Unit 2: Chapters 5-8

Chapter 5: Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution

A Mingling of the Races

Diversity?Who was the least loyal

to the Crown?Racial make-up of

regions? Is this the beginning of becoming “American?”

The Structure of Colonial Society Social mobility easier

to obtain in colonies than in England/Europe.

Disparity between the “have and have not's” continue to show/grow= growth of charities

Land scarcity increasing throughout colonies but still easier to obtain relative to England

Land of the “jayle birds”

Slavery thriving in the South

Workaday America Varied depending on

region Tobacco, grains in middle

colonies Cotton in the south Fishing, shipbuilding, in NE Household manufacturing

by women

Trade with Caribbean islands was profitable

Cash crops and lumber biggest income maker irrespective of region

Trade imbalance with England = increase trade with foreign nations

Molasses Act intended to curtail trade with French West Indies = colonial problems with the Crown

Horsepower and Sailpower

Poor road conditions = slow trade

Waterways more efficient

Businesses spotted along travel routes

Taverns the place to get the 411!

Postal system developed by mid 1700’s

Decline in Religious Devotion…

1. Half-way covenant (1662)

a. Addresses decreasing membership

b. Mostly in New England

2. Arminianisma. God all-loving; good

deeds and faith = salvation

b. Supported Enlightenmentc. Countered spiritual

conversion needed for church membership

…leads to The Great Awakening

1. The 1730sa. Emotionally chargedb. Religious power in the hand

of the individual c. George Whitfield

2. Revivalsa. Jonathan Edwardsb. In the South, revivals

introduced Christianity to slaves.

The Great Awakening

3. Allowed for questioning religious, as well as, political leadership.4. Supported by young and poor.5. First spontaneous mass movement of the American people! United irrespective of denomination.6. Education valued: Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth

The “New Lights”

Jonathan Edwards (Ma)

“Sinners in the hands

of an angry God”

George Whitfield (Eng)

Mesopotamia!

The “Old Lights”

Clergy skeptical of emotionalism and theatrical antics

Schools and Colleges English perspective

For the aristocratic For leaders, not citizens For males

Puritans Read the bible = Good Christians Mostly boys

New England Primary and secondary

schools early on School time varies

Middle & South More reluctant Tax supported Wealthy = private tutors

Focus Doctrine & dogma Not reason/logic Physical punishment!

College Most to churn out ministers Wealthy = study abroad

Pioneer Presses Libraries uncommon Ben Franklin supported

first library in Pa By 1776,

about 50 public libraries 40 newspapers

News slow to travel = new news is really old news

1. Newspaper medium for communication

2. Zenger Case (1733)a. exposed corruption of Royal

Gov.

b. Sued Zenger for libel

c. Found not guilty. Why?

The Great Game of Politics Two-house legislature

Upper-house Appointed or elected

Lower-house Elected (qualified

voters) Taxes for gov’t Did not care for royal appointed

Governors Withheld Gov. salaries as a way

to manipulate Salaries paid by colonist, not

crown = problematic later

Local level politics Town meetings: direct

democracy functioned Religious and/or property

qualifiers Land fairly easy to come,

but many did not exercise rights to vote

Trusted in the leadership of their “betters”

True democracy still a work in progress but better than in England and Europe

Colonial Folkway Work usually laborious Plenty of food, esp. meat,

but a bit boring Heating hard to come by;

poor craftsmanship, relatively speaking

No running water or plumbing = hard living

Waste management of the day were hogs and buzzards

Amusement Militia drilling Funerals Weddings Lotteries Plays in some colonies Thanksgiving

Commonalities throughout the colonies by mid-1750

English in language and customs

Protestant Ethnic and religious

toleration Enterprising for social

mobility Some self-government All away from the crown

by 3000 miles of Atlantic