The Colonies Come of Age

British Mercantilism

Theory or power – a country’s ultimate goal was self-sufficiency and all countries in competition to acquire gold, wealth, power The purpose of colonies is to enrich the mother country Colonies expected to provide raw materials to England

(lumber, furs, fish, tobacco) Colonies serve as a market for British manufactured

goods (furniture, utensils, china, etc.)

Many merchants desire to sell to other countries (Spain, France, Holland). England sees this as a threat – colonies must only support the mother country

Mercantilism

Navigation Acts 1651

Navigation Acts puts the theory of mercantilism into practice

Most products could be sold only to England and all products have to pass through English ports

Some merchants resent the restrictions and start to smuggle goods to and from other countries

Tensions….. Glorious Revolution

King Charles II cracks down on MA – revokes the charter and makes it a royal colony under control of the crown

All the N. colonies united into Dominion of New England and placed under Sir Edmund Andros

Andros plans to crack down and enforce the Navigation Acts

Bloodless revolution in England in 1688/89. King James II flees as William and Mary are invited to take the throne by Parliament

Parliament passes a series of laws strengthening their powers

Colonists in MA follow and arrest Andros and his royal councilors

Tensions Emerge…..the Glorious Revolution

England loosens control

After 1688 (and for much of the first half of the 1700s) England turns its attention away from the colonies and towards France who is competing for greater control of Europe

Ushers in period of salutary neglect – England relaxes its enforcement of most regulations in exchange for continued econ loyalty of the colonies

Colonial Assemblies pay royal governor’s salaries and as such are able to exert some self-government

By 1750 – colonists still considered themselves British subjects – enjoying more economic and political autonomy and have little desire to unite against GB. However, colonies start to develop a taste for self-gov

AGRICULTUAL SOUTH

AND URBAN/MERCANTILIST NORTH

North versus South

PLANTATION ECONOMY

THE AGRICULTURAL SOUTH

- The South stakes its livelihood on fertile soil and long growing seasons

- Plantations develop that specialize in a single cash crop – grown for sale/profit instead of the farmer’s own use

- MD, VA, NC – tobacco- SC/GA – rice, indigo

- Many long, deep rivers in South allow planters to ship goods directly without need for many ports or city docks

- South develops largely as a rural and self-sufficient society

Life in the South

During the 1700s large numbers of Europeans traveled to N. America Many Germans settle in MD, VA, NC Many Scots and Scots-Irish settle in the South mostly along the

hills of western VA, NC

Small farmers formed the majority of Southern society, but planters controlled much of the South’s economy as well as its political and social institutions

Women had few legal rights (couldn’t vote). Educated in domestic tasks and expected to submit to husband. Average Southern woman worked hard throughout the day – cooking, milking cows, gardening, caring for children, cleaning, sewing, washing clothes, etc.

Indentured Servitude to Slavery

Indentured servants made up a significant part of colonial population in the 1600s (approx. ½ - 2/3 of all white immigrants after 1630) – however their numbers declined towards the end of the century

To meet labor shortages, colonies gradually turn to slavery (African slave trade had long been in place to W. Indies sugar plantations – Barbados and Jamaica)

What is the difference between an indentured servant and a slave?

Triangular Trade

17th century transatlantic trade network

Network encompassed trade routes criss-crossing N and S colonies, West Indies, Europe, and Africa

The Middle Passage – terrible conditions

• African Slave traders from the West Coast of Africa captured other Africans from the interior of Africa

• African Slave Traders gave Slaves to the Europeans in exchange for weapons and other goods.

• Ships – overcrowded, disease, whippings, heading into the unknown

• Passage in 1700s – 5-8 weeks

It is estimated that 20% of slaves starting the Middle Passage died en route to the Americas

Slave Trade in the Americas

Slavery in the South

Most slaves (80-90%) were field slaves working in plantations

On large plantations slaves were directed by overseers. On small plantations they worked alongside their master

The other 10-20% were house slaves (cooked, cleaned cared for children) or artisans (carpenters, blacksmiths, bricklayers).

Full-time work begins around age 12 – lasts all day

Slave owners whipped or beat those slaves they thought were disrespectful or disobedient

(Movie – 12 Years a SlaveBook – The Invention of Wings)

Slave Culture

Africans sold into slavery often came from a variety of tribes, cultures, and languages

Wove baskets and molded pottery as they had done in their homeland. Kept alive musical traditions and dance customs. Ring Shout – a circular religious dance that pays tribute to groups’ ancestors and gods invoking loud chants and quick, circular steps

Because merchants often tore apart nuclear families slaves formed tight bonds among the slave community of the plantation. They raised other’s children and filled family obligations for extended networks.

Slave Culture

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_words_of_Niger-Congo_origin

Slave Resistance

If you were a slave, how would you resist?...........

SLAVE RESISTANCE

Faked illnessBroke toolsWorked slowlySabotaged the cropRan awayOpen Revolt – ex: Stono Rebellion- September 1739 – 20

slaves gathered at the Stono River near Charles Town, SC wielding guns and weapons. Killed several planter families and marched south, beating drums and calling for other slaves to join. Planned to head to Spanish held FL. Later the same day, they were surrounded by a white militia. Those captured were executed.

White planters terrified of revolt (especially in plantation areas where blacks outnumber whites – sometimes 2-1).

NORTHERN COLONIES DEVELOPED A MORE URBAN SOCIETY – BASED ON

COMMERCE AND TRADE. LARGELY DUE TO GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE, THE

NORTH DEVELOPED MUCH DIFFERENTLY THAN THE SOUTH.

The Commercial North

Commerce in the North

Cold winters and rocky soil restricted New England farmers to smaller farms. They typically grew several crops instead of one cash crop on a large plantation.

More diversified economy Wheat grinding Harvesting fish Timber, sawing lumber Ship building Iron production The merchant class thrived and was powerful

Urban North

Many port cities developed to support the expansion of trade (Boston, NYC, Philadelphia)

Northern cities were more culturally diverse with a greater influx of immigrants – Germans, Dutch, Scots- Irish, Scandinavians, etc.

Slavery did exist in the north and slaves were treated harshly and considered property, but the north never had the number of slaves as the South did. Their economy was based on things that were less labor intensive and they never had the same demand for large numbers of slaves.

Northern Cities - Philadelphia

Philadelphia was a large port and the main point of entry in the colonies (later surpassed by NYC).

At one time, Philly

was the second largest city in the British empire behind London

Witchcraft Trials in Salem, MA (Puritan)

Winter 1691/927 Salem girls accused a West

Indian slave woman of practicing witchcraft

Accusations grew out of control as those who were accused tried to save themselves by naming other “witches”

Hysteria grips the town as more people made false accusations

Result – 20 hanged, 5 “witches” died in jail, and about 150 imprisoned

http://www.history.com/topics/salem-witch-trials/videos/salem-witch-trials

The Enlightenment and Great Awakening

Enlightenment swept colonial society in the 1700s Optimistic belief in science and reason

General spirit of inquiry and invention

Openness to new ideas

Scientific method to obtain knowledge

World is governed by fixed mathematical laws – not by chance

Enlightenment thinking also influenced political thought and would eventually lead colonists to question the authority of the British gov. It stressed the idea that individuals have natural rights, which governments must respect.

Influential Enlightenment Thinkers

Jean-Jacques Rousseau – “social contract” exists between the government and the

people. Role of gov is to ensure that the common good is protected

Montesquieu – Separation of powers

John Locke – Champions idea of representative gov All people have individual, natural rights – life, liberty and

property When gov violates those rights, people can legitimately

rebel

Benjamin Franklin – epitomized Enlightenment ideals

Believed humans could use intellectual powers to improve their lot in life

Invented the lightening rod, bifocals, and a heating system called the Franklin stove

Knowledge and discovery should be put to practical use

CauseResult – Great Awakening

By the early 1700s the Puritan church had lost its strong hold on society and church membership declined.

Many became more worldly and materialistic and less religiously inclined

New Mass charter Allowed freedom of worship Banned practice of only

allowing Puritans to vote

Traveling preachers went from village to village, having revival mtgs and encouraging people to rededicate themselves to God

Religious fervor

The Great Awakening – 1730s/40s

Great Awakening

Jonathan Edwards Early 18th century

preacher in MA sought to revive religious intensity of original Puritan settlers

“The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors (hates) you, and is dreadfully provoked; His wrath towards you burns like fire; He looks upon you as worthy of nothing else but to be cast into the fire;….and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment.”

Edwards – “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

Result of the Great Awakening?

The Great Awakening challenged the authority of established churches

Some colonists abandoned Puritan or Anglican congregations

Independent denominations (Baptists/Methodists) gained new members

Increased interest in higher education as Protestant denominations establish colleges (Princeton, Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth)

Colonists Question British Authority

Both the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening…. Caused people to question traditional authority Stressed the importance of the individual

Set the stage for colonists to question British authority over their lives.