Colonial LifeColonial Life(1700s to the (1700s to the Revolution)Revolution)

I. Colonial PopulationsI. Colonial Populations

1.1. Early 1700sEarly 1700sLess than 300,000 in Less than 300,000 in English-American coloniesEnglish-American colonies

2.2. 1775, 2.5 million1775, 2.5 million

3.3. 20% African slaves20% African slaves

4.4. Larger than home countriesLarger than home countries

5.5. Largest single group of non-whitesLargest single group of non-whites

African slaves—90% held by African slaves—90% held by Southern slave ownersSouthern slave owners

II. Characteristics of II. Characteristics of Colonial SocietiesColonial Societies

1.1. StratificationStratification—Gap between rich & —Gap between rich & poor.poor.

2.2. Puritans in New England view wealth as Puritans in New England view wealth as being part ofbeing part of electelect

3.3. Royal sympathizers of the English Civil Royal sympathizers of the English Civil War, AKA “Cavaliers”__>honor War, AKA “Cavaliers”__>honor aristocracyaristocracy

Colonial Characteristics Colonial Characteristics (cont’d)(cont’d)

4.4. Middle Colonies not as rigid socially:Middle Colonies not as rigid socially:1.1. DiversityDiversity

2.2. AcceptanceAcceptance

3.3. ToleranceTolerance

5.5. N.E. & Middle ColoniesN.E. & Middle Colonies1.1. Successful merchantsSuccessful merchants

2.2. 90% involved in agriculture90% involved in agriculture1.1. SubsistenceSubsistence

2.2. Tenant FarmersTenant Farmers

6.6. FamilyFamily1.1. Married, bore children younger than Married, bore children younger than

EuropeansEuropeans

2.2. More kids=more hands=more earningsMore kids=more hands=more earnings

3.3. Division of LaborDivision of Labor1.1. Men worked outsideMen worked outside

2.2. Women—take care of the homestead & raise Women—take care of the homestead & raise kidskids

4.4. Women had few rights & legal recourses in Women had few rights & legal recourses in colonial societycolonial society

III. Colonial EconomiesIII. Colonial Economies

1.1. MercantilismMercantilism was a reality was a reality

2.2. Triangular TradeTriangular Trade

3.3. New EnglandNew England1.1. Timber, fish, & manufactured goods to Caribbean Timber, fish, & manufactured goods to Caribbean

2.2. Got molasses for RumGot molasses for Rum

3.3. Rum-running.Rum-running.

4.4. Middle Colonies:Middle Colonies:1.1. Agriculture & light manufacturingAgriculture & light manufacturing

Colonial Economies Colonial Economies (cont’d)(cont’d)

5. Southern Colonies:5. Southern Colonies: Tobacco main cash crop in the Tobacco main cash crop in the

ChesapeakeChesapeake Carolinas & GeorgiaCarolinas & Georgia Rice & indigo Rice & indigo England & West IndiesEngland & West IndiesGoods and Goods and

SlavesSlaves

IV. Religion & the Great IV. Religion & the Great Awakening Awakening

1.1. 1730s Many lost touch with Puritan faith1730s Many lost touch with Puritan faith

2.2. 1000’s on the frontier had no access to 1000’s on the frontier had no access to churches & serviceschurches & services

3.3. Late 1630’s: emotional connection to & Late 1630’s: emotional connection to & a personal inspiration from Goda personal inspiration from God

Religion & the Great Religion & the Great Awakening (cont’d)Awakening (cont’d)

4.4. 1734: “Great Awakening”—1734: “Great Awakening”—

””New Light” preachersNew Light” preachers

4.4. Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards—Ask for —Ask for forgiveness and pray for salvationforgiveness and pray for salvation

5.5. 1741-“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry 1741-“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”God”

1.1. Obey or go to hell!!!Obey or go to hell!!!

Religion & the Great Religion & the Great Awakening (cont’d)Awakening (cont’d)

7.7. Other “New Light” Preachers—George Other “New Light” Preachers—George Whitfield Whitfield

1.1. “ “Fire & brimstone”Fire & brimstone”

8.8. Undermined “Old Light” ministersUndermined “Old Light” ministers9.9. Didn’t need leadership of a man of the Didn’t need leadership of a man of the

cloth to understand the gospel of the cloth to understand the gospel of the LordLord

10.10. Emotional public admissions of sin.Emotional public admissions of sin.

Religion & the Great Religion & the Great Awakening (cont’d)Awakening (cont’d)

9.9. SignificanceSignificance1.1. 11stst time colonists claimed a common time colonists claimed a common

experience. (class, occupation, etc.)experience. (class, occupation, etc.)

2.2. Foundations of democratization of colonial Foundations of democratization of colonial societysociety

3.3. New New sectssects and division of the Protestant and division of the Protestant faithfaith1.1. Baptists, MethodistsBaptists, Methodists

4.4. Universities built to train “New Light” Universities built to train “New Light” ministers (ex. Yale, Harvard)ministers (ex. Yale, Harvard)

5.5. Injected emotionalismInjected emotionalism1.1. old, intellectual approach was overshadowedold, intellectual approach was overshadowed

Great AwakeningGreat Awakening

Ben Franklin on the Great Ben Franklin on the Great Awakening & WhitfieldAwakening & Whitfield

““In 1739 [there] arrived among us from In 1739 [there] arrived among us from Ireland the Reverend Mr. Whitefield, who Ireland the Reverend Mr. Whitefield, who had made himself remarkable there as had made himself remarkable there as an itinerant preacher. He was at first an itinerant preacher. He was at first permitted to preach in some of our permitted to preach in some of our churches; but the clergy, taking a dislike churches; but the clergy, taking a dislike to him, soon refus'd him their pulpits, and to him, soon refus'd him their pulpits, and he was oblig'd to preach in the fields.. he was oblig'd to preach in the fields..

The multitudes of all sects and denominations The multitudes of all sects and denominations that attended his sermons were enormous, and that attended his sermons were enormous, and it was matter of speculation to me, who was it was matter of speculation to me, who was one of the number, to observe the one of the number, to observe the extraordinary influence of his oratory on his extraordinary influence of his oratory on his hearers, and how much they admir'd and hearers, and how much they admir'd and respected him, notwithstanding his common respected him, notwithstanding his common abuse of them, by assuring them that they abuse of them, by assuring them that they were naturally half beasts and half devilswere naturally half beasts and half devils

It was wonderful to see the change soon It was wonderful to see the change soon made in the manners of our inhabitants. made in the manners of our inhabitants. From being thoughtless or indifferent From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seem'd as if all the world about religion, it seem'd as if all the world were growing religious, so that one could were growing religious, so that one could not walk thro' the town in an evening not walk thro' the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in different without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street.” -- families of every street.” -- The The Autobiography of Benjamin FranklinAutobiography of Benjamin Franklin

V. Impact of the V. Impact of the Enlightenment on the Enlightenment on the ColoniesColonies

1.1. ScienceScience challenges religion challenges religion

2.2. RationalismRationalism used to understand the used to understand the universeuniverse

3.3. British philosopher John LockeBritish philosopher John Locke

4.4. Theory of natural rights challenged the Theory of natural rights challenged the divine rule of kings and queensdivine rule of kings and queens

Impact of the Impact of the Enlightenment on the Enlightenment on the Colonies (cont’d)Colonies (cont’d)

5.5. Sovereignty was derived by the will of Sovereignty was derived by the will of those governedthose governed

6.6. The Governed have a The Governed have a responsibilityresponsibility to to rebel against a government that fails to rebel against a government that fails to protect the natural rights of protect the natural rights of life, liberty, life, liberty, and property.and property.

7.7. Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin

8.8. ReasonReason over emotion.. over emotion..

9.9. Set the stage for a revolutionary spiritSet the stage for a revolutionary spirit

10.10. Colonists now justified for rebelling Colonists now justified for rebelling against a government that violated their against a government that violated their rights as Englishmen (rights as Englishmen (Two Treatises of Two Treatises of Government)Government)