FOUNDING THE NEW NATION

c. 33,000 B.C.- A.D.1783

I. PEOPLING THE AMERICAS

I. The Land Bridge theory. 1. End of Ice Age diminished glaciers over North

America. 2. Land Bridge emerged linking Asia & NA across

Bering Sea. 3. People walked across the "bridge" before the sea

level rose 4. The Land Bridge occurred around 35,000 years

ago.

II. Many peoples A. Groups spread across North, Central, and South

America. B. Tribes emerged with an estimated 2,000

languages. Notably: 1. Incas: Peru, with elaborate network of roads

and bridges linking their empire. 2. Mayas: Yucatan Peninsula, with their step

pyramids. 3. Aztecs: Mexico, with step pyramids and

huge sacrifices of conquered peoples.

II. EARLIEST AMERICANS

I. Development of corn or maize around 5,000 B.C. in Mexico was revolutionary in that:

A. Didn't have to be hunter-gatherers, could settle down and be farmers.

B. Began to establish permanent settlements 1. No large concentration of pop. Like in SA or Mesoamerica 2. Scattered pop. allowed Europeans to defeat Native

Americans easier C. Corn arrived in the present day U.S. around 1,200 B.C.

II. Pueblo Indians

A. 1st American corn growers (12,00 B.C.)

B. They lived in adobe houses and pueblos. Pueblos like apartment complex often beneath cliffs.

C. Developed elaborate irrigation systems to draw water away from rivers to grown corn.

II. EARLIEST AMERICANS

III. Mound Builders

A. Built huge ceremonial, burial mounds- located in the Ohio Valley.

B. Established large settlements after introduction of corn

C. Cahokia, near East St. Louis today, held 40,000 people.

II. EARLIEST AMERICANS

IV. Eastern Indians

A. Grew corn, beans, and squash in three sister farming:

1. Corn grew in a stalk providing a trellis for beans, beans grew up the stalk, squash's broad leaves kept the sun off the ground, kept the moisture in the soil.

2. This group likely had the best (most diverse) diet of all NA Indians and is typified by the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw (South) and Iroquois (North).

V. Iroquois Confederation

A. Hiawatha legendary leader

B. Closest approximation to Mex., SA nation-states

C. The Iroquois Confederation- group of 5 tribes in New York state.

D. Matrilineal- authority and possessions passed down through the female line.

E. Each tribe kept their independence, met occasionally to discuss matters of common interest, like war/defense.

F. Political/ military alliance menaced neighbors for over a century

II. Earliest Americans

VI. Native Americans had different view of things as compared to Europeans.

A. Native Americans-no man owned the land, the tribe did. (Europeans- private property)

B. Indians- nature was mixed with many spirits. (Europeans-Christian and monotheistic)

C. Indians- nature was sacred. (Europeans- nature and land to be subdued and put to use).

D. Indians- little or no concept or interest in money. (Europeans- loved money or gold)

III. Indirect Discoverers of the New World

I. The 1st Europeans to come to America were the Norse (Vikings from Norway).

1. 1000 AD, the Vikings landed in Newfoundland (L’Anse aux Meadows)

2. No strong nation- state to support other voyages, settlements abandoned

II. Growing power of nations, governments wanted contact with world for trade or conquest

1. Christian Crusaders fought in Palestine regain the Holy Land from Muslims.

2. Mixing of East and West – European desire for Asian spices, goods

IV. Europeans Enter Africa

I. Marco Polo traveled to China stirred European interest. II. Desire for spices, East to West (Asia to Europe)

trade flourished-had to be overland, initiated new exploration down around Africa in hopes of an easier (all water) route.

III. Portuguese wanted a better way to get to the Spice Islands, eventually rounding Africa's southern Cape of Good Hope.

IV. New developments: Caravel, compass, astrolabe- allowed sea travel to be safer more reliable

V. Opened sub- Saharan Africa to European exploration, exploitation

VI. Slave trade begins 1. 1st slave trade across Sahara Desert. 2. Later, along West African coast. Slave traders purposely

busted up tribes, families in order prevent resistance. 3. Slaves wound up on sugar plantations the Portuguese had

set up on the tropical islands off Africa's coast. 4. Spain watched Portugal's success with exploration and

slaving and wanted a piece of the pie.

V. Columbus Comes upon a New World

I. Convinced King and Queen of Spain to finance expedition to bypass Africa route to Asia

II. 1492 “discovers” AmericaIII. Voyage eventually leads to beginnings

of interdependent global system Europe would provide the market, capital,

technology. Africa would provide the labor. The New World would provide the raw

materials (gold, soil, lumber).

V. Columbus Comes upon a New World I. Causes biological flip-flop of Old and New Worlds. traded plants, foods, animals, germs

II. Columbian Exchange: From the New World (America) to the Old corn, potatoes, tobacco, beans, peppers, manioc, pumpkin,

squash, tomato, wild rice, etc. also, syphilis From the Old World to the New cows, pigs, horses, wheat, sugar cane, apples, cabbage,

citrus, carrots, Kentucky bluegrass, etc. devastating diseases (smallpox, yellow fever, malaria), as

Indians had no immunities. The Indians had no immunities in their systems built up

over generations. An estimated 90% of all pre-Columbus Indians died, mostly

due to disease.

VII. The Spanish Conquistadores

I. Spain secured claim to Americas from Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)

II. 1500’s dominant explorers/ colonizers of Americas

III. Conquistadores explored and conquered much of N and S America

Vasco Balboa: "discovered“ the Pacific Ocean across isthmus of Panama

Ferdinand Magellan: circumnavigates the globe (1st to do so)

Ponce de Leon: touches and names Florida looking for legendary Fountain of Youth

Hernando Cortes: enters Florida, travels up into present day Southeastern U.S., dies and is "buried“ in Mississippi River

Francisco Pizarro: conquers Incan Empire of Peruand begins shipping tons of gold/silver back to Spain. This huge influxof precious metals made European prices skyrocket (inflation).

Francisco Coronado: ventured into current Southwest U.S. looking for legendary El Dorado, city of gold. He found the Pueblo Indians.

VII. The Spanish Conquistadores

I. Flood of silver from SA, Mexico caused inflation in Europe

A. Led to rise of capitalism and commercial banking, paid for international trade

II. Encomienda system established A. Indians "commended“ or given to Spanish

landlords B. The idea was that Indians would work and be

converted to Christianity, but it was basically just slavery on a sugar plantation guised as missionary work.

VIII. The Conquest of Mexico Hernando Cortez conquered the Aztecs at

Tenochtitlan. Cortez went from Cuba to present day Vera Cruz,

then marched over mountains to the Aztec capital. Montezuma, Aztec king, thought Cortez might be

thegod Quetzalcoatl who was due to re-appear

Montezuma welcomed Cortez into Tenochtitlan. The Spanish lust for gold led Montezuma to attack

on the noche triste, sad night. Cortez and men fought their way out, but it wassmallpox that eventually beat the Indians.

The Spanish then destroyed Tenochtitlan, building the Spanish capital (Mexico City) exactly on top of the Aztec city.

A new race of people emerged, mestizos, a mix of Spanish and Indian blood.

IX. The Spread of Spanish America

I. Spain’s empire grew quicklyII. Threats from other European

powers- English, FrenchIII. Spanish set up forts (presidios) to

protect borders- from Florida to California

IV. Rebellions in New Mexico against Spanish (Pope’s Rebellion 1680)

V. Black Legend: The Black Legend was the notion that Spaniards only brought bad things (murder, disease, slavery); though true, they also brought good things such as law systems, architecture, Christianity, language, civilization, so that the Black Legend is partly, but not entirely, accurate.

PLANTING OF THE ENGLISH IN AMERICA

1500-1733

II. ELIZABETH ENERGIZES ENGLAND

Within 100 years of Columbus landing Americas radically transformed

1600 most of North America unclaimed, unexplored In the 1500s, Britain failed to effectively colonize due

to internal conflicts. 1530’s King Henry VIII broke with the Roman

Catholic Church launched the English Protestant Reformation.

Elizabeth I became queen, Britain became basically Protestant, rivalry with Catholic Spain intensified.

Ireland, Catholics sought Spain’s help in revolting against England, English crushed the uprising with brutal atrocity, developed contempt for natives.

Late 1500’s English attack Spanish ships for gold (Sir Francis Drake)

First English attempts at colonization (Newfoundland 1583, Roanoke 1585) failed

1588 English defeat Spanish Armada Allows English to cross North Atlantic Victory gives English reason for

exploration/settlement A. Strong government/popular monarch, more religious

unity, a sense of nationalismB. Beginning of British dominance at sea (which lasts

until U.S. tops them, around 1900)

III. England on the Eve of the Empire

Reasons for English colonization of the Americas

A. 1500’s growing population

B. New enclosure laws – less land for poor

C. Wool industry collapsed

D. Population became mobile (looking for jobs)

E. Tradition of primogeniture = 1st born son inheritsALL father’s land. Younger sons tried their luck with fortunes elsewhere, like America.

Early1600s, joint-stock company perfected (investors put money into the company with hopes for a good return), provided financing for colonization

Joint-stock companies usually did not exist long, stockholders invested to make a profit, then quickly sell for profit a few years later

Charter gave settlers same rights as Englishmen Joint Stock Company (Virginia Company) given charter by King

James I to settle in New World

IV. England Plants the Jamestown Seedling

On May 24, 1607, about 100 English settlers disembarked from their ship and founded Jamestown.

Problems included: (a) the swampy site of

Jamestown, poor drinking water, mosquitoes caused malaria and yellow fever.

(b) men wasted time looking for gold rather than doing useful tasks (digging wells, building shelter, planting crops),

(c) zero women on the initial ship.

IV. England Plants the Jamestown Seedling

1608 Captain John Smith took over control and whipped the colonists into shape, gave order and discipline, highlighted by his “no work, no food” policy.

Colonists had to eat cats, dogs, rats, even other people. One fellow wrote of eating “powdered wife.”

1610 a relief party headed by Lord De La Warr arrived to alleviate the suffering.

1625 out of an original overall total of 8,000 would-be settlers, only 1,200 had survived.

V. Culture Clash in the New World

At first English seen potential allies, relations grew worse when English began to raid Indian food supplies

De La Warr began “total war” against Indians Early 1600’s clashes decimated Indians pushed them

westward, removed them from ancestral lands European colonization disrupted way of life Disease took out population Trade intensified competition among tribes Tribes along Atlantic seaboard felt effects the most When colonists could grow their own food they had little use

for Indians, Europeans wanted their land

VII. Virginia Child of Tobacco

Tobacco savior of Virginia Colony

cash crop- Jamestown had found its gold.

Tobacco created a greed for land- heavily depleted the soil and ruined the land.

Representative self-government in Virginia, when in 1619, settlers created the House of Burgesses, a committee to work out local issues. This set America on a pathway to self-rule

1619 first Africans sold as slaves

VIII. Maryland: Catholic Haven

I. 1634 founded by Lord Baltimore as Catholic refuge (from Protestant English)

II. Second plantation colonyIII. Huge estates given to Catholic families,

poorer, Protestants settled there also, created friction between two groups

IV. Tobacco main crop, labor source was indentured servants (slaves came in late 1600’s)

V. Religious toleration A. Permitted freedom of worship to all

ChristiansB. 1649- Act of Toleration, guaranteed

religious toleration to all Christians, but decreed the death penalty to Jews, atheists, others who didn’t believe in the divinity of Jesus

C. More Catholics in Maryland than any English speaking colony in the New World

IX. The West Indies Way Station to Mainland America

I. Decline of Spanish power led British to secure Caribbean Islands II. Sugar main crop• Labor intensive, capital intensive• Needed to be wealthy to start plantation• Caused large numbers of slaves to be imported III. Slave Codes established• 1700 slaves outnumber settlers 4:1• defined the legal status of slaves and the rights of the masters.

They were typically strict and exacted severe punishments for offenders.

IV. Sugar plantation system caused islands to depend on American colonies for food, basic supplies

• Smaller farmers left islands and settled in southern coloniesV. 1670 group arrives in Carolina, brings slaves from Barbados • Slave codes adopted in Carolina 1696• Slave codes became model for statutes governing slavery across

colonies

X. Colonizing the Carolinas

Developed close economic ties with “sugar islands”

Many immigrated from region , brought slave trade with them

Traded Indian slaves throughout colonies

Rice major export crop African slaves had knowledge to

grow rice Slaves had natural immunity to

malaria Ideal laborers for rice plantations By 1710 majority of people in

Carolinas were African slaves Charles Town major seaport Diverse tolerant community Attracted French Protestant

refugees Caused friction with Spain

XI. Emergence of North Carolina Wild northern expanse of Carolina Outcasts and religious dissenters Raised tobacco and other crops on

small farms, little need for slaves Distinctive traits: irreligious,

hospitable to pirates, spirit of resistance to authority, , democratic, independent minded, least aristocratic of 13 colonies

1712 separated from S.C.

XI. Late Coming Georgia: The Buffer Colony 1733-Last colony to be

“planted” Savannah major port Established as buffer between

English, Spanish Only colony to receive money

from English government Founded by prison reform

group, major leader James Oglethorpe

Debtors from England sent there

Diverse communities Religious toleration for all

except Catholics Least populous colony Restrictive slavery laws

Plantation Colonies

Agriculture export based economies

Slavery in all colonies Small group owned

most of the land Rural population made

it hard to establish towns, schools and churches

Religiously tolerant Agriculture spurred

expansion and confrontation with Native Americans

SETTLING THE NORTHERN COLONIES

1619-1700

Overview

Established different patterns of settlement than plantation/southern colonies

Different economies than plantation/southern colonies

Different set of values than plantation/southern colonies

Distinctive regional characteristics began to develop during this time

I. Protestant Reformation Produces Puritanism

Social unrest and rise of Calvinism led to attraction to Puritanism

Many from economically depressed areas, Puritanism provided comfort

King James I harassed Puritan separatists, went to Holland

II. Puritans End their Pilgrimage at Plymouth

Looked for haven where they could be free to worship and live

1620- Negotiated with Virginia Company, missed destination landed in New England

Leader Myles Standish Signed Mayflower Compact-

set up crude government, submit to the will of the majority, first step toward self government

Male settlers met in open discussion town meetings

II. Puritans End their Pilgrimage at Plymouth First winter took heavy toll (44

of 102 survived), nobody left colony

Next year bountiful harvests, Pilgrims saw some sign of success

Found economic success in fish, fur, lumber

William Bradford early leader Colony never important

politically or economically Significant for moral and

spiritual qualities, established pattern in New England

1691- Merged with Massachusetts Bay Colony

III. Bay Colony Bible Commonwealth

Separatist Puritans wanted “purified” form of Christianity, not welcome in England, still members of Church of England

1629 more moderate group secured royal charter, formed Mass. Bay Company

Used charter as a form of constitution, had advantage of being out of the reach of royal authority

Well equipped group settles 1630, larger scale than previous settlements

Continuing turmoil in England (Great Migration), more people left (70,000) only about 20,000 came Mass. Many others went to Caribbean

John Winthrop gov. of Bay colony for 19 years (came because “called by God”)

Important industries fishing, shipbuilding Became biggest, most influential colony in New England

III. Bay Colony Bible Commonwealth Benefitted from shared sense of purpose, idea of

“covenant” with God “We shall be a city upon a hill” Believed they had a covenant with God, society a model to

humanity

IV. Building the Bay Colony

Common convictions shaped life All free adult males, that were members of Puritan Congregations

(Congregational Church) had right to vote, participate in political life Three-fifths of adult males enjoyed privileges Town governments were more inclusive, all male property holders

could participate, all business decided by majority vote Was not a democracy All people paid taxes “Freemen” voted for governor and representative assembly

(General Court) Religious leaders had enormous influence, govt. duty to enforce

religious rules Congregations had right to hire, fire ministers Clergy could not hold political office Limited endorsement of separation of church and state Protestant ethic emerges- serious commitment to work, worldly

pursuits For Puritans hellfire was very real

V. Trouble in the Bible Commonwealth Challenge to Puritan orthodoxy from Anne

Hutchinson, holy life no sure way to salvation, why bother with following God’s laws (antinomianism)

1638- Banished from colony Roger Williams radical separatist, wanted

clean break from English church Challenged legality of Bay Colony charter,

taking land from Indians Did not want civil government to regulate

religion 1635- Banished from colony Williams established religious tolerance in

Rhode Island Most liberal of all colonies Opposed special privilege, provided

freedom of opportunity Settlements consisted of exiles and

malcontents from Bay Colony Strongly Independent colony

VII. New England Spreads Out

1635 Connecticut River Valley settled, largest area of fertile land in New England

1639 Fundamental Orders of Connecticut- like a modern constitution, democratic regime controlled by “substantial” citizens

Established unified government in CT

First written constitution ion America 1662- More religious colony, New

Haven merged with Connecticut colony

1677 Maine- absorbed by Mass. 1679 New Hampshire became a

royal colony New England colonies began

westward expansion during this period

VIII. Puritans vs. Indians Spread of English led to

conflict with Indians Epidemics left them with no

position to resist English 1637 Pequot War – English

destroy Pequot (in CT) led to forty years of uneasy peace

English tried to convert natives, put them in praying towns (early reservations?)

Only hope for resistance was in unity

1675 King Phillip (Metacom) led series of attacks on English

1676 King Phillips War ended, slowed westward advance of English settlement, ended Indian resistance in New England

IX. Seeds of Colonial Unity and Independence

1643 New England Confederation (two Mass. And two CT colonies)

Purpose: defense, intercolonial problems England did not provide support b/c of Civil Wars, let

colonies become semiautonomous (salutary neglect) Each colony had two votes Exclusive Puritan club Milestone toward colonial unity 1660 Royalists restored (Stuart Restoration) in

England, Charles II takes more active role 1662-Gives Connecticut a sea to sea grant, legitimized

squatter settlements 1663 Rhode Island receives new charter 1684 Bay colony charter revoked

X. Andros Promotes First American Revolution

1686 Dominion of New England established

Created by royal authority, controlled from London

Promoted English Navigation Laws, control trade within English colonies to benefit England, despised by colonists

Colonies existed to benefit mother country Policy known as mercantilism, basically

political control of the economy by the state

1651-1696 British pass series of Navigation Acts that spell out goods to be sold, and put the British government in charge of trade

Unintended consequence smuggling became popular

Sir Edmund Andros head of Dominion Restrictions on courts, press, mail, town

meetings, schools; revoked land titles Tax colonies without consent, enforced

Navigation Laws

X. Andros Promotes First American Revolution

Glorious Revolution ended Dominion 1691 Mass. Made a royal colony Royal gov. appointed ALL qualified males could vote 1681-1691 colonists resist royal

authority Monarchs relax control of colonial

trade, begin period of salutary neglect again

Residue: more English officials in America, prevented rise of local leaders, resentment toward England

XI. Old Netherlanders at New Netherland

17th century Dutch emerged as major commercial, naval power

Challenged England Leading colonial power 1609 Henry Hudson filed Dutch

claim to New York area 1623-1624 New Netherland

planted (Dutch West India Company)

New Amsterdam established for fur trade, quick profit for stockholders, not democratic

cosmopolitan population, landed aristocracy

Land granted for people who would settle 50 people on them (patroons)

XII. Friction With English and Swedish Neighbors Dutch directors incompetent Shareholders wanted profit Indians attacked New Amsterdam (Dutch erected wall for defense,

later became Wall Street) New England hostile to growth, wanted to attack Dutch, stopped

by Mass. veto Sweden planted colonies on Delaware R. Dutch attacked Swedes, absorbed into Dutch colony

XII. Dutch Residues in New York

Regarded by English as intruders, attacked by English navy and surrendered

Became New York English had strategic

harbor in middle of colonies

Autocratic (self- governance) spirit remained, also influences of architecture and place names

XIII. Penn’s Holy Experiment in Pennsylvania Quakers, began in England 1600’s “quaked” with religious conviction Refused to support Church of

England with taxes, serve in military William Penn establishes an asylum

in New World 1681 receives land grant from

crown Best advertised of colonies Welcomed all types of settlers Wanted forward looking settlers,

liberal land policy Attracted many immigrants

XIV. Quaker Pennsylvania and Its Neighbors

Many settlers already there- along banks of Delaware River

Philadelphia was well planned city Tolerant of Indians Many came from other regions, non-Quaker

settlers undermined this treatment

XIV. Quaker Pennsylvania and Its Neighbors

Government liberal Representative assembly elected by

landowners Freedom of worship for all Death penalty only for treason and

murder No plans for military defense Dislike of slavery (important by early

1800’s) Liberal policies attracted rich mix of

ethnic groups Quakers good businessmen Exporters of grain, other foodstuffs New Jersey started out as small Quaker

settlements 1702 New Jersey made a royal colony Delaware had own assembly, under

control of Pennsylvania until Revolutionary War

Philadelphia & Boston ComparedPhiladelphia & Boston Compared

XV. The Middle Way in the Middle Colonies

Middle colonies had fertile soil, known as “bread colonies”

Rivers- ease of travel, brought people to backcountry

Landholdings were intermediate in size

Ethnically diverse, religious toleration Economic, social democracy found in

middle colonies

America 1720

Population growing Permanent

settlements established

Transportation, communication improving

British kept hands off policy

Colonists developed own churches, governments, networks of trade

AMERICAN LIFE IN THE 17TH CENTURY

1607-1692

I. Unhealthy Chesapeake

Disease took toll on population Caused region to grow slowly Men outnumbered women 6:1 Hard to form families Eventually resistance to disease,

presence of more women allowed region’s population to grow

II. Tobacco Economy Chesapeake good for growing

tobacco exhausted soil, constant

movement looking for more fertile land

production depressed worldwide prices

Needed labor- Indians died too quickly, African slaves too expensive

England had surplus of laborers, turned to indentured servitude

By 1700 more than 100,000 indentured servants came to the region

Eventually prime land became scarce, land owners did not want to give up land

Freed workers had to hire out for low wages

II. Tobacco Economy

Headright System:Headright System: Each Virginian got 50 acres for each person whose

passage they paid..

Indenture Contract:Indenture Contract: 5-7 years. Promised “freedom dues” [land, money] Forbidden to marry. 1610-1614: only 1 in 10 outlived their indentured

contracts

III. Frustrated Freeman and Bacon’s Rebellion

Landless, penniless freemen

Single, young No women, money Only land in backcountry VA Gov. Berkeley- friendly

policies toward Indians, monopoly on fur trade

Did not retaliate after Indian attack

1676 Nathaniel Bacon and followers, attacked Indians , chased gov. from Jamestown and burned town

Bacon dies from disease, Berkeley captures and hangs 20 rebels

Results of Bacon’s Rebellion

Exposed resentments between inland frontiersmen/landless former servants against gentry on coastal plantations. Socio-economic class differences/clashes between

rural/urban communities would continue throughout American history.

Upper class planters searched for laborers less likely to rebel- black slaves

IV. Colonial Slavery Majority of African slaves arrive after 1700 Wages rise in England, shrink pool of laborers Mid-1680’s black slaves outnumber whites in plantation colonies Most from west Africa, high death rate on slave ships Newport, R.I. and Charlestown, S.C. large slave markets South, British and New England merchants all benefitted from

trade

IV. Colonial Slavery

Some early slaves gained freedom, as numbers increased white colonists reacted to perceived threat

o 1662 first slave codes in VA (blacks and children property, could not learn to read, write) Slavery transformed from

economic to economic and racial institution.

Early 1600s differences between slave and servant were unclear

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

1607 1630 1650 1670 1690

White

Black

V. Africans in America Deep south slave life severe Rural plantations conditions poor,

needed to import more slaves for labor

Different in Virginia, tobacco farming easier, plantations closer together

Families grew faster, population grew through natural increase

Stable, distinctive culture SC- Gullah language Religious traditions Cleared land for development 1712 slave revolt NY 1739 Stono River rebellion SC Slaves more reliable labor source

than indentured servants

VI. Southern Society

Social hierarchy develops by late 1600’s

Plantation owners (“first families of Virginia)

Small farmers largest group Landless whites, many former

indentured servants Oppressed black slaves Few cities, urban professional

class slow to emerge Life revolved around plantation Transportation by rivers, poor

roads

VII. The New England Family

Climate healthier than south

Migrated to region as families, population grew by natural increase

Family stability, intergenerational continuity (concept of grandparents)

Women New England and the South

New England• Authoritarian male

father figures controlled each household.Recognition of property rights undermine marriage

• Laws established to defend integrity of marriage

South• Fragility of family

gave women economic independence

• Women could own, inherit property

VIII. Life in New England Towns Tight knit society based on communities Surrounded by other colonial powers,

Puritan unity of purpose Society grew in orderly fashion,

distribution of land by town fathers Towns of more than 50 had to provide

elementary education in Mass. Democracy in church govt, political

govt.

Land Division inSudbury, MA: 1639-1656

XI. Half-Way Covenant and the Salem Witch Trails

Factors: growing population, migration from towns, less religious zeal, decline of conversions

1662 – Half Way Covenant, weakened distinction from “elect” and others

Results: wider religious participation, more women as church members

1692 – Salem, MA women accused of bewitching others, 20 put to death

Resulted from social prejudices- Puritan ideas vs. Rising Yankee commercialism (many accused from prosperous part of town), mistrust of outsiders (Quakers, Baptists accused by Puritan settlers)), cultural mistrust of women (most accused were old women)

XII. New England Way of Life Lack of good farmland led to

frugality of settlers Region less ethnically mixed Diversified industry, experts in ship

building and commerce Slavery not profitable Saw duty to “improve” land,

clearing, planting, building Religion, soil, climate led to

purposefulness, self- reliance, resourcefulness

COLONIAL SOCIETY ON THE EVE OF REVOLUTION

1700-1775

I. Conquest by the Cradle

1775- British had 32 colonies in NA

13 original colonies not the wealthiest

Average age 16 Most population east of

Alleghenies, Appalachian Mts.

By 1775 some had moved west

90% lived in rural areas Shifted balance of power

between colonies and British

II. Mingling of the Races

Mostly English Germans- 6% mostly Protestant, settled mainly in

Pennsylvania Scots- Irish- 7%, most important non-English group Became squatters, quarreled with Indians, white

landowners 1720’s first moved into backcountry in NC, VA, MD, PA Were squatters on land Tradition of violence, individualistic 1764- Paxton Boys protest Quaker treatment of

Indians Late 1760’s Regulator Movement in NC, insurrection

against eastern dominance of colonies affairs 5% other groups- French Huguenots,, Welsh, Dutch,

Swedes, Jews, Irish, Swiss, Scots-Highlanders African slave trade contributed to population diversity Laid foundations for multi-cultural American national

identity

III. Structure of Colonial Society America land of opportunity No titled nobility Social structure very fluid By mid 1700’s- class differences emerge

small group of aristocrats had most power Wars in 1700’s enriched a few merchants,

made orphans and widows (mostly in NE)

III. Structure of Colonial Society

Southern Social Pyramid Plantation owners at

top (planters) had many slaves

Small farmers, owned land, few slaves

Landless whites, some indentured servants

Black slaves at the bottom

IV. Clerks, Physicians, Jurists

Ministry most well respected profession

Physicians poorly trained, medical knowledge was limited and crude

Epidemics, plague feared by people

Lawyers not respected at first, criminals represented themselves in court

By 1750 lawyers seen as useful, played an important role in American history

V. Workaday America

Agriculture leading industry Chesapeake staple crop

tobacco Middle colonies- grain Fishing major industry in NE Yankee seamen good

sailors, international commerce

Triangular trade- goods from American colonies, travel to Africa (or Europe) traded for slaves, then to West Indies traded for sugar, sold to Americas, huge profits made on each leg of trip

V. Workaday America

Manufacturing not as important Some small industry- rum, iron making, spinning weaving

(by women) Lumber most important mfg. activity (for shipbuilding) British navy depended on American colonies to supply

them

Americans demand more British products (b/c fast growing pop.)

British could not buy enough American goods Colonists seek foreign markets Trade imbalance between colonies, British 1733- Parliament passes Molasses Act to stop American

trade with French West Indies American merchants bribe and smuggle their way around

law, creates resentment toward British government

VI. Transportation and Religion

Roads dangerous, poor in 1700’s, only connected large cities

Towns clustered around water sources Taverns, bars along roads places of gossip, news Mail system set up by mid-1700’s, unreliable,

postmen not trustworthy Two established (tax supported) churches by

1775 Anglican, Congregational Anglican- NY,NC,SC,GA,VA,MD Closely connected with monarchy in England Congregational- NE except in RI. Many ministers dealt with political issues, early

rumblings of revolution from Cong. ministers

VIII. Great Awakening

Religion lost steam in 1700’s , New ideas challenged old ways (predestination), new ideas of free will

1730’s and 1740’s -Great Awakening Started in Mass.- Jonathan Edwards Deeply emotional sermons, well reasoned, Message of human

helplessness, divine omnipotence Most famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” George Whitfield- emotional sermons, style of shaking, heaping blame

on sinners imitated by others Orthodox clergy “old lights” skeptical of emotionalism “New Light” ministers defended role in revitalizing religion Split congregations, increased number and competitiveness of religions Direct spirituality undermined older clergy “New Light” universities Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth First mass movement of American people Contributed to sense that Americans were common people united by

shared experience

IX. Schools and Colleges

Education more important in New England Towns established primary, secondary

schools, had to be able to read Bible High number of college graduates South- rural population, could not

effectively establish schools Education done on plantations by private

tutors, wealthy sent children abroad for higher education

College Education- originally to prepare people for ministry

New England est. first colleges (Harvard first 1636)

By 1750’s move toward other subjects First nondenominational college University

of Pennsylvania est. by Ben Franklin

X. Pioneer Presses

Many small newspapers, pamphlets, journals around colonies

Powerful agents for airing colonial grievances, rallying opposition

Peter Zenger Case 1734-1735 New York printer Accused of seditious libel for writing about royal

governor Case not about if statements were true or not, but

fact that they were printed Found not guilty, allowed for freedom of the press,

open public discussion, eventually led to freedom to print responsible criticisms

XI. The Great Game of Politics Variety of governments in 13 colonies By 1775 8 had royal governors appointed by king, 3 run by

proprietors and chose own governors, 2 had self governing charters

All had two house legislatures (upper house-appointed, lower house- elected)

Had to own property to be a voter Self taxation through representation cherished privilege Some governors corrupt Most had trouble with colonial legislatures, saw gov. as British

mouthpiece Colonial legislatures held money from royal authorities South- local government on county level (run by planters) New England –town meeting, direct democracy Almost half of all males “disenfranchised” Property requirements to vote, ease of acquiring land made this

attainable

XI. American Colonies in 1775 By 1775 America more democratic

than Europe Basically English in language and

custom Protestant religion Democratic ideas of tolerance,

educational advantages, equality of economic opportunity, freedom of speech, assembly and representative government emerged in this period