■Essential Question: –How did differences in values

affect distinct American subcultures in the Chesapeake, Southern, New England, & Middle colonies?

Life in 17th CenturyEnglish Colonies

The Economic, Social, & Political Culture of the

English Colonies

What did the English

colonies look like in 1650?

What did the English

colonies look like by 1700?

Colonial Society in the 17th Century:

New England

Families in New England■New England society was much

more stable than other colonies:–New England Puritans migrated

to America as families–Marriage was easy as most

people shared common values–Colonists lived longer due to

more a dispersed population, purer water, & a cooler climate

Possibly the 1st society in history to reasonably expect to live long

enough to see their grandchildren

Towns became networks of intermarried families

New England “invented” grandparents

17th Century Life

Expectancy

Education in New England■NE towns regarded education as

fundamental family responsibility; towns began to create elementary schools funded with local taxes:–NE had, by far, the highest

literacy rate in America–In 1638, Harvard

became America’s first college

Women in New England■Was the colonial era the “golden

age” for women? –Women contributed to society as

wives & mothers, devout church members, & ran small-scale farms

■But were not equals with men:–Women could not legally own or

sell property; divorce was difficult–Women did what “God ordained”

Social Hierarchy in New England

Local gentry of religiously devout families guided

town meetings

Large population of yeomen farmers loyal

to the local community

Small population of landless laborers, servants, & poor

NE churches focused on its members; outsiders were not welcomed & often moved away

Colonial Society in the 17th Century:The Chesapeake

Women in Chesapeake Society■Scarcity in #’s gave some women

bargaining power in the marriage market; allowed some women to improve their social status

■But women were vulnerable:–sexual exploitation–Childbearing was dangerous–Chesapeake women died 20

years earlier than women in NE

Families in the Chesapeake■“Normal, English” family life was

impossible in Virginia:– 70-85% of immigrants were

young male indentured servants – High death rate (average age

was 10-20 years lower than NE)– One married spouse often died

within a decade– Children often never knew their

parents (let alone grandparents)

Social Hierarchy in the Chesapeake

Tobacco was the basis of wealth & cause of

social inequalities

The plantation gentry dominated society &

the House of Burgesses

Yeoman farmers were the largest class; Came as

indentured servants; most lived on edge of poverty

Indentured servants were often mistreated & cheated out of land

African slaves

Chesapeake Culture ■By 1680, social mobility in the

Chesapeake was limited:–An American-born elite class

had emerged (this social aristocracy was absent earlier)

–The plantation economy & ownership of slaves allowed the gentry to produce more tobacco

–High death rates halted the development of schools & towns

Colonial Society in the 17th Century:

African Slaves

The Roots of Slavery■The importation of African slaves

was based on a “need” for labor:–Native Americans made poor

slaves because they were decimated by European disease

–Indentured servant-pool waned after 1660

■An estimated 11 million slaves (mostly males) were brought to the English American colonies

The Roots of Slavery■Slaves were originally treated as

indentured servants but the growing black population in VA by 1672 prompted stricter slave laws:– Africans were defined as slaves for life;

permanent slave status was passed on to slave children

– By 1700, slavery was based exclusively on skin color

– Could even be used as collateral for loans.

Origins & Destinations of African Slaves, 1619-1760

The Slave Population■In the Chesapeake & Southern

colonies with large black populations, slaves found it easier to maintain their African culture

■By 1720, the African population became self-sustaining:–Fertility rates exceeded

immigration rates for the 1st time–Did not occur in the Caribbean

or in South America

60% in SC40% in VAFree & enslaved blacks were much less numerous in NE & Middle colonies

The Slave Population■Widespread resentment of their

slave status led to resistance in the 18th Century:–Armed resistance such as the

Stono Rebellion of 1739 (SC)–In 1741, 106 slaves were hung

or deported due to a rumor that slaves planned to burn NYC

–Runaway slaves were common

150 blacks rose up & seized munitions hold killed & killed

several white planters

The Colonial Economy in the 17th

Century:Commercial Empire

Economic Diversity of the

English Colonies

Rise of a Commercial Empire

■English gov’t largely ignored the colonies until the 1650s (salutary neglect); The colonies were not state-funded nor state protected

■But…Charles II initiated colonial intervention in 1660 to maximize exports, decrease imports, & generate more gov’t revenue

Response to Economic Competition■“Mercantilism” became the

blueprint for England’s empire:–Wanted more money & a

favorable balance of trade–Wanted to eliminate Dutch rivals–Wanted a stronger navy

■Began to restrict colonial trade:–Navigation Act of 1660–Navigation Act of 1663

No ship could trade in colonies unless it was

made in England

“Enumerated goods” (tobacco, sugar,

cotton, rice, rosin, tar) could only be

sent to English portsGoods shipped to English colonies must pass through England (Increased the price paid by colonial consumers)

Implementing the Acts ■NE merchants found loopholes to

avoid paying taxes so the English made more restrictions (Am. Tradition!)

–In 1696, created a Board of Trade to oversee colonial trade

–Created maritime courts to mediate disputes

■The Navigation Acts eventually benefited the colonial merchants & smuggling virtually ended (stay tuned!)

Colonial Factions Spark Political

Revolt, 1676-1691

Colonial Factions Spark Revolt■The English colonies began to

experience unrest at the end of the 17th Century:–This unrest was not a social

revolution (or a forecast of the American Rev) but a contest between colonial “ins” & “outs”

–Bacons’ Rebellion, King Philip’s War & witchcraft panic

Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia■Former indentured servants living

in the VA frontier suffered due to: –Poor tobacco prices in 1660s –Indian attacks in 1675

■These farmers blamed VA’s royal governor Berkeley who did little to help; Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion in 1676 against Berkeley & was joined by small farmers, blacks, & women

Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia■The rebellion ended after Bacon’s

death (dysentery) but the rebellion convinced VA gentry that:– Indentured servants were destined to

become rebellious– African slaves were a better solution

than rebellious whites because slaves had no ambitions for political power

– Big Picture: Showed the potential power of lower class masses

Bacon’s Rebellion

King Philip’s War■In 1675, Metacomet (“King Philip”)

led the Wampanoag Indians against NE colonists:–1,000+ Indians & colonists died–Large war debt led James II to

annul the Mass Bay charter & create the “Dominion of New England” by combining Mass, Conn, RI, Plymouth, NY, NJ, & NH under a new royal charter under Gov. Edmund Andros

King Philip’s War

Dominion of New England■Edmund Andros was hated by

Puritans, moderates, & merchants■ Andros vigorously enforced Navigation Acts; made town meetings

illegal; collected unapproved taxes

■ In 1689, Andros was deposed when William & Mary began reign

■ Massachusetts was given a new charter that incorporated Plymouth but shifted power from the “elect" to those with property

Witchcraft in New England■Charges of witchcraft were

common in New England■But the “Salem panic” of 1691 led

to 20 public executions before the trials were halted in 1692

■Possible causes: –argument over church ministers–poor farmers accusing rich

farmers to gain land–reactions to independent women

Salem Witch Trials

Conclusions■By 1700:

–England’s attitude toward the colonies had changed dramatically

–Sectional differences within the colonies were profound

–All the colonies were all part of Great Britain but had little to do with each other

Discussion Question:

■How unified were the English colonies? –Are these colonies one society

or four?–Explain with evidence–Consider political, economic, &

social characteristics