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Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution 1700-1775
Part 1 was Colonial Development from Now, part 2: Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution
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CHANGE OVER TIME
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CHANGE OVER TIME
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Focus Question Assess the relative importance of THREE of the following factors in the development of a unique nation among the people in England’s thirteen colonies during the eighteenth century. Population Growth National Origins Political Developments Economic Factors Religious Developments Geographical Factors
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18th Century Exploding Population
300,000 in 1700 & 2.5 million by 1775 Doubling every 25 years Average age 16 in 1775 Philly, New York, Boston & Charleston 90% lived in rural areas Shift in balance of power between colonies and Britain *** reason for revolution?
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A Mingling of the Races Melting Pot?? Pennsylvania Deutsch= one third
Scots-Irish Paxton Boys & Regulators- interior vs. coastal Many European groups: Africans & mixed tribes North vs. Middle vs. South=
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The Structure of Colonial Society
What’s GOOD about living in colonies? No titled nobility Social ladder was open BUT … By the Revolution= “Europeanization” War economy- alms houses New England farms size shrank Stratification in the South: Insert “new world” terms 50,000 “jayle birds” Slaves
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Social History What was life like for the “every day” people in this era? What jobs were respected? Loathed? What were the customs, traditions, forms of entertainment for these people? This is social history- as opposed to political/diplomatic history- which is often referred to as “top down” history. Most of us won’t make the history books so it’s important, as a historian, to examine the lives of people who would have been just like us.
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The First Great Awakening: 1730s-1740s
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Dominant Denominations
Two dominant- tax supported- churches in colonies: Anglican & Congregational Influence of Church of England (Anglican) Official faith in: Ministers: Congregational Church (Puritans) Religious toleration:
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Major Movement of the 18th century in Western Civilization:
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European Enlightenment
CLASH Religion Science Reason Logic Rationalism Deism Tradition Superstition Irrationalism Emotionalism Organized Religion
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Enlightenment Progress
Political – Reform Intellectual – Reason Cultural – Individualism v. Predestination Social – Literacy Economic – Mercantilism to Capitalism
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Enlightenment Thinkers
Hobbes – Social Contract/Divine Right Locke – Natural Rights Rousseau – Social Contract/Democracy Voltaire – Freedom of Speech Montesquieu – Separation of Powers Wollstonecraft – Rights of Women Beccaria – No use of torture
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The Great Awakening Reaction to Enlightenment
1730s & 1740s in Massachusetts Jonathan Edwards George Whitefield Revivals – emotionalism- old vs new lights Congregationalist & Presbyterians schism Baptist & other denominations grow Impact was significant:
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Colonial Occupations
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Professional Classes Religious ministers highly regarded
Physicians poorly trained Smallpox & Diphtheria Lawyers not highly regarded
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Working Classes Leading industry – agriculture Fishing & Whaling
Shipbuilding Triangular trade Manufacturing- distillery, iron, hats, lumber, naval stores Trade imbalance led to smuggling Molasses Act 1733
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Transportation Transportation problems Towns sprung up along rivers
Taverns in towns & along roads Samuel Adams Postal system by mid 1700s Raleigh Tavern, Williamsburg
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Schools & Colleges Education for the aristocratic few
Puritan New England & boys Some colonial schools tax supported Isolation in South led to tutors Classics taught College focused on the ministry Independent thought not taught
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A Provincial Culture John Trumbull 1756-1843 Willson Peale 1741-1827
Benjamin West John Copley Architecture- Georgian & Log Cabins Literature – Phillis Wheatley Benjamin Franklin- Poor Richards Almanac
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Colonial Folkways Food plentiful No running water, plumbing & bathtub
Hogs and buzzards Militia “musters” Barn raising, quilting & husking bees South-horse racing, cockfighting, cards Entertainment – North and South Holidays
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“The Press & Politics”
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Pioneer Presses 50 public libraries by 1776
About 40 colonial newspapers 1776 John Peter Zenger case Freedom of the press Open public discussion May print responsible criticisms of public figures
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The Great Game of Politics
Royal Governors, 3 Proprietors, 2 elected their own government Two house parliamentary system Who voted for them? Property qualifications Governors salaries Legislatures assert authority: County Government in South Town-meeting in New England Nearly half disfranchised (property)
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Colonies by 1775 Similar customs Protestant in religion English
Opportunity for social movement Enjoyed freedom as nowhere else Patchwork quilt:
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John Locke 1632-1704 Two Treaties of Government
Humans must be rational creatures Humans possess free will Legislature contract with the people Kings nor wealth are divinely ordained Natural Rights: Divine Right of King is Nonsense Republican Government the best form Life Liberty Property
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Voltaire “Men are equal: it is not birth, but virtue that makes the difference.” “I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
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“Laissez-Fare Capitalism”
Adam Smith 1776 The Wealth of Nations Profit Motive Division of Labor Private Ownership of Property Law of Supply and Demand Law of Competition Free Trade CAPITALISM “Laissez-Fare Capitalism”
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Gilbert Stuart
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