Experience of Empire A.P. United States History Mr. Krueger
Dec 24, 2015
Experience of EmpireA.P. United States HistoryMr. Krueger
Living with Diversity• Throughout history, Americans have shut out any
minority groups or newcomers who didn’t speak the language or share the culture of the English origin.• The separation of ethnic and racial groups caused
violence and anger.• These issues intrigued public debate in the 18th century• This occurred before Americans advocated independence
• Does this still occur today?
Growth and Diversity • Ben Franklin made demographic calculation• U.S. population was doubling every 25 years
• Total population of Britain mainland population• 1700 – 250,000*• 1770 – 2,150,000*• 3% increase
• Natural reproduction accounted for most of the increase
• Population grew younger – ½ under 16 at the time• Population Characteristics• Dispersed• Heterogeneous
New Arrivals• Non-English Europeans start arriving by the
thousands• Goals• Land• Independent Farmers
• Tended to head to the backcountry• They found these western areas demanding and violent –
Native Americans, Africans, Europeans
• Non – English Colonists in numbers entered the colonies in the 18th century• Rich ethnic diversity• Largest group: Scotch – Irish• 2nd largest group: Germans
Scotch-Irish• Reasons to come to the colonies:
• Control in Ireland (Catholics)• Scotch Irish (150,000 in the colonies pre-revolution)• In England they were held at a disadvantage when trading and
taxed extremely high
• Result:• Emigration to America• Freedom • Property
• Most arrived in Philadelphia, but quickly moved west• They were welcomed because they created a buffer
between the Native Americans and the Atlantic Settlers• Scotch-Irish challenged authority and settled large land
areas
Germans• Similar to Quakers• Seeking religious freedom they settled in Pennsylvania• Leader – Francis Pastorius (Mennonites)• Settlement – Germantown
• Lutherans also emigrated (Germany) and sought material gains more than religious freedom• Leader – Henry Melchior Muhlenberg• He organized a meeting of local pastors and organized
ministers, this was very important to American Lutheran History• They were the Pennsylvania Dutch, due to the confusion
with the word deutsch – which meant German
Ethnic Differences• Ethnic differences in Pennsylvania led to disputes• Ben Franklin referred to them as stupid, and
feared that they would soon be outnumbered• Feared loss of language (English) and government
• 1730’s many Irish-Germans emigrated to western Virginia due to the prejudice
• Germans remained on fertile soil, while the Irish kept moving
• These groups stayed outside of colonial government
• Methodist ministers offered spiritual advice and created moral character.
Middle Ground or Native Ground• Native American groups suffered greatly in the
17th-18th centuries• War• Disease
• Native Americans wanted to know where they could live
• 18th century – many lived between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River• Some wandered as remnants of their pre-colonial tribes• Survivors joined other groups to form multi-ethnic
communities• Strong tribes (Cherokee, Choctaws) welcomed refugees
• Many found unique ways to adjust
Middle Ground or Native Ground• Middle Ground – term for how Native Americans
held their ground beyond the Appalachians• Total isolation was not the Native American plan• They traded with the English and French for metal
goods and weapons• Their goal was to maintain a strong independent voice,
backed by military strength• Took advantage of rivals when possible, and
compromised when necessary• Would even complain to the Europeans when prices
were too high• European competition kept prices down, but the French
and Indian War (1763) ended competition
Ben Franklin• Regarded as a philosopher – used reason and science• Grew up in Puritan New England• He loved to read and enjoyed, “The Spectator” a new
British journal• With his brother published The New England Courant
(Weekly Newspaper) under the name of Silence Dogood. Satirical paper directed at the Boston political – religious leaders.
• Invention – Lightning Rod – it was a symbol of material progress.
• Organized groups that discussed English literature, philosophy, and science
• Organized groups called the Junto, a club for mutual improvement (Liberty Company) – members communicated between colonies
English Policy• Colonial economy increased with the population• Abundance of Land• Increase in Agriculture
• America produced more tobacco, wheat, rice• Over 50% of the goods produced went to Great Britain• British Controls in the Colonies• White Pine Act – No cutting of White Pines – best for Royal Navy• Navigation Acts• Sugar Act – heavy tax on molasses from foreign ports• Hat and Felt Act – limited colonial goods that competed with
foreign exports• Iron Act
• British laws at this point were seldom enforced. With consumer society in GB, colonies had a market.
English Policy Continued• Colonies traded amongst themselves and with the
West Indies – helped to cover the unfavorable balance of trade with Great Britain.
• English now Exporting more than ever (1740’s-1770’s) increased 360%.
• Example: china and silverware replace earthenware bowls in colonies.
• English industrialization hurt the colonies• British merchants offered credit for purchase with
interest• American debt continued to rise
Great Awakening• Mid 18th century individuals began to rethink basic
ideas involving church and state• Religious revivals spring up throughout the
colonies• New England – Congregational church shattered
(felt organized religion had lost vitality)• In Virginia the Methodist and Baptist Churches
were changing• Jonathon Edwards – Massachusetts minister (Calvinist) felt
local ministers had gone soft. Felt new birth depended on God.• George Whiefield – toured colonies. Great speaker,
welcomed all Protestants, used the press• Gilbert Tennent – revivalist with a sermon called Once the
Danger of Unconverted Ministers
Positives of the Great Awakening• New light Presbyterians founded higher learning,
establishing the following colleges• New Jersey (Princeton)• Brown and Rutgers University• Eleazar Wheelock – Dartmouth College
• People were taught to speak up and take an active role in their salvation
• African Americans sects developed• Richard Allen – African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME)
• It brought colonists together outside of various city boundaries
• *It was a national event before a nation existed
British Government• Parliament provided a model for American
Government, by copying the British, they saw the differences and became more American
• British Constitution was not a formal document, change was dangerous and destabilizing• Monarch with hand picked court• House of Lords (180 aristocrats) Upper House• House of Commons (558 elected members) Lower House• Both Houses tend to be from the same background
• Cato’s Letters – important for colonies
Colonial Government• Colonists thought their government was modeled after
GB.• Governor = King• Council = House of Lords• Assembly = House of Commons
• By mid 18th century most colonies had Royal governors• Selected through patronage• Had great power – Veto, Dismiss judge, military commanders• Councils were 12 wealthy colonists appointed by Board of Trade
• Colonial Assemblies• Wanted to protect liberty• Printed many types of written work to promote ideals• Would not coop with Royal Governor
Colonial Wars• Colonies become more involved in conflicts
between the British and French in America.• British had more population in the Colonies than the French• However, the French and Native Americans had success
against the English – defended Quebec and Montreal
• The fight was for the entire west including the Mississippi Valley• French Allies – Algonquin• British Allies – Iroquois
• British were successful against the French• French Forts stopped English Colonial expansion –
hemmed in the colonies
Colonial Wars• George Washington and troops constructed Fort
Necessity, but were overthrown by the French• Ben Franklin sought colonial cooperation and called for
the Albany Congress – discussed coop with Iroquois• Common defense• Western Expansion• Native American Affairs• B.F. suggested taxes to cover military
• May 18, 1756 – Britain declares war (Seven Years War) (French and Indian War)
• Perceptions of War• Colonists had cooperated• Leaders like George Washington learned the British weren’t
invincible• Colonists still part of Empire – but not as willing to pay the cost.