CHAPTER 4CHAPTER 4Experience of Empire Experience of Empire Eighteenth-Century AmericaEighteenth-Century America

Growth and DiversityGrowth and Diversity 1700-1750—colonial population rose 1700-1750—colonial population rose

from 250,000 to over two millionfrom 250,000 to over two million Much growth through natural increaseMuch growth through natural increase

American EnlightenmentAmerican Enlightenment

Age of ReasonAge of Reason The Enlightenment’s basic assumptions: The Enlightenment’s basic assumptions:

God set up the universe and human society to God set up the universe and human society to operate by natural lawsoperate by natural laws

Those laws can be found through reasonThose laws can be found through reason Mixed reception in AmericaMixed reception in America

Americans defended church, embraced search for Americans defended church, embraced search for practical ways of improving lifepractical ways of improving life

Economic TransformationEconomic Transformation

England added to existing base of England added to existing base of mercantilist rules from 1710s-1750smercantilist rules from 1710s-1750s Colonial manufacture/trade of timber, Colonial manufacture/trade of timber,

sugar, hats, and iron restrictedsugar, hats, and iron restricted However, regulations not enforced However, regulations not enforced

(salutary neglect)(salutary neglect) Trade was mainly with England and Trade was mainly with England and

West IndiesWest Indies

Birth of a Consumer SocietyBirth of a Consumer Society English mass-production of consumer English mass-production of consumer

goods stimulated increase in colonial goods stimulated increase in colonial imports imports

Americans built up large debts to English Americans built up large debts to English merchants to finance increased importsmerchants to finance increased imports

The Great Wagon RoadThe Great Wagon Road

The Great Awakening The Great Awakening Spontaneous, evangelical revivals that Spontaneous, evangelical revivals that

weakened the authority of the old colonial weakened the authority of the old colonial religionsreligions

Led to optimistic view of future (a new birth Led to optimistic view of future (a new birth for believers)for believers)

Fostered sense of American unity/identity Fostered sense of American unity/identity

Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards

Emphasized the Calvinistic teachings of Emphasized the Calvinistic teachings of the Puritans (emphasized the importance the Puritans (emphasized the importance of personal religious experience)of personal religious experience)

““Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”--Jonathan Edwards--Jonathan Edwards

““There is nothing that keeps wicked men, at any There is nothing that keeps wicked men, at any one moment, out of hell, but the mere pleasure of one moment, out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God.”God.” ““He is not only able to cast wicked men into He is not only able to cast wicked men into

hell, but he can most hell, but he can most easilyeasily do it.” do it.” ““There is no fortress that is any defense from There is no fortress that is any defense from

the power of God.”the power of God.” ““They are They are alreadyalready under a sentence of under a sentence of

condemnation to hell.condemnation to hell. So that every unconverted So that every unconverted man properly belongs to hell; that is his place.”man properly belongs to hell; that is his place.”

““The The UseUse may be of may be of AwakeningAwakening to unconverted to unconverted persons in this congregation.”persons in this congregation.”

Governing the Colonies: Governing the Colonies: GovernorsGovernors

More powers than king in England:More powers than king in England:– Veto legislationVeto legislation– Dismiss judgesDismiss judges– Appoint colonial officialsAppoint colonial officials– Command provincial militaryCommand provincial military

Governing the Colonies: Governing the Colonies: Colonial AssembliesColonial Assemblies

Felt obligation to preserve colonial Felt obligation to preserve colonial rights/libertiesrights/liberties

Assemblies controlled colony’s financesAssemblies controlled colony’s finances No incentive for assembly to cooperate No incentive for assembly to cooperate

with governors (sometimes even hostile with governors (sometimes even hostile toward them)toward them)

North America, 1750North America, 1750

The Albany PlanThe Albany Plan

Albany Congress, 1754Albany Congress, 1754 Benjamin Franklin’s idea of central colonial Benjamin Franklin’s idea of central colonial

government government Elected representatives decide defense mattersElected representatives decide defense matters Could levy taxes to support its operationsCould levy taxes to support its operations

Albany Plan failed, disliked by English and Albany Plan failed, disliked by English and AmericansAmericans

11stst Political Cartoon in an Political Cartoon in an American Newspaper, 1754American Newspaper, 1754

Seven Years’ WarSeven Years’ War

1756—England declared war on France 1756—England declared war on France Prime Minister William Pitt shifted strategy to Prime Minister William Pitt shifted strategy to

focus on North Americafocus on North America Peace of Paris 1763: France lost warPeace of Paris 1763: France lost war

British got all North America east of MississippiBritish got all North America east of Mississippi French only retained two Caribbean IslandsFrench only retained two Caribbean Islands Spanish added Louisiana to their empireSpanish added Louisiana to their empire

Perceptions of WarPerceptions of War

Expanded horizons of colonistsExpanded horizons of colonists Created trained officer corps that knew Created trained officer corps that knew

British vulnerabilitiesBritish vulnerabilities British felt colonists ungrateful and not British felt colonists ungrateful and not

willing to bear their fair share of the cost willing to bear their fair share of the cost of the warof the war Used this as justification for taxing coloniesUsed this as justification for taxing colonies

Seven Years’ War, 1756–1763Seven Years’ War, 1756–1763

North America after 1763North America after 1763

A Century of Conflict: Major A Century of Conflict: Major Wars, 1689–1763Wars, 1689–1763

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin

Franklin (1706-1790) regarded as Franklin (1706-1790) regarded as Enlightenment thinker by Enlightenment thinker by EuropeansEuropeans

Made important scientific Made important scientific discoveries and inventionsdiscoveries and inventions

Symbol of material progress Symbol of material progress through human ingenuity through human ingenuity