America On the Eve of Revolution

Only 13 Colonies?

• By 1775- British have 32 colonies established

• Why did the 13 revolt?

Conquest by Cradle

• 1700- population 300,000 (20,000 black)

• 1775- 2.5 million• Roughly only 400,000

immigrants (slaves)• American life is fertile• Average age = 16

Conquest by Cradle

• 1700- twenty English subjects to one colonists

• 1775- number dwindled to three to one

• Problems?

Conquest by Cradle

• Most populated – Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, NC, Maryland

• 4 true cities= Philly, NYC, Boston, Charleston

• 90% of population is rural

The Melting Pot…sort of• Germans- 6%-

Pennsylvania- Religion= Lutheran, religious diversity in area continues.

• 1/3 of population in Penn.

• Back country folks• No loyalty to the British• Skilled stone workers

The Melting Pot…sort of

• Scotch Irish- 7%• Scottish low landers

forced to Ireland• Irish = catholic, Scots

= Presbyterian • Go to land liberal

Penn, but Germans have the good land

• Must go further west

• Quarreled with natives and whites

• Flimsy log cabins• Experiences in Ireland

help them prosper in rugged west.

The Melting Pot… sort of

• Scot/Irish- lawless, individualist, brought whiskey with them

• Extreme hatred for the British- Why

Scot Irish, seeds of Rebellion

• Paxton boys- SI’s angry at Quaker’s friendly policies with Natives

• Responsible for Native Massacres, and even led march to Philly.

• Years later will start regulator movement in NC- rebellion against tax polices

The Melting Pot…sort of • The others- 5%-

French Huguenots, Welsh, Dutch, Swedes, Jews, Irish, Swiss, and Scots.

• All have little loyalty to the crown.

• Largest non English group come from Africa (20%)

The Melting Pot…sort of• South- 90% of African

population• NE- least ethnic diversity.• Middle colonies- gets

majority of white immigrants, extremely diverse.

• Most diverse area of time in world

• The American culture is forming

Colonial Structure and War

• 1600-mid 1700’s- American seems like land of opportunity

• Mid 18 century class levels are becoming apparent

• Native conflicts create rich merchant class of the Middle colonies.

• War creates orphans• Philly and NYC

already have orphanages

• Yet number of poor in US in low to rest of world

Colonial Structure

• NE- not much soil to go around, family plots are made even smaller

• South- large plantation owners get rich, and make plantations bigger- creating very distinct and very small upper class.

• Jail birds- 50,000• Slaves- no shot at

advancement• Colonialists are aware that

large groups of oppressed people can cause problems, try to impose restrictions on slaves, but Eng. vetoes all.

• Why

Other Jobs

• Lawyers- looked down upon- pioneer life is for hard workers

• Clergymen- highly regarded

Other Jobs

• Doctors- kind of…• Method of curing-

bloodletting• Constantly threatened by

epidemics • Smallpox- why not try a

little powdered dry toad. • How does this impact

society?

Work in America• Agriculture= 90% • Fishing (and whaling) done

all over, but NE is the best• Fishing industry

encourages growth of shipbuilding and lumber producing.

• Colonial Naval Stores- tar, pitch, rosin, and turpentine

• Forests= life

Triangle Trade

The British Middlemen

• Colonial trade is strong, but stopping at Eng. Dips into colonial profits.

• Molasses Act – tax on molasses aimed at regulating trade rather than raise money.

• Colonists bribe and smuggle their way around it.

Transportation…or lack of

• Roads- dirty, unkept, dangerous

• Rivers- safest most sensible way of travel

• Taverns- are the place to be, abundant among traveling routes

• Taverns- early democracy, people sharing information, rather right or wrong, often aided by alcohol.

Church

• Established (tax supported) churches Anglican and Congregational

• Large portion of population doesn’t go to church

• Only minority of people go to established churches

Church

• Anglicans • GE, SC, NC, VA, MA,

part of NY• Not the most pious• Short sermons

• Congregational Church- from Puritans

• In NE colonies, minus RI

Church

• Pre Revolution• Con. Church favors

rebellions• Anglican loyal to the king• Overall- America is

probably most religion tolerant (lack of Catholics means less anti-Catholic laws)

• Free to worship, or not.

Great Awakening • 1600’s religion is

important• 1700’s religion is fanning• Challenge to the puritans • Arminianism- individual

will determines fate, all can achieve salvation, rather then the “elect”

Great Awakening

• Religious revival • Northampton Mass.• Jonathon Edwards• “Sinners in the Hands

of an Angry God”

Great Awakening

• George Whitefiled • Great colonial speaker• Religion is in the

heart, not in books

The Old vs. the New• Old lights- traditional clergy• New Lights- embrace Great

Awakening• Old lights- not buying

theatrical elements• Huge divide in religion• Divide in churches increases

numbers and competitiveness of churches

• 1st spontaneous mass movement in America- shows we Americans are united by a common history and experience.

Colonial Education

• England- education is for rich males, destined to be leaders not citizens.

• NE- education is important- need to read the bible- goal is to make good Christians.

• South- widely dispersed, if educated it was done by a private tutor.

• Education- emphasis on religion and classical languages.

Colonial Education

• NE- Harvard to train ministers

• South- annoyed by religious influence, sent children abroad.

Colonial Culture

• Art- still influenced by Brits.

• Architecture- still influenced by Europe.

• Literature- “Poor Richards Almanack” BF-

• Science, some progress, mainly attributed to BF

Pioneer Presses

• Colonists- usually too poor to buy and read books.

• Hand operating printing presses- about 40

• Print news, often late.

Zenger Trial • Peter Zenger- printed story

against corrupt royal governor. • Defended by former indentured

servant-AH• Royal judge- basically told the

jurors not to listen to Hamilton’s argument.

• To everybody’s surprise- Zenger found not guilty

• Freedom of the press is established, good sign for Democracy to come.

Colonial Politics • Bicameral legislation• Upper house (council)

normally appointed by the crown (royal colonies) or by proprietor (proprietary colonies)

• Lower House- elected by the people…who met property requirements

• Backcountry people- often felt underrepresented

Colonial Politics

• Royal governors- sometimes good, sometimes bad

• Colonists, sometimes would with hold governors salary until he gave into their demands.

• Blame the British- should have made governors’ salary independent source.

Colonial Politics • Government on local levels• South- back country affairs• NE- town meetings• Middle- combination of the two• Not a true democracy- need property to vote.• But with plenty of land, may can make

requirements

Colonial Life

• Food plentiful- but diet was coarse and repetitive

• Heat source- fireplace• Light- candles, whale oil

lamps• Garbage disposal- hogs

in the streets, buzzards protected by law.

• Lotteries- lots and often- used to fundraising purposes.

• North- winter sports• South- cards, horse

racing, cock fighting, dancing, theater.

• Holidays- universally celebrated

• NE- no Christmas- too “popery”

Many differences, but lets celebrate similarities

• English language and most customs

• Mainly Protestant• Diverse populations

force some degree of religious toleration.

• Chances at social advancement

• Experience in self government

• Simple facts of shared history, culture, and geography set the stage for the colonists’ struggle for independence.