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Published byKerrie Quinn Modified over 9 years ago
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Shaping American Identity The Mosaic
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Essential Questions What/who is an American ? How is identity shaped? What factors unify? Divide? Colonists are increasingly different from England ----but also different from one another.
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“American” “As they became more English – they also became more American” Political, commercial and military ties resulted in closer ties with England Greater awareness of other colonists and colonial status/similarities.
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America from 1700 – 1763 Demographics – great increase 250,000 – 2.5 million Constantly more dispersed and heterogeneous Moving frontier line Mostly natural increase Also immigration
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Ethnic Settlements
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Backcountry Characteristics Egalitarian and mobile Complex and fluid interactions Middle Ground – trade and equality Isolated Heterogeneous -prejudices push west Scot Irish – challenged authority Germans – more communal Religious pluralism and division
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Areas of settlement
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Bingham – Daniel Boone Escorting Settlers
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Forts
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Iroquois Lands & European Trade Centers
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Colonial Power Struggles Tidewater v. frontier needs Paxton Boys Regulation Movement Boundary disputes Green Mountain Boys Tenant rent wars
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Paxton Revolt
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Cities and Seaports Vibrant – cultural centers Arts, fashion, education, Negro Election Day Much opportunity Lower classes, women, Africans Exchange of ideas and information Newspapers, journals Merchant economic and social power Greater class awareness and diversity
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Trade Patterns England – 50%, majority of imports Debt increased Lack of specie for Americans “Anglicized” material culture West Indies – 27% Critical to American credit & specie access Intercoastal and overland trade increased Impact = increased shared identity
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Trade Patterns
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Mercantilism: Navigation Acts – control trade and profit Shipping on English ships – English captain and crew Import through English ports Enumerated items – trade only w. E.
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Benefits and Disadvantages Benefits System of credit NE shipbuilding Market for staple crops Protection – navy/army Can evade Disadvantages lack of hard specie Not “rationalized” system Lower prices for staple crops Higher prices for manufactured items
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Political Experience Crown governs - limited oversight Benign Neglect (salutary) Goal = profit Americans develop autonomous and responsive governments Colonial governors – power in theory, not much in reality
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Colonial Structure Governor = executive Legislature = Council – 6-8 elite advisors Assembly – Protects Liberty -“power of the purse” Taxation and Spending Representative, not democratic Dominated by the elite Journals and newspapers give information
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Contrast with England Americans perceive selves as English -rights of Englishmen are critical Some ambiguity – English system America – more middle class, more political participation, less corrupt Zenger Case 1735 – role of press America – far greater sense of opportunity and social mobility
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Cultural and Social/Intellectual Events Enlightenment appeals to intellectuals Rational Christianity Emphasis on natural law Deism Franklin, Jefferson Great Awakening religious revival 1730-1760s emotional appeal personal connection with God emphasis on laity Whitefield, Edwards
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Franklin and Whitefield
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Impact of Enlightenment and Great Awakening Religious divisions “old” v “new” lights New centers of higher education Challenges to authority – clergy and institution – “rehearsal” for revolution Emphasis on individualism and minority rights Created a shared colonial experience Equality before God - appeals to African Americans and Indians
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Slave Cultures Culture emerged, but was fragile – possible due to Population increase – 250,000 by 1760 Larger number American born Population density - allows separateness Sexual balance – families are created Shared language Emerging religious ties
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Colonial Images of Slavery
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Slave Quarters
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Contrast - Chesapeake & Carolinas Chesapeake – slower to develop, less density, less interaction Task v Gang system French Louisiana – earned freedom “internal enemy” – greater density, greater fears
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Slave Resistance Negotiation – control over certain areas Running and escape Swamps, North, West Annoyance, subversion Revolts -consequences Stono 1739; NY 1712 Creation of sustaining culture and institution
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Stono Rebellion 1739
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American Identity by 1754 Forces of Division economic and regional division ethnicity race social class religion geography and distance Forces of Unity Anglicized material and non material culture political institutions and experience frontier experience sense of opportunity religious/intellectual events trade among colonies postal system/newspapers imperial wars – common enemies ideas of rights
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Competition for Empire Four Imperial wars 1689-1763 Issue = World Balance of Power (BOP) Competition France v. Britain French and Indian War starts in colonies Issue = control of Ohio River Valley; all of North America Washington – Fort Necessity
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French and Indian War 1754-1763 Albany Plan – Franklin League of the Iroquois Treaty of Paris 1763 Britain controls all of N. America Contrasting perceptions and post war goals True losers = League of Iroquois and Indian tribes – lost ability to control BOP on the frontier
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