American Life Late 1600s – Early 1700s

New EnglandPatriarchal SocietySocial covenantChurch Crisis

(Enlightenment Ideals): Jeremiad and Half Way Covenant

First Great Awakening: Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield

Salem Witch Trials: indicative of growing social class distinctions

Colonial EconomicsMost colonists farmersReliance on triangular

tradeNot enough British

goods to purchase, leads to illegal purchases from France and French West Indies

Molasses Act in 1733- foreshadows Imperial Crisis

Immigration goes mainly to Middle Colonies

Germans and Scots Irish move to Pennsylvania

Scots Irish also become the ultimate frontiersman

Paxton Boys, Regulator Movement

American Colonial breakdown of Scots Irish

Ben Franklin on the GermansIn short unless the stream of their

importation could be turned from this to other colonies, as you very judiciously

propose, they will soon so out number us, that all the advantages we have will not in My

Opinion be able to preserve our language, and even our Government will become

precarious.

What is an American?- Jean de CreveceourIt is no wonder that this country has so many charms, and presents

to Europeans so many temptations to remain in it. A traveller in Europe becomes a stranger as soon as he quits his own kingdom; but it is otherwise here. We know, properly speaking, no strangers; this is every person's country; the variety of our soils, situations, climates, governments, and produce, hath something which must please every body. No sooner does an European arrive, no matter of what condition, than his eyes are opened upon the fair prospect; he hears his language spoke, he retraces many of his own country manners, he perpetually hears the names of families and towns with which he is acquainted; he sees happiness and prosperity in all places disseminated; he meets with hospitality, kindness, and plenty every where; he beholds hardly any poor, he seldom hears of punishments and executions; and he wonders at the elegance of our towns, those miracles of industry and freedom

Social LifeTavernsCongregationalist and

Anglican Churches are tax supported

Focus on enlightenment ideals (John Peter Zenger case)

New emphasis on education (college more important than alphabet)

Lots of improvements (roads, mail, printing)

Government8 colonies had an

appointed Royal Governor3 chose their Royal

Governor2 (Ct and RI) elected their

governorsAlmost all governments

run on a two house system (top is appointed by crown, bottom is popularly elected)

Backcountry highly underrepresented

Slavery overwhelming in the South though most slave traders were from Rhode Island

Barbados Slave Code