blood dropped. Mary was James’ daughter and she was asked by England to become queen.
English Bill of Rights- (representative body)
Powers of Monarch were reduced and Parliament gained power.

8. William and Mary

9. Section 2
The Growth of Trade

10. English Trade Laws
In the late 1600s England practiced mercantilism-system that created and maintained wealth by controlling trade
Nation could be self sufficient if it had a good balance of trade (fewer imports than exports)
Trade was one of main reasons for founding American colonies

11. English Trade Laws-cont’d
Parliament passed the Navigation Acts-required colonies to do most of their trade with England. Also set duties (import taxes)
English laws limited free enterprise, economic trade with little government control
They did this by preventing colonists from buying or selling directly with foreign countries

12. Colonial Trade
1733, Parliament passed Molasses Act, placed duties on sugar, molasses and rum
Colonists responded by smuggling goods in
Some merchants took part in triangular trade
Colonies traded with West Indies, then shipped goods to Britain

13. Triangular Trade

14. Middle Passage
Middle Passage was the voyage that brought slaves across the Atlantic to the Americas
Many died during the voyage
Lasted Three months
Legs and necks were chained.
Cramped spaces.
Some colonists opposed the slave trade
Quakers in Germantown, PA made 1st recorded protest against slavery

15. Middle Passage cont’d

16. Section 3
The Colonial Economy

17. Agriculture in the Southern Colonies
Farms in the south did well because of the warm climate and long growing season
Many farms grew cash crops-crops sold for profit
Tobacco (VA), rice, and indigo (SC) were most important cash crops
Slave codes passed – laws to control slaves
Colonies with large number of slaves had strictest codes
South Carolina’s slaves could not hold meetings or own weapons
Some colonies did not allow slaveholders to free slaves
Virginia Assembly passed law allowing people to kill runaway slaves that resisted

18. Industry and Trade in New England
Few grew cash crops because of harsh climate and rocky soil
Few slaves
Trade was vital to New England’s economy
Entrepreneurs traded locally and overseas
Fishing and shipbuilding were the two leading industries
Shipbuilding prospered because region had plenty of forests and local fishing industry needed ships
Diverse economy needed skilled craftspeople
Apprentices learned blacksmithing, weaving, shipbuilding, and printing

19. Middle Colonies
Good growing season and rich land-could grow large amounts of food
Middle colonies grew staple crops (crops that are needed) – wheat, barley and oats
Indentured servants largely filled labor needs
Trade and free enterprise important
By the mid-1700s Philadelphia had become one of the largest British colonial cities

20. Women and the Economy
Ran farms and businesses (clothing and grocery stores, bakeries, drug stores)
Some women practiced medicine, often as nurses or midwives
Colonial laws and customs limited women’s economic activities
Married women could not work outside the home without her husband’s permission
Husband had the right to keep money she earned
Most worked in the home, managed households and raised children

21. Section 4
The Great Awakening

22. Words of the Great Awakening
Revivals were held to bring back sense of religious (emotional gatherings where people came together to hear sermons and declare their faith)
Because of the revivals many colonists experienced “a great awakening” in their religious lives
Great Awakening reached its height in the 1730s and 1740s – widespread Christian movement involving sermons and revivals

23. Words of the Great Awakening cont’d
Jonathan Edwards was one of the most important leaders of the Great Awakening
Pastor that urged sinners to seek forgiveness for sins or face punishment in hell forever
Author of Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God
A British minister George Whitefield, one of the most popular ministers of the G.A., helped thousands of colonists found new faith in Christianity
Because of Whitefield
Ministers preached all people were born sinners who could only be saved by the will of God

24. George Whitefield

25. Old and New Lights “Old Lights” – traditionalists
“New Lights” – followers of the Great Awakening
Presbyterian Church in middle colonies changed
Gilbert Tennent led new movement attacking traditionalists
Church split into two groups – “Old Side” and “New Side”
Church attendance greatly increased in middle and southern colonies (particularly in Virginia)
Much of this growth took place among Baptists and Methodists
Great Awakening influential on frontier
Traveling preachers held revivals
Important because there were few churches

26. Gilbert Tennent

27. The Great Awakening and Society
Women welcomed the message
Free and enslaved Africans were drawn to message of acceptance and spiritual equality
Despite equality message, revivals separated by race
Before the Great Awakening, there was little communication between people living in different colonies
Changed as ministers moved about, exchanging ideas
Led some colonists to begin demanding political equality
Revivals were popular places to talk about political and social issues

28. Section 5
American Culture

29. New Ideas in Europe
During 1600s Europeans began to experiment more and make new discoveries. Their new ideas about the universe became known as the Scientific Revolution. This revolution began in math and astronomy.
Galileo Galilei-one leading figure, demonstrated that planets revolve around the sun
Late 1600s Isaac Newton developed much of the scientific method.

30. New Ideas in Europe cont’d
Scientific Revolution also changed how people viewed human actions-Age of Reason or the Enlightenment.
Enlightenment philosophers used reason and logic. They studied human nature and suggested ways to improve the world
Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu formed ideas about how government should best serve people

31. John Locke
John Locke believed that people had natural rights such as equality and liberty. People should obey their rulers if the state protected their life, liberty, and property

32. Colonial Education
More schools in New England than in Middle and Southern colonies
Valued ability to read the Bible
Wanted to make future generations of educated ministers so they created town schools
Schoolchildren often used the New England Primer – characters and stories from the Bible
Middle and southern colonies – children often lived far from towns; had to be taught by parents or tutors
Most stopped education after elementary grades

34. Colonial Education
First college founded in English colonies was Harvard
Nine colleges were established – most in the middle colonies and in New England
Classes focused on religion
Men studied sciences or law

35. Colonial Scientists
Scientists taught themselves by observing the world around them
American Philosophical Society – founded in Philadelphia for the study of science by Benjamin Franklin
Members wanted to improve communication among colonial scientists
David Rittenhouse – society’s second president; designed mathematical and astronomical instruments

36. Colonial Scientists
Benjamin Banneker – free African American who lived in Maryland; predicted a solar eclipse; first colonist to build a clock

37. Benjamin Franklin Most famous colonial scientist
Started the most successful newspaper in the colonies – also published Poor Richard’s Almanack ( )
Believed that reason could be used to make life better
Invented useful devices
Lightning rod reduced risk of fire started by electrical storms, Franklin stove heated homes effectively, and bifocals corrected far- and nearsightedness
Flew kite during lightning storm to prove lightning = form of electricity

38. Colonial Writers and Artists
Anne Bradstreet wrote poetry about her family and her faith
Phillis Wheatley was one of the first African Americans to be published. Wrote On Being Brought from Africa to America. She described how Christianity changed her life
Robert Feke became a widely admired painter