Download - American Life
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