america on the eve of revolution only 13 colonies? by 1775- british have 32 colonies established why...
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America On the Eve of Revolution
Only 13 Colonies?
• By 1775- British have 32 colonies established
• Why did the 13 revolt?
Conquest by Cradle
• 1700- population 300,000 (20,000 black)
• 1775- 2.5 million• Roughly only 400,000
immigrants (slaves)• American life is fertile• Average age = 16
Conquest by Cradle
• 1700- twenty English subjects to one colonists
• 1775- number dwindled to three to one
• Problems?
Conquest by Cradle
• Most populated – Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, NC, Maryland
• 4 true cities= Philly, NYC, Boston, Charleston
• 90% of population is rural
The Melting Pot…sort of• Germans- 6%-
Pennsylvania- Religion= Lutheran, religious diversity in area continues.
• 1/3 of population in Penn.
• Back country folks• No loyalty to the British• Skilled stone workers
The Melting Pot…sort of
• Scotch Irish- 7%• Scottish low landers
forced to Ireland• Irish = catholic, Scots
= Presbyterian • Go to land liberal
Penn, but Germans have the good land
• Must go further west
• Quarreled with natives and whites
• Flimsy log cabins• Experiences in Ireland
help them prosper in rugged west.
The Melting Pot… sort of
• Scot/Irish- lawless, individualist, brought whiskey with them
• Extreme hatred for the British- Why
Scot Irish, seeds of Rebellion
• Paxton boys- SI’s angry at Quaker’s friendly policies with Natives
• Responsible for Native Massacres, and even led march to Philly.
• Years later will start regulator movement in NC- rebellion against tax polices
The Melting Pot…sort of • The others- 5%-
French Huguenots, Welsh, Dutch, Swedes, Jews, Irish, Swiss, and Scots.
• All have little loyalty to the crown.
• Largest non English group come from Africa (20%)
The Melting Pot…sort of• South- 90% of African
population• NE- least ethnic diversity.• Middle colonies- gets
majority of white immigrants, extremely diverse.
• Most diverse area of time in world
• The American culture is forming
Colonial Structure and War
• 1600-mid 1700’s- American seems like land of opportunity
• Mid 18 century class levels are becoming apparent
• Native conflicts create rich merchant class of the Middle colonies.
• War creates orphans• Philly and NYC
already have orphanages
• Yet number of poor in US in low to rest of world
Colonial Structure
• NE- not much soil to go around, family plots are made even smaller
• South- large plantation owners get rich, and make plantations bigger- creating very distinct and very small upper class.
• Jail birds- 50,000• Slaves- no shot at
advancement• Colonialists are aware that
large groups of oppressed people can cause problems, try to impose restrictions on slaves, but Eng. vetoes all.
• Why
Other Jobs
• Lawyers- looked down upon- pioneer life is for hard workers
• Clergymen- highly regarded
Other Jobs
• Doctors- kind of…• Method of curing-
bloodletting• Constantly threatened by
epidemics • Smallpox- why not try a
little powdered dry toad. • How does this impact
society?
Work in America• Agriculture= 90% • Fishing (and whaling) done
all over, but NE is the best• Fishing industry
encourages growth of shipbuilding and lumber producing.
• Colonial Naval Stores- tar, pitch, rosin, and turpentine
• Forests= life
Triangle Trade
The British Middlemen
• Colonial trade is strong, but stopping at Eng. Dips into colonial profits.
• Molasses Act – tax on molasses aimed at regulating trade rather than raise money.
• Colonists bribe and smuggle their way around it.
Transportation…or lack of
• Roads- dirty, unkept, dangerous
• Rivers- safest most sensible way of travel
• Taverns- are the place to be, abundant among traveling routes
• Taverns- early democracy, people sharing information, rather right or wrong, often aided by alcohol.
Church
• Established (tax supported) churches Anglican and Congregational
• Large portion of population doesn’t go to church
• Only minority of people go to established churches
Church
• Anglicans • GE, SC, NC, VA, MA,
part of NY• Not the most pious• Short sermons
• Congregational Church- from Puritans
• In NE colonies, minus RI
Church
• Pre Revolution• Con. Church favors
rebellions• Anglican loyal to the king• Overall- America is
probably most religion tolerant (lack of Catholics means less anti-Catholic laws)
• Free to worship, or not.
Great Awakening • 1600’s religion is
important• 1700’s religion is fanning• Challenge to the puritans • Arminianism- individual
will determines fate, all can achieve salvation, rather then the “elect”
Great Awakening
• Religious revival • Northampton Mass.• Jonathon Edwards• “Sinners in the Hands
of an Angry God”
Great Awakening
• George Whitefiled • Great colonial speaker• Religion is in the
heart, not in books
The Old vs. the New• Old lights- traditional clergy• New Lights- embrace Great
Awakening• Old lights- not buying
theatrical elements• Huge divide in religion• Divide in churches increases
numbers and competitiveness of churches
• 1st spontaneous mass movement in America- shows we Americans are united by a common history and experience.
Colonial Education
• England- education is for rich males, destined to be leaders not citizens.
• NE- education is important- need to read the bible- goal is to make good Christians.
• South- widely dispersed, if educated it was done by a private tutor.
• Education- emphasis on religion and classical languages.
Colonial Education
• NE- Harvard to train ministers
• South- annoyed by religious influence, sent children abroad.
Colonial Culture
• Art- still influenced by Brits.
• Architecture- still influenced by Europe.
• Literature- “Poor Richards Almanack” BF-
• Science, some progress, mainly attributed to BF
Pioneer Presses
• Colonists- usually too poor to buy and read books.
• Hand operating printing presses- about 40
• Print news, often late.
Zenger Trial • Peter Zenger- printed story
against corrupt royal governor. • Defended by former indentured
servant-AH• Royal judge- basically told the
jurors not to listen to Hamilton’s argument.
• To everybody’s surprise- Zenger found not guilty
• Freedom of the press is established, good sign for Democracy to come.
Colonial Politics • Bicameral legislation• Upper house (council)
normally appointed by the crown (royal colonies) or by proprietor (proprietary colonies)
• Lower House- elected by the people…who met property requirements
• Backcountry people- often felt underrepresented
Colonial Politics
• Royal governors- sometimes good, sometimes bad
• Colonists, sometimes would with hold governors salary until he gave into their demands.
• Blame the British- should have made governors’ salary independent source.
Colonial Politics • Government on local levels• South- back country affairs• NE- town meetings• Middle- combination of the two• Not a true democracy- need property to vote.• But with plenty of land, may can make
requirements
Colonial Life
• Food plentiful- but diet was coarse and repetitive
• Heat source- fireplace• Light- candles, whale oil
lamps• Garbage disposal- hogs
in the streets, buzzards protected by law.
• Lotteries- lots and often- used to fundraising purposes.
• North- winter sports• South- cards, horse
racing, cock fighting, dancing, theater.
• Holidays- universally celebrated
• NE- no Christmas- too “popery”
Many differences, but lets celebrate similarities
• English language and most customs
• Mainly Protestant• Diverse populations
force some degree of religious toleration.
• Chances at social advancement
• Experience in self government
• Simple facts of shared history, culture, and geography set the stage for the colonists’ struggle for independence.
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