Colonial America Review

Politics, Economics, and Society

C/E of English Exploration

Causes: Economic necessity- mercantilism

Military power- must counter growing empire of Spain, France and Portugal

Effects: British gain a foothold in New World at Jamestown, eventually along Atlantic seaboard

Big Picture of English Exploration

Early exploration was sanctioned by the King in hopes of gaining an empire to match England’s growing power on the seas, as well as gaining wealth similar to the Spanish expeditions of the SouthSoon becomes a haven for religious dissenters, poor, landless men (enclosure), wealthy merchants looking for more wealth and debtors!

Political Evolution of Colonial Era

Early Colonial Set-upHouse of Burgesses-1619Mayflower Compact-1620

Foundations of direct democracy

New England Town MeetingsFundamental Orders of Connecticut-1638

First Written Constitution

Dominion of New EnglandAttempts at more control

Shift to Royal Colonies as England wants more controlSalutary Neglect after Glorious Revolution

- Southern Colonies

Virginia1607, Virginia Co of London, Gold!!

Maryland1634, Lord Baltimore, Haven for Catholics

Carolinas1663, Proprietors from Barbados, new cash crops for England

Georgia1732m James Olgethrope, buffer zone and haven for British debtors!

New England

Massachusetts1620, Puritans (Separatists and Puritans), Remove from church or reform church!

Rhode Island1636, Roger Williams, separation of church and state

Connecticut1636, Thomas Hooker, better farm land!

New Hampshire1679, John Wheelwright, split from Mass, wants sep of church and state!

Middle

New York1664, Duke of York, gift from king (brother!)

New Jersey1664, Gift from king to two friends

Penn1681, William Penn, Gift from King

Delaware1682, Granted to Penn, Swedes and Dutch granted own representative govt in 1702 from Penn!

Comparison of Evolution of Politics of ColoniesNew England

Church Membership and voting?Royal Colonies after fall of DominionConn and RI remain charter govts

MiddleProprietary set-up- Penn and Delaware stayNew Jersey, New York shift to Royal

ChesapeakeShift to Royal Colony-1624Maryland retains Proprietary status

SouthernProprietary set-up, shift to Royal 1700’s

Royal Colony Set-Up!King

Royal Governor(Appt by King, oversaw trade, final approval on laws,

dismiss colonial assembly)

Colonial Council Colonial Assembly(Appointed by Gov, (Elected by LandownersHighest Court in Colony, Authority to Tax,Advisors to Gov) paid Gov salary)

Politics of Colonial Era

Reasons for Evolution: Rights of Englishmen/common law are not being protected post F and I War

Life, liberty and propertyWrit of habeas corpusJury trialSearch warrant necessaryPeople have right to petition the govt

Desire for a restoration of early 1700’s SN

Big picture of Politics in Colonies

Roots of self-govt firmly established in initial set-up of governmentColonies were able to form their own political identity as royal colonies were guaranteed the right to elective assemblies and English law was little enforced in coloniesConfidence from success in the F and I War and a unique identity formed brings many colonists to believe they are capable of self-rule

Comparison of Economic Systems in Colonies

New England: lumbering, fishing, ship-building, subsistence farmingMiddle: Trade centers (NYC, Phili), breadbasket (wheat farming)Chesapeake: Tobacco plantationsSouthern: Rice, Indigo plantations

Evolution of Economic Systems

Economic control grows with Navigation Acts of 1660’s

Not evenly enforced (if not royal colony, could not force compliance)

Enforcement of oceanic trade lawsNon-enforcement of internal laws/ regulations post-1700

Own taxation laws by colonial assemblies

MercantilismColonies are there to support the Mother Country (favorable balance of trade)Navigation Acts

Products finished in England, enumerated goods must be sold only to EnglandChesapeake saw greatest restrictions!!

Triangular TradeDoes not allow colonial manufacturing to develop in full

Lack of skilled workmen, capital, inland transportationDoes produce furniture, beaver hats

Evolution of Economic Systems of Colonies

Indentured Servitude/Slavery-young single men come to New World for economic opportunity

Slavery moved to in Chesapeake with slowing of European IS’s, Bacon’s Rebellion, defacto to dejure

Tobacco is labor intensive!

Slavery present in Southern colonies from the beginning- CarolinasAlways not enough labor for the amount of land to work!Effect: slave system is embedded in culture of the Chesapeake and Southern colonies

Slavery ComparisonSlavery in New England/Middle

Shift from IS to slavePopulation?Educated to work in stores or on docksReligion leads to better treatment (no slaves for Quakers)

Slavery in ChesapeakeShift from indentured servant to slaves1 of every 8 people is a slaveWork plantations

Slavery in SouthernImported to colonies as slavesSlaves outnumber whitesWork plantations

Big Picture of Economic Systems in Colonies

The Geography of regions influence the economic activitiesMercantilism and Navigation Acts

Hinder growth of American industries

Most important colonial industry: ship-buildingTriangle trade

Society in the ColoniesReligion/tradition is the major factor that determines social roles

Women-subservient to the husbandSlave- subservient to the masterFather/Husband- protector of women and childrenChildren- subservient to the fatherFamily- large, used to work for the family

Indentured Servants/SlavesUnity throughout the Colonies (Albany Plan of Union)- American: self-reliant, individualism, optimism

Population Growth: rapid growthNatural Increase-3/4 from 1700-1770

Immigration: waves of immigration from Ireland and Germany throughout 1700’s

Largest group: Scots-Irish

Education

Must be educated in New England to read the Bible for salvation!Better educated than most of Europe

Varies from colony to colony

•High literacy rates

•Harvard- est. 1636

Big Picture of Society in Colonies

•Religion dictates social structure•Education is very important,

especially in the New England colonies

•Population growth is rapid due to immigration and natural increase

•Unity grows in a sense of being “American”, but does not extend to politics

Evolution of Religion in ColoniesNE: founded by Puritans-great summary in

review books!– Covenant of Works/Predestination effects set

up of life

•Effects- extremely devout had lasting implications on society, politics and economy– Least democratic region, voting rights only as

a church member– Caused conformity– Gender Roles in society harshly defined

Conformity of Religion•Roger Williams: separation of church

and state, King has no right to give away land that belonged to natives, freedom of religion– Banished 1635, founded RI with principles of

freedom of religion

•Anne Hutchinson: Believed in Covenant of Grace, not Covenant of Works toted by most Puritan ministers, preached in home that on could communicate directly with God, makes church as an institution less important– Tainted Puritan believes and gender roles!

Evolution of Religion

•Halfway Covenant

•Shift in importance with forced Religious toleration and voting changes post 1690– Glorious Revolution!

•Salem Witch Trials, Great Awakening in response to loss of purpose and devoutness

Religion in Chesapeake

•Maryland- Act of Toleration-1649

•Settlement is motivated by wealth– Headright System

•Settlement by singles, little inducement for devoutness

Quakers

•Persecution in New England

•William Penn in 1681

•Follow Quaker laws, but you do not have to be Quaker

•Fair Treatment of Native Americans

•No slaves!!

Big Picture of Culture in Colonies•Most colonies had a state supported

church•Tolerance grew over the 1600’s as more

religious groups find the New World a haven for religious freedom

•Salem Witch Trials- showing the decline in Puritan ideals

•Great Awakening is attempt to regain Puritan ideals from founding

•Freedom of Press established with Zenger Trial in 1735

Questions for Discussion

•Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled by largely people of English origin, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. Why did this difference in development occur?

•To what extent had the colonists developed a sense of their own identity and unity as Americans by the eve of the Revolution?

•Analyze the extent to which religious freedom existed in the British North American Colonies prior to 1700.

•How did the economic, geographic, and social factors encourage the growth of slavery as an important part of the colonies between 1607-1750.