Colonial Society in the 18th Century

1、Colonial Society in the 18th Century“The American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas, and form new opinions. From involuntary idleness, servile dependence, and useless labor, he has passed to toils of a very different nature, rewarded by ample subsisten

2、ce. This is an American.”-J. Hector St. John Crevecoeur, 1782Kickoff: the New WorldQuestion: if you could start a new civilization in a new world, what would it look like? How would you like society to be organized?Population Growth1701: English colonies had population of 250,000 (minus NA)1775: a t

3、enfold increase (within a single life span)What were the causes behind this explosion?Ample food supply, fertile land leads to?European ImmigrantsNot only from the mother country, but also from other parts of EuropeProtestants from France, German-speakers Why did they leave?Most settled in middle co

4、lonies and western frontiers of southern coloniesWhy not NE? Different groupsEnglishTapered off in the 18th century-England more stableGermansSettled in PA Dutch county (where?)Maintained customs-religion (Lutheran), languageShunned English politics (Amish-still like that today)1775: 6% of totalImmi

5、grants (Cont)Scotch-IrishEnglish-speakersAncestors moved from Ireland to ScotlandSettled on frontiers in PA, VA, NC, SC, & GA7% of the populationOther EurosFrench Protestants (Huguenots), Dutch, Swedes5% of population AfricansBy far the largest group of non-English immigrants (500k/2.5 million i

6、n 1775)Overwhelmingly slaves90% lived in which part of the country?Majority population in SC and GASubstantial percentage in NC, VA, & MDEVERY colony had discriminatory lawsLets learn a little more about the slave trade (very important!)The Structure of Colonial SocietyGeneral CharacteristicsDom

7、inance of English CultureMajority population English Africans and other Euros creating a “melting pot”Self-governmentAll had representative assembliesTwo governors directly elected (RI and CT)Others appointed by crown (NY, VA)Still others by proprietors (PA, MA)General Characteristics (Cont)Religiou

8、s tolerationAll allowed practice, but variedMA least tolerant (no non-Christians OR Catholics)-why? Still, did allow some other ProtestantsRI and PA most liberal-why?No hereditary aristocracy (whats this?)Class system did exist-based on economics Wealthy land owners (top); craftspeople and small far

9、mers-common people (whos at bottom?)Social MobilityEverybody (except slaves obviously) had the opportunity to improve lot Very deeply ingrained in American societyThe FamilyEconomic and social heartMarrying young, LOTS of kids90% lived on farmsCoastal and frontier life hard, but still overall higher

10、 standards of living than in EuropeThe SexesMenDominated landowning and politicsHusband almost unlimited power at homeWomenHow many children on average?Domestic roleEducated the childrenDivorce legal (but rare)Shared labors and mutual dependence led to higher role then in many other societies The Ec

11、onomy1760s, half of Englands world trade with coloniesMercantilist: colonies had limited manufacturing Restricted competition with English industries VERY dependent upon?New EnglandSoil/climate not good for farmingSmall farms, less than 100 acresDone by familiesSignificant logging, shipbuilding, fis

12、hing, trading, and rum Middle ColoniesRich soil-especially PAAttracted Euro immigrantsAbundance of wheat and cornFarms 200+ acresIndentured servants and hired labor commonManufacturing: iron-workingTrade led to growth for Philadelphia and NYCSouthern ColoniesVariety of climatesLarge plantations (200

13、0+ acres)Small family farmsTobacco (VA, MD, NC)Rice & Indigo (SC, GA)PlantationsWhat type of labor?Self-sufficient Food and slave craftspeopleLocated on rivers (why?)Carolinas-timber, tar, etc.Monetary SystemEngland controlled hard currency (gold and silver)Colonies forced to pay for English imp

14、orts with gold & silver that exceeded their exportsPaper money issued-led to inflation England vetoed colonial laws that harmed its merchantsSowed seeds of discontent TransportationWater much easier than landLed to development of Boston, NYC, Philly, and Charleston (good harbors, navigable river

15、s)Still, overland travel increased Taverns became lodging and social centers (politics discussed)Postal system over land and water developedReligionProtestant DominationSome governments taxed citizens to support churches-established churchesChurch of England (Anglican)-VACongregational Church-MA and

16、 CTDirect state support weakened after during 18th centuryMA-members of other est. religions did exempt from supporting Cong. Church by revolutionVA-tax support ended for Anglican Church after revolution Some more tidbitsAnglicansProsperous famers, merchants, plantation owners membersNo bishops to o

17、rdain ministers-limited developmentHeaded by king-viewed as symbol of controlCongregationalistsSuccessors of PuritansMainly in NECritics thought its doctrine complex and ministers domineering The Great AwakeningFirst decades of 18th century God benign, universe perfectly orderedMore intellectual the

18、n emotional Contrast with Puritans-sin and damnationIn 1730s, fervent religious outpouring among masses of peopleStrongest 1730-1750Jonathan EdwardsCongregationalist-Northampton MAInitiated the Great Awakening Most famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” (1741) God angry with sinDeep pe

19、nitence-heaven; otherwise-HELL!George Whitefield Edwards influence limited to NEWhitefield came from England in 1739Traveled the coloniesIgnited the Great Awk. more than anyone elseHellish torments of damendDrew audiences of 10,000 sometimesSalvation only through belief in ChristFor everyone elseHEL

20、L!Ordinary people could understand gospels withouth ministersReligious impactProfound effect on religious practices in the colonies Sinners emotionally confessed guilt, happy to be savedEmotionalism Minsters power somewhat weakened-person Bible study“New Lights” vs. “Old Lights”Effects Great Awakeni

21、ng: divisions in New England; Old Lights = against new revivals; New Lights = supported the revival and AwakeningConflicts developed between Old and New Lightsaccused each other of heresyOL condemned emotional enthusiasm and individual relationship with God; against awakeningNL supported the revival

22、 and emotional preachingPeople were burning wigs, chanting curses, firing preachers and pulling them down from the pulpitBaptists and Methodists (evangelicals) grew as traditional churches were challengedGreater competition-separation of church and state (why?)Political Impact of Great AwakeningProf

23、ound effect on politics as wellEvery social class involvedCommon experience as “Americans”New approach towards authorityDemocratizing-people can make own religious decisions without ministers Political decisions as well?Seeds of revolution-everyone turn to page 56Cultural LifeSurvival in 18th centur

24、y no longer as criticalArts and “civilized” life started to flourish-at least among wealthyAchievements in the Arts and SciencesArchitecture1740s and 1750s-Georgian style in London widely imitated in coloniesSpacious homes-found on east coastFrontier: one-room log cabinsPaintingItinerant artistsBefo

25、re revolution, Benjamin West and John Copley trained in England, became famousLiteratureMost writings on serious subjectsReligionMA ministers Cotton Mather and Jonathan Edwards widely read tractsPoliticsLarge number of political essay pre-RevolutionJohn Adams, James Otis, John Dickinson, Thomas Pain

26、e, Thomas JeffersonLiterature (Cont)Benjamin FranklinBy far most famous and popularPoor Richards Almanack-funny and popular; 1732-1757Phillis Wheatley-poems on triumph over slavery ScienceJohn BartramPhiladelphia botanistSelf-taughtAnd of courseBENJAMIN FRANKLINWorked with electricityBifocal eyeglas

27、sesFranklin StoveFamous internationally EducationNew EnglandPuritans emphasized learningTax supported schoolsMA 1647 law required towns 50+ families to establish primary schools for boysOver 100 families, grammar schools to prepare boys for collegeEducation (cont)Middle coloniesChurch-sponsored or p

28、rivateTeachers lived with familiesSouthern coloniesParents gave kids whatever they couldPlantations-private tutorsHigher EducationHarvard first colonial college (1636-MA)Originally for ministers-proper theological and scholarly educationWilliam and Mary (VA-1694), AnglicanYale (CT-1701), Congretatio

29、nalists Both sectarian-promote doctrines of particular sectsHigher Education (Cont)Great Awakening-new collegesCollege of New Jersey (Princeton), 1746, PresbyterianKings College (Columbia), 1754, AnglicanRhode Island College (Brown), 1765, BaptistQueens College (Rutgers), 1766, Dutch ReformedDartmou

30、th College, 1769, Congregationalist Only College of Philadelphia (Univ. of PA) no religious sponsorship, 1765Benjamin Franklin one of foundersProfessionsIn 18th century professions outside ministry gained prominence PhysiciansHigh demand-beginning doctors had no formal medical training1765-College o

31、f Philly first medical collegeLawyersNot respected in 1600s (talkative troublemakers); self-representTrade expanded, legal matters complexMore professional, bars formed-set rules and standardsJohn Adams, James Otis, Patrick Henry-influenced revolutionThe PressNews and ideas circulated via post, loca

32、l printing press, and word of mouthNewspapers1725-only five newspapers1776-more than 40Issued weekly-four pagesMonth-old Euro news, ads for goods, services, runaway ind. servants and slaves, essays giving advice for better livingFirst cartoon-Philadelphia Gazette (BF!)The Zenger CaseNewspaper owners

33、 risk of libel (what is this?) if article offended authoritiesJohn Peter Zenger-1735, NY editor and publisher Trial for libelously criticizing NYs royal governorAndrew Hamilton (lawyer) argued client printed truth so innocent“Injuring a governors reputation”-criminalJury acquitted himNot freedom of

34、press-but encouraged more risk-taking, especially when criticizing government Rural FolkwaysWhat was life like?Majority of colonists rarely read newspapers or any other book (save one-guess which?)EntertainmentSouth: card playing, horse-racingMiddle colonies: theatre New England (Puritan!): religious lecturesEmergence of a National CharacterSimilar immigration motivations, political heritage of English, and American national environment merged to create something uniqueExer