Chapter 4Chapter 4

Provincial America and the Struggle for a Continent

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Expansion versus AnglicizationExpansion versus Anglicization Hampered by increased importation of English

goods during 17th century As colonial population increased, some English

traditions were altered Colonies had to educate and train their own ministers

Emergence of colonial class of “gentlemen” Enthralled

Women became more English the 1600s Dowry and dower right Coverture

Loss of inheritance rights Adoption of double standard of sexual behavior

Expansion, Immigration, and Expansion, Immigration, and Regional DifferentiationRegional Differentiation

African slave trade reached its peak between 1730 and 1775 Transformed political life, as great planters assumed

leadership positions Rice Planters of Carolina became richest members of

colonial society Life for slaves in Upper South (Maryland, Virginia,

Albermarle region of North Carolina) Paternalism

Task system Gullah

Regional Differentiation Regional Differentiation (cont)

Utilized gang system to supervise slaves A small percentage of slaves learned skills Encouraged family life among slaves

Life for slaves in Lower South (from Cape Fear in North Carolina through South Carolina and eventually Georgia)

Utilized task system of slave supervision Relied on white artisans for manufactured products Slaves in deep South slower to assimilate into the

British world

Mid-Atlantic Colonies:Mid-Atlantic Colonies:the “Best Poor Man’s Country”the “Best Poor Man’s Country” Most pluralistic region of North America from the

start Ireland and Germany main sources of immigrants

after 1720 Ulster Germans often arrived as “redemptioners”

New immigrants populated backcountry and created distinct society there Violent, heavy drinking Hated Indians

New England: A Faltering Economy New England: A Faltering Economy and Paper Moneyand Paper Money Economy weakened after colonial wars ended in

1713 Wheat blast

Molasses act of 1733 Imposed tax on West Indies molasses Increased bribery and smuggling

Region made its mark on Atlantic commerce through shipbuilding

Massachusetts invented fiat money in 1690 Problems with depreciation

Anglicizing Provincial AmericaAnglicizing Provincial America Influence of newspapers and the printed word

Few settlers owned books Newspaper printing widespread in the colonies by 1700s

John Peter Zenger Seditious libel Benjamin Franklin at the Pennsylvania Gazette began

branching out to other sources and original works Spread of Enlightenment values through the colonies

Found ready audience among colonial elites Rise of professions

Emergence of trained lawyers and doctors also helped to spread Enlightenment ideas through the colonies

Georgia: The Failure of an Georgia: The Failure of an Enlightenment UtopiaEnlightenment Utopia

Founded in 1733 as experiment in Enlightenment belief in social improvement James Oglethorpe

Land would be given away rather than sold Founders planned to produce silk and wine, items

no other colony had yet succeeded in producing Banned slavery and hard liquor In practice, the experiment failed miserably

Land unsuited for planned crops Settlers demanded access to alcohol Gradually came to accept need to use slave labor

The Great AwakeningThe Great Awakening

Swept Protestant world in 1730s and early 1740s Evangelical

Emphasis on personal conversion experience Revival Presbytery and Synod

More women than men experienced conversion Split established denominations

Evangelical and non-evangelical sects Gave rise to Baptists, Methodists, and other

evangelical denominations Spawned founding of several new colleges

George Whitefield Resulted in religious transformation of America

Political Culture in the ColoniesPolitical Culture in the Colonies Came to resemble English politics, adopting values

that took hold after the Glorious Revolution Important powers vested in colonial assemblies

Patronage Suffrage more widespread than in England Dominance of “country” ideas in the South

Politics of harmony Tensions remained in Maryland

Dominance of “Court” principles in North Governors sought to keep the peace by rewarding all

factions and groups

Renewal of Imperial ConflictRenewal of Imperial Conflict The French and Indian “republics” Stono Rebellion, 1739

Rebellion south of Charleston Stemmed from Spanish promises of freedom to any slave

who reached Florida Raised fears of Spanish treachery War of Jenkin’s Ear, 1741–1742

Conflict between Spain and England over Atlantic coast supremacy

Inconclusive; large losses on both sides King George’s War, 1744–1747

France joined Spain in its battle with England and the colonists

Ended with Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748

The War for North America

French and Indian (Seven Years War), 1756–1763 Origins in desire of English colonists to expand west

Led to clashes with both the French and the Indians Colonies not united

1754 plans for joint action at Albany Congress failed

Irregular war Fort Duquesne

Washington and Braddock War went initially against British

William Pitt Colonist forces changed course of war

Canada surrendered after fall of Montreal in 1760

War for North America (cont)

Major British/Colonial victory Settled by Peace of Paris in 1763

France surrendered North America east of the Mississippi, except for New Orleans, to England

Spain ceded Florida to England France gave Louisiana west of the Mississippi and New

Orleans to Spain Western Indians, whose lands were being transferred,

were not consulted

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Conquest of Canada, 1758–1760Web

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

How did the economies of the southern colonies compare with those of the northern colonies in 1700s?

What part did the Enlightenment play in the intellectual and social structure of the colonies?

What was the Great Awakening and how did it change colonial society? Did it relate to the Enlightenment?

Discuss the causes and effects of the Seven Years War. Did it have an effect on British–Colonial Relations?