American Colonial Life: 1700-1770
History M07A Lecture #3
Growing Population & Economy
- From
250K in 1700 to 2m in 1771
- New
immigrants make colonists less English (Scots-Irish & African)
- Cheap
land drives western settlement
- Demand
for labor drives up wages
New England Goes Commercial
- Less
desirable for imms because of dense population & puritan views
- Population
grows through natural increase, large families
- Land
subdivided within families, forces sons to move west
- Money
becomes new way to gain land & establish communities
- Farms
basically subsistence, farmers become key consumers in commercial economy
- Traders
& merchants dominate Boston - NE wealthy make their money at trade,
shipping & fishing
- Slaves
were usually domestic servants or factory hands
Growth of the Middle Colonies
- Huge
population increase (10x)
- German
immigrants fleeing tough conditions
- Scots-Irish
(Ireland, Scotland & Northern England) largely Presbyterian
- Fleeing
bad economic & agricultural conditions
- Redemptioners
& indentured servants make difficult voyage
- Come
seeking promised opportunities, many start as servants
- More
affluent sought slaves - slaves subject to tougher laws
- Freed
slaves subject to racism
Pennsylvania
- Penns
encouraged settlement - negotiated for land with Indians
- Growth
of farming makes Middle colonies ÒbreadbasketÓ
- Prosperity
leads to demand for imported consumer goods
- Quakers
promote prosperity (thrift, hard work)
- Franklin
& Poor RichardÕs Almanac
- Quaker
rules about work and thrift without divine inner light
The Southern Colonies
- Slavery
becomes the defining characteristic of South
- Slave
population 40% of south by 1770
- Upper
South (Chesapeake) grows tobacco
- Lower
South grows indigo & rice
Slave Trade Flourishes
- Roughly
280,000 African slaves brought to colonies in 18th Century
- Journey
known as middle passage - 15% of slaves died en route 10% more in 1st year
- Different
regions desired slaves from certain locations
- As
time passes new slaves are increasingly Òcountry bornÓ
Slave Life & Culture
- Owners
wanted maximum work load, slaves just want to get by
- No
laws limiting use of force to make slaves work
- Constant
tension/fear over possible rebellion
- Task
system used to delineate expectations
- Slaves
form family units and practice native customs as theyÕre able
Wealth in the South
- Southern
exports by far most profitable
- Wealth
creates huge divides between southern whites, little open dissent because
yeoman appreciate white supremacy
- Slaveholding
gentry dominate southern life, dictate culture and practice
Unifying factors
- Commerce
& prosperity lead to consumption (& consumer debt)
- Increased
trade makes trade restrictions even more significant
- British
goods reinforces sense of British identity
- Buying
gives sense of personal autonomy & individual freedom
Religion & the Enlightenment
- Wide
variety of Christian faiths throughout colonies, including deism, easy to
be religiously indifferent
- Enlightenment
ideas become increasingly popular: rational thought, end to superstition,
advocacy for ÒequalÓ rights, scientific advancement
- Growth
of enlightenment & decline of religious practice lead to Great
Awakening
Characteristics of British Colonies
- Open
to almost all settlers - great population growth
- Strong
military protection from British
- Strict
trade restrictions
- Came
to develop common political expectations as to their place in the empire
New Spain & New France
- Indians
slowly adapt way of life to become part of colonial society
- Much
contention over fur trade
- British
colonies fear alliance of Indians with French or Spanish
- Spanish
establish missions in CA in 1770Õs with serious consequences for natives
Colonial/British Politics
- Colonists
accepted British regulation of trade, but resented involvement in domestic
affairs
- Colonial
governors view selves as Òmini-kingsÓ, colonists think otherwise, battles
between governors & assemblies
- Colonists
come to see assemblies as their parliaments