American Life in the 17 th Century (1607-1692)

AP US History

Mr. Long

Characteristics of Southern Colonies

Disease took its toll early (10yrs cut from life expectancy)50% of babies died

Settlements grew slowlyMen outnumber women 6:1

Colonies have their early struggles but the colonists push through these tough times.

The South was bad for settlement but great for tobaccoTobacco= cash crop/savior of the south

Supply Price = Farmers plant more/more land

More Crop = Need for More Labor

Where will this new source of labor come from?

Indentured Servants: Chief source of labor for the early colonies was white indentured servants from England. 4-7 yr terms in exchange for passage to new

world and eventual “freedom dues”

Reasons for Ind. Servants:1. The Settlers (south) were not reproducing fast

enough2. African slaves are to expensive3. Indians die to quickly

Headright System:Whoever paid for the passage of the

indentured servants got 50 acres of land (Masters are reaping the benefits)

As time progressed land became more scarce and the indentured servants would have to hire themselves back out.

By 1700 over 100,000 indentured servants had come to New World.¾ of population in Maryland and Virginia

Bacon’s Rebellion:16761,000 indentured servants/poor farmers under

Nathaniel Bacon went on a rampage of plundering and pilfering

Reason: Colonial government would not protect rural farmers from Indian attacks.

Why did this scare Virginians?

What is the Result? Plantation owners (minority) looking for less

troublesome workers. “Eyes turn to Africa”

In 17th Century most African slave labor still went to sugar plantations in Caribbean. African slaves don’t become substantial source of

labor in North America until 1700.

Reasons for Increase in African Slaves:1. Bacon’s Rebellion2. Wages went up in England = less poor whites

coming to New World3. In 1698 the Royal African Company lost its charter

(had monopoly on slave trade)

By 1750 African Slaves = ½ Population in Virginia and outnumber whites in S.C. 2:1

Middle Passage: Name given to the trip from West Africa to the New World on slave ships. These trips were fatal due to conditions (20% death

rate)

Slavery began for economic reasons but by 1700 racial differences begin molding the American system.

Slave Codes:1. As early as 1662 (S.C)2. Made slavery extremely tough life (lifetime terms for slave

and children)3. Created a distinction between white servants and black

slaves

Deep South (Caribbean): Toughest conditions for slaves (heat, work is

harder, no women, high death rate)

Chesapeake:Tobacco is an easier crop to workPlantations bigger (more slaves) and closer

together so there is more contact with friends and relatives.

More females = family life is possible = natural reproduction = less cost for masters.

Revolts:Many revolts due to a “natural desire for

freedom”

Stono Revolt:1739Slave revolt in S.C.; slaves attempted to reach

Spanish Florida but were stopped by colonial militia.

Slavery defines the social structure of the SouthAs it spread the gap between wealthy and poor

increased

Large Spread Out PlantationsNo real towns (very rural society)

Southern Life revolved around plantation system!

Southern Aristocratic Structure

1. Plantation Owners: hard working businesslike lot. They owned land and controlled the politics but nothing like the aristocrats in Europe. This is a distinct American Culture

2. Small Farmers: far below plantation owners. Owned small plots and few slaves. There were subsistence farmers. (farmed to survive).

3. Landless Whites: former indentured servants. No land, so many had to hire themselves out.

4. Indentured Servants: Serving 4-7yr service terms

5. African Slaves:

Characteristics of Northern Colonies:1. Settlers added 10yrs to lifespan (clean water,

cool temp = less spread of disease)

2. Migrated as families, not singles (natural reproduction)Long life= stability (multi-generational guidance)

3. Small villages/towns: result in close knit groups (religion, geography)Towns were orderly (Education, church led to

democratic gov)

Halfway Convent & Salem Witch TrialsAt this time the zeal of the Puritans seems to be

diminishing

Halfway Convent: The practice that children of the baptized but not yet converted “elect” could also be baptized. Churches wanted membership up Many thought this weakened the Puritan church

No distinction between “elect” and church membership anymore. Jeremiad: form of preaching, preachers scolded parishioners for

their waning piety (warned of the pain of Hell)

Salem Witch Trials (1692): A group of young girls accused an older women of being a witch and practicing witchcraft on them

New England Way of Life1. Puritan Work Ethic:

NE had bad soil = no real need for slaves, but there is a need for industry

Puritans were hard workers Bad soil and strong sermons = not as many

profit hungry farmers

2. Indian Relations Ideals of land differed greatly

Whites = money, Indians = life/religion

New England Way of Life3. Good Harbors

They were expert ship builders and fisherman (cod)

4. Movement B/C there was bad soil many settlers spread out

across the continent (west) which spread NE ideals Organized towns Democracy Schools Religion Etc.

Early Settlers Days and Ways (1600-1700)The overwhelming majority of settlers wee

small farmersCompared to England the colonists of

America lived in abundanceCheap LandLots of FoodHigh Wages (3x more than England)

Americans have their own cultureThose who tried to live by old world society led

to rebellion (Bacon’s)

Early Settlers Days and Ways (1600-1700) Overall New World = Equality and

Democracy (for whites)

Colonists are framing their own identity by 1700

1. Self Government2. Self Taxation3. Land Owners4. Religious Freedom

AP US History

Mr. Long

Look for distinguishing characteristics the colonies shared!

America has a distinct social, economic and political structure: An “American Way of Life”

Other British colonies DID NOT

There is serious population growth in the New World

1700: 300,000 people1775: 2.5 Million people

Most of this population boom is from natural fertility (whites in the North, blacks in the South)

Political Consequences for England1700: 20 English for 1 colonists1775: 3 – 1

We begin to see a power shift but colonial focus is still to the East (England) not West yet.

America is a melting pot from the beginning

1.Germans: 6% by 1775 Fleeing Religious persecution, economic

oppression and ravages of war. Settled mainly in Pa (Pa Dutch)

Built solid, permanent homes No deep rooted loyalty to English (TREND)

2. Scots-Irish: 7% by 1775 Did not get along w/ Catholics in Ireland,

economic (restrictions by English on wool) Settled in Pa (West) down Alleghany barrier

down to S.C. Had no love for English (treatment in Ireland,

English made them move)(TREND)

3. Other European Groups: 5% by 1775 No loyalty to British (TREND)

4. Africans: 20% by 1775 90% of African population is in the South by 1775 (Slaves)

Diversity NE: mostly original Puritan immigrants = least ethnic

diversity Middle: bulk of white immigrants = variety of people but

mostly white South: Black and White (Diverse)

Mixed African tribes = Unique African American culture forming.

We see the foundations for a multicultural American National Identity!

Compared to Europe, America is a shining land of equality and opportunity (except slavery)

1. Cheap/Accessible Land-Majority of population were small farmers.

2. Social Mobility- possible to go from indenture d servant to landowner (Rare in OW)

3. Wages are higher- 3x higher then England4. Freedom of Religion5. Democracy in infancy

Prior to Revolution we see rising worries of “Europeanization” in NW

10% of Bostonians/Philadelphians owned 2/3 of taxable wealth.

Poor in NW increased (Widows, Orphans from war) but still less then England

NE farm size shrinking (no land left) due to generation of dividing

South: wealth in hands of few (plantation owners)

Slaves could not dream of escalating in class (Whites feared uprising)

1. Agriculture = biggest workforce/leading industry 90% of population involved South: tobacco, rice; Middle: Grain “Bread” colonies

2. Christian minister- most honored position (remember why many colonists came)

3. Physicians- not highly esteemed (poor training)4. Lawyers- were looked down upon b/c noisy trouble making

windbags5. Fishing-

major industry in NE (Bad farm land, rocky) Stimulated Ship building industry More money then in Incan/Mayan conquests

6. Manufacturing (Secondary importance) Not many skilled craftsman in colonies so they are expensive

(Rely on England) Lumber is the most important product (1/3 of English ships built

in NW)

Trade imbalancesPopulation boom in colonies means they need

more goods from England but England doesn’t need more goods from NW = money problem

Results:Search for new foreign markets = French West

Indies/SpainMolasses Act (1733): Prohibits the colonists

trading with French West Indies.Becomes a source of REVOLUTIONARY FUEL and

leads to increased smuggling/bribing

Great Awakening: period of religious revival in American religious history.

The religious zeal (fire) of the Puritans had steadily decreased as time went on in colonies: WHY?

They are not being persecuted anymoreTime has passed (Think of retreat highs)

Two burdens of the Puritan Church

1. Elaborate theology2. Compromising efforts to liberalize

membership requirements

Biggest Threat to Puritan Church = Arminianism

Jacob Arminius preached that individual free will not God’s divine decree determined a person’s fate (anti-predestination)

All humans not just elect could receive God’s free grace!

Jonathan Edwards: preached of the follies of believing in salvation

through good works and affirmed the need for complete dependence on God’s grace.Painted the picture of Hell and Eternal Torments in

detailGreat orator

George Whitefield:Great orator, it is said he could make people

weep by merely speakingLed tremendous revival meetings in NE

Old Lights v. New Light

The Old Lights (orthodox clergy) did not agree with the emotional spirituality of New Lights b/c they get their authority from education.This create schisms which created more denominations

and more competitiveness in churches

MOST IMPROTANT: It broke down sectional/denominational lines among Americans and was the first spontaneous mass movement of people.

UNITY!

Colonies had Two House Legislature

Upper House: appointed by the crown in royal colonies (8) or proprietor (3)(2) colonies self-governed (Conn, RI)

Lower House: Elected by the people (property owners)

Self Taxation w/ Representation = colonies hold dear to themselves

GovernorsOften able, some very corruptHard to enforce laws from 3,000 miles away

(colonists saw them as bothersome)Colonists wouldn’t pay them if they didn’t get

their way

Colonial AssembliesFound ways to assert authority and get their

own way (don’t pay governors)

Local Governments

North: Town Meeting (Fit their society)Middle: Mixed government (Town meeting/county gov)South: County Government (more autocratic)

Remember: The colonies have been left to their own vices to run their own governments. (Independent minds)

Seeds of Democracy are planted in AmericaFree speech/press: Zenger, representative gov, equality

of economic opportunity, toleration, education, etc.

Colonists are still English in most customs but we begin to see trends towards a new “American Culture”

REMEMBER:Colonists now have fewer ties to England, its

been over 100 years since Jamestown.They feel like their own nation = natural desire

for freedom

Similarities of Colonies by 1750

1. Basically English in language and custom2. Protestant in religion3. Some degree of ethnic/religious tolerance (not

blacks)4. Social mobility possible (not slaves)5. Self government (not complete democracy)6. Communication was improving (roads, waterways)

Like a Patchwork Quilt each part slightly different but held together by common

origins, ways of life, and common beliefs in toleration, economic development and self-

rule