COLONIAL SOCIETY ON EVE OF REVOLUTION

Ch. 5

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population• 1700

• 300,000

• 20,000 black

• 1775• 2.5 million

• 500,000 black

• Average age was 16 years

DEMOGRAPHICS

Immigration• Between 1700 & 1775=400,000

• German• Pennsylvania “Dutch”

• Scots-Irish• “Frontier”

• “Paxton Boys”

PAXTON BOY’S

Village of Paxton in Western Pennsylvania Mostly Scots-Irish immigrants Harassed by Natives Requests for soldiers or guns ignored by Quaker

legislators December 1763-group raided small settlement of

peaceful Indians Governor issued warrants, but frontiersmen refused

to turn in the perpetrators

PAXTON BOYS

Tried to raid a second Indian settlement, but escaped to Philadelphia and were protected

Upset that the government would spend tax money to protect Indians but not frontier

January 1764-group of approx. 1,500 began march to Philadelphia (capital)

Public panic Ben Franklin intercedes and provides meeting

between Paxton Boys and legislators• No significant outcome

PAXTON BOYS

Results

• Earliest example of regional and Social conflicts• Urban v. Rural

• New Indian “problem” belief• Can no longer live in peace

• Only solutions are relocation and extermination

LITERACY

Before Enlightenment-books to expensive & took to much time read

Invention of hand operated printing presses• Best for pamphlets and newspapers

1735-John Peter Zenger Trial• Freedom of the Press

GOVERNMENT

By 1775• 8 royal colonies-governor appointed by king

• 3 proprietary colonies-governor appointed by owner

• 2 self-governed colonies-elected governor

Every colony-two house legislature with an upper house (appointed by crown or proprietor) & a lower house (elected by people

Began more religious or property requirements for voting

ENLIGHTENMENT

Use science and reason to explain things rather than religion

Began in Europe• Scientists-Sir Isaac Newton

• Philosophers-John Locke• Natural rights and Social Contract

Benjamin Franklin-epitome of American Enlightenment

GREAT AWAKENING Beginning of 1700s-religion less important 1730s & 1740s-Religious revival called Great

Awakening Preachers-Jonathan Edwards & George

Whitefield Belief in God’s grace and forgiveness Revival Meetings

• Professed conversions• Emotional outbursts• Immediate baptisms

GREAT AWAKENING

Emphasis on direct spirituality Created many new churches to compete with

Anglican & Congregational (Puritan) Church Missionary work Founding of several colleges; Dartmouth,

Brown, Rutgers, Princeton First mass movement among the colonies Effected every section of the colonies