1. A Diverse Society

2.  Big Ideas:  Immigration both forced and voluntary rapidly increased the size of the colonies and altered the status for women and Africans.  Trade spurred the growth of industry and cities.

3.  The colonies traded with one another, Europe, and Africa in a system called triangular trade.  With trade came the growth of cities.

4.  The rise of cities also gave birth to a new hierarchy with the merchant class on top.  Unlike in Europe, in the New World industrialists and large landholders wielded the power.

5.  The North American colonies soon became the go-to-place for the downtrodden of Europe. ▪ The immigrants of the 17OOs were not looking to start new colonies, instead they melted into those already there.

6.  Between 1450 and 1870 nearly 12 million Africans were forced into slavery in the Americas (1/2 million to N. America).  Millions more would be born into eternal slavery.

7.  Between 1450 and 1870 nearly 12 million Africans were forced into slavery in the Americas (1/2 million to N. America).  To keep Africans socially weak, colonials developed laws called slave codes. ▪ It was illegal for Africans to own property, testify against whites in court, meet in large groups, or be educated.

8.  Big Ideas:  The Enlightenment influenced the thinking of American colonists and encouraged individualism.  The Great Awakening stressed a new, personal connection with God. This helped to encourage an independent spirit.

9.  John Locke questioned the relationship between government and the people.  His ideas of “natural rights” influenced many of the country’s founding fathers.

10.  Jean-Jaques Rousseau argued that government should be formed with the consent of the people.  Baron Montesquieu put forth the idea that government power should be divided into different branches in order to protect the people.

11.  The Great Awakening was a renewal of the Christian faith.  Fiery Baptist preachers such as Jonathan Edwards held revivals that encouraged personal salvation and the idea that all men were equal before God.