american life in 17 th century goes with chapter 4 readings
TRANSCRIPT
American Life in 17th CenturyAmerican Life in 17th Century
Goes with chapter 4 Readings
Goes with chapter 4 Readings
Frustration in the Virginia Country
Frustration in the Virginia Country
• Challenge to Virginia Authority 1676
• Planters in the countryside disliked Jamestown officials
• Royal Governor, Sir William Berkeley and the Green Spring Faction
• Ruled Virginia for 30 years.
• Challenge to Virginia Authority 1676
• Planters in the countryside disliked Jamestown officials
• Royal Governor, Sir William Berkeley and the Green Spring Faction
• Ruled Virginia for 30 years.
Frustration in the Virginia Country
Frustration in the Virginia Country
• Green Springers viewed the western planters as “crude and vulgar lot”
• The western planters asked Berkeley to authorize expedition against the Indians to take their land
• He refused
• Green Springers viewed the western planters as “crude and vulgar lot”
• The western planters asked Berkeley to authorize expedition against the Indians to take their land
• He refused
Bacon’s Rebellion
• Bacon raised an army of 500 and led an attack against the Indians
• Declared a traitor by Berkeley• Bacon killed peaceful Indians and forced
Berkeley to legitimize his authority• Headed West and killed more Indians• In September Bacon burned
Jamestown to the ground and
plundered plantations
Outcome of Bacon’s Rebellion• On the surface, the uprising changed nothing• BUT, nothing was ever the same again• The common interests of all was found…
Both wanted cheap labor• In the quarter-century following Bacon’s
Rebellion the
Chesapeake region thus
became committed to black
slavery
Outcome of Bacon’s Rebellion
Outcome of Bacon’s Rebellion
• Bacon’s Rebellion sealed an implicit contract between the inhabitants of the “great houses” and those who lived in more modest lodgings: Southern whites might differ greatly in wealth and influence, but they stood as one and forever behind the principle
that blacks must have neither
• Bacon’s Rebellion sealed an implicit contract between the inhabitants of the “great houses” and those who lived in more modest lodgings: Southern whites might differ greatly in wealth and influence, but they stood as one and forever behind the principle
that blacks must have neither
SlaverySlavery
• By 1680, black slaves outnumbered white servants among the plantation colonies’ new arrivals
• By 1750, Blacks accounted for nearly ½ of Virginian population
• Some of the earliest Black slaves gained their freedom and some became slaveholders themselves.
• By 1680, black slaves outnumbered white servants among the plantation colonies’ new arrivals
• By 1750, Blacks accounted for nearly ½ of Virginian population
• Some of the earliest Black slaves gained their freedom and some became slaveholders themselves.
Blacks Owning Blacks in America a look ahead in time
• Keep this in mind as we continue on our road to America’s Dividing War
• The free brown and black artisans, craftsmen, and tradesmen in 1860 could be divided into three economic groups - the first paid taxes on property ranging in value from $1,000 to $5,000 and had an average of .54 slaves each. The second paid taxes on property ranging in value from $5,000 to $10,000 and owned what averages out to 3¼ slaves each. The final group - the very wealthiest –
paid taxes on property valued at $10,000 to over $40,000 and owned an average of six slaves each. One individual in this class owned as many as 14 slaves.
Blacks Owning Blacks in America a look ahead in time
Blacks Owning Blacks in America a look ahead in time
• Where did these slaves owned by other blacks come from? and why? Some authors have remarked that black proprietors, shop owners, and craftsmen were little different from their white counterparts and, when help was needed, they turned to the most available labor supply - African-American slaves. While some purchased family members or friends in order to protect them from the terror of slavery, not all were motivated by humanitarian interests.
Fitchett observed that the behavior of at least the brown elite "was a replica of that class in white society which they aspired to be like."
• Where did these slaves owned by other blacks come from? and why? Some authors have remarked that black proprietors, shop owners, and craftsmen were little different from their white counterparts and, when help was needed, they turned to the most available labor supply - African-American slaves. While some purchased family members or friends in order to protect them from the terror of slavery, not all were motivated by humanitarian interests.
Fitchett observed that the behavior of at least the brown elite "was a replica of that class in white society which they aspired to be like."
Blacks Owning Blacks in America a look ahead in time
Blacks Owning Blacks in America a look ahead in time
• The practice of the elite free blacks owning slaves increased the social distance between the two groups and greatly increased slave suspicions of the free group. This was reinforced by the difference in skin colors - while slaves were largely a black group, the free black ranks were dominated by mulattoes. These factors made
it much more difficult for the elite free
persons of color and freed black slaves
to forge a united front after the Civil War.
• The practice of the elite free blacks owning slaves increased the social distance between the two groups and greatly increased slave suspicions of the free group. This was reinforced by the difference in skin colors - while slaves were largely a black group, the free black ranks were dominated by mulattoes. These factors made
it much more difficult for the elite free
persons of color and freed black slaves
to forge a united front after the Civil War.
Back to Colonial TimesBack to Colonial Times
• How did the slaves get here?
• After the video, ask me where the Southern Accent comes from.
• How did the slaves get here?
• After the video, ask me where the Southern Accent comes from.
Africans in AmericaAfricans in America
• Slave life was VERY tough. Rice growing was much harder than tobacco growing
• A few slaves became skilled artisans, but most were relegated to sweaty work
• Did revolts occur? Of course they did!
• Slave life was VERY tough. Rice growing was much harder than tobacco growing
• A few slaves became skilled artisans, but most were relegated to sweaty work
• Did revolts occur? Of course they did!
Southern SocietySouthern Society
• Social gaps– Virginia “clans” dominated government
and owned most of the land; the first families of Virginia
– Drinking a huge problem in Virginia– Farmers made up the largest group– Few cities and few schools and churches
• Social gaps– Virginia “clans” dominated government
and owned most of the land; the first families of Virginia
– Drinking a huge problem in Virginia– Farmers made up the largest group– Few cities and few schools and churches
Southern SocietySouthern Society
• Women had more power! Yes, I said it! Southern women tended to have more power… and they still do (:
• In the South men had absolute rule over their wives, but… they died young and women inherited the money and could live independent lives if they wanted.
• Women had more power! Yes, I said it! Southern women tended to have more power… and they still do (:
• In the South men had absolute rule over their wives, but… they died young and women inherited the money and could live independent lives if they wanted.
The New England AreaThe New England Area
• Women married in Early 20s and had children every 2 years until menopause
• Average woman raised 8 children and gave birth to about 10
• Many women died in childbirth• Men didn’t have absolute power over
their wives, but they did have lots of power.
• Women didn’t inherit the money!
• Women married in Early 20s and had children every 2 years until menopause
• Average woman raised 8 children and gave birth to about 10
• Many women died in childbirth• Men didn’t have absolute power over
their wives, but they did have lots of power.
• Women didn’t inherit the money!
The Half-Way Covenant and Salem Witch Trials
The Half-Way Covenant and Salem Witch Trials
Half-Way CovenantHalf-Way Covenant
• Puritans began to worry about the way their children were growing up
• Preachers began to scold parishioners
• In 1662 a new “formula” for church membership was announced– Jeremiads (strong sermons) continued– Anyone could come even if they were not
converts
• Puritans began to worry about the way their children were growing up
• Preachers began to scold parishioners
• In 1662 a new “formula” for church membership was announced– Jeremiads (strong sermons) continued– Anyone could come even if they were not
converts
Salem Witch Trials
• In 1690s a group of girls claimed to have been bewitched by certain older women
Salem Witch Trials
• This caused major hysteria in already trying times
Salem Witch Trials
Salem Witch Trials
Salem Witch Trials
• What followed was a hysterical witch-hunt that led to the executions of 20 people (19 were hung) and two dogs!
Salem Witch Trials• Witchcraft hysteria
eventually ended in 1693