Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution 1700 - 1775
Jan 19, 2016
Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution
1700 - 1775
Colonial Population by 1775
2.5 million people (including .5 million blacks)
Population doubled every 25 yrs.
Average age: 16 90% lived in rural
areas
A Mingling of the Races(melting pot p. 85)
Most non-English groups moved to the frontier
Single largest non-English group: Africans (20% in the South)
New England: least ethnically diverse
Middle colonies: most diverse population
Intermarrying laid foundations for new multicultural America
Scots-Irish
Great frontiersmen / anti-British government 1764 – Paxton Boys // Philadelphia
Protested Quaker’s lenient policy towards Native Americans
Regulator Movement / North Carolina (a few years later)
Small, nasty insurrection against eastern domination of colony’s affairs
Professionals
Most honored profession: Christian ministry
Held in low esteem: Physicians Lawyers (until 1750)
Colonial Society
More stratified with barriers to mobility (18th century)
Colonies had more equality/opportunity than Europe
Class of widows & orphans
Landholdings were being subdivided/ Average size of farms shrank
South – wealth concreted in the hands of a few
Paupers & convicts dumped by London in colonies
Colonial Economy
Colonial economy based on agriculture (90%) except in New England where shipbuilding & commerce were important – p. 91
Most important manufacturing activity: lumber 1730s – fast-breeding Americans demanded more &
more English products. However, English population early reached saturation point for absorbing imports. Solution: foreign (non-English) markets
Foreign Markets
Triangular trade very profitable: map p. 93 West Indies especially the French islands,
major trade partners with colonies Molasses Act (1773): inhibited colonial trade
with French West Indies Smuggling began
Transportation Problems
Roads were poor – rivers most efficient means of travel
Taverns along main routes: another cradle of democracy “hotbeds of agitation as the Revolutionary movement
gathered momentum.”
Intercolonial postal system established by mid 1700’s
Colonial Religions
2 tax-supported churches: Anglican & Congregational Anglican (Church of England) – less fierce, more
worldly/ supported by the king Congregational – grew out of Puritan Church
Anglican -dominant in the South Congregational -dominant in New England Presbyterians were predominant on the frontier Catholics were discriminated against
The Great Awakening 1730s – 1740s
Several religious problems in the early 18th century Belief in good works & individual free will
lead to this arousing revival Characterized by emotional sermons Increased the number of church goers &
missionary work with Indians & black slaves increased
Lead to establishment of several colleges
Jonathan Edwards -1734
Preached folly of believing in salvation through good works
Affirmed need for God’s grace
Preached on hell “Sinners in the Hands
of an Angry God”
George Whitefield - 1738
Former alehouse attendant
Great orator Preached on human
helplessness & divine omnipotence
Schools & Colleges
Education was most important in New England Important for Bible reading Primary & secondary schools
Some schools in Middle & Southern colonies Emphasis was placed on religion/classical languages
Independent thinking discouraged Early colonial colleges: p. 98
Colonial Culture
Materialistic atmosphere was not favorable to artistic endeavor Art was an invention of the Devil
Portrait artists had to go to England Architecture was imported from Europe Colonial literature was undistinguished except for:
Poetry of Phillis Wheatley (slave girl) Benjamin Franklin – Poor Richard’s Almanack 1732-1758
Scientist – electricity,bifocals, stove
Charles Wilson Peale
John Nicholson, 1790
Charles Wilson Peale
Mrs. John Nicholson and John Nicholson, 1790
John Singleton Copley
Paul Revere
John Singleton Copley
Portrait of the Copley family, 1776
Colonial Presses
50 public libraries by 1776 – supported by subscriptions
40 newspapers by 1776: aired colonial grievances & rallying opposition to British control
Peter Zenger libel case in New York (1734-35) Newspaper was sued for libel by Gov. Newspaper found not guilty / true statements about public
officials could not be prosecuted as libel Led to freedom of the press
Political Situation in 1775
8 colonies had royal governors - appointed by the king 3 colonies had proprietors who chose governors-
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware
2 colonies elected their own governor – Connecticut & Rhode Island
Colonies controlled legislatures – taxes & governors’ salaries
Political Situation conti.
Every colony had a 2 house legislature – bicameral Upper house – chosen by king, proprietor, or voters Lower house – elected by people
All colonies required religious or property qualifications for voting & holding office – many didn’t vote
Far more democratic than England and Europe
Colonial Folkways
Everyday life was difficult – tedious Food was plentiful Amusement/sports p.103 Most popular holiday: Thanksgiving By 1775 – colonists were basically English in
language & customs, Protestant in religion, some degree of ethnic & religious toleration