Journal #12

Journal #12

» Bicameral legislature – a lawmaking body made up of two houses or groups

» Libel – false statements that damage someone’s reputation

» Imports – goods brought from other countries

» Exports – goods sold to other countries

Life in the English Colonies

Chapter 4

Bonus Questions

» What were the 2 factors that led to the Great Migration?

» Who is “the father of American democracy?”

» Who were the first settlers in Maryland and who was the proprietor of the colony?

» What was the purpose of the colony of Georgia and who went there?

» What colony was for the Quakers and who was its founder?

Today’s Topics

» Colonial Governments – 4.1

» Colonial Trade – 4.2

» The Colonial Economy – 4.3

Colonial Governments

»Were overruled by the British government but most colonies ran their own affairs

»Each colony had a governor who served as head of the government˃Governors were assisted by an advisory council˃The king/queen, or proprietor selected the

governor

Colonial Assemblies

»Colonists elected representatives to make laws – called Colonial Assemblies

»They based these assemblies on the British Parliament, colonial assemblies:˃ Had bicameral legislatures˃ Could raise taxes˃ Shared control of the military

Jamestown»Was the first colonial

assembly (legislature)

» 2 Houses˃ The Council of State˃ The House of Burgesses

» The governor had final authority

George Percy

In New England» Town meetings were

also held to decide issues such as paying for schools and to determine ownership of unsettled lands

Colonial Courts» Were used to control local

affairs, but were heavily influenced by Royal officials

» The Court Case of John Peter Zenger in 1735˃ Zenger began criticizing the

governor of NY in his newspaper – officials charge him with libel

˃ Andrew Hamilton is Zenger’s attorney, Zenger pleads “not guilty” – he argues that truth can be printed

˃ The jury finds Zenger not guilty, even though they are pressured to convict him

˃ Was one of the earliest examples of the court upholding the freedom of the press

The Dominion of New England» In 1685, James II becomes

the king of England – he promises to take control of the colonies

» He creates the Dominion of New England which controlled the government of all of New England

» Many residents of New England dislike this government

The Glorious Revolution» James II was unpopular in England as well

˃ He tries to change the country back to Catholic

» Leaders of Parliament ask his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William to take over

» James II is overthrown, William and Mary become king and queen, this is known as the Glorious Revolution˃ The colonies leave the Dominion of New England˃ Parliament passes the English Bill of Rights, reducing the King/Queens

power and giving more power to Parliament

The Growth of Trade

4.2

English Trade

» Trade was a main reason that England founded its American colonies

» Much of Europe (including England) practiced an economic system called mercantilism˃ Countries create and maintain wealth by strictly

controlling trade˃ The goal was to make sure the country had fewer

imports than exports˃ The colonies were forced to do most of their trading

with England by laws called the Navigation Acts

In the Colonies

» Not everyone liked the Navigation Acts˃ The Navigation Acts forced the colonists to trade with England

» Some wanted a free enterprise system˃ An economic system with little government control˃ People could trade with whoever they wanted to

The Middle Passage

» The African slave trade brought 10 million Africans across the Atlantic Ocean

» This journey was called the Middle Passage and could last 3 months

» Enslaved Africans were chained by the neck and legs in very small spaces – they only had 2 - 5 feet of head room

The Middle Passage» Thousands of slaves died on

slave ships

» Some colonists spoke out against slavery˃ Quakers in Pennsylvania in

1688 are the first

» Slavery continued in all of the colonies, it was especially important in the south˃ Tobacco and rice required

many workers

Agriculture in the Southern Colonies

» Small farms and large plantations that grew cash crops – crops sold for profit˃ Tobacco in Virginia, Rice and indigo in South Carolina

» The southern economy depended on slaves

» In order to control the slaves, many colonies passed laws called slave codes˃ Slaves can’t hold meetings or own weapons˃ Some colonies didn’t allow slave owners to free their

slaves

» Few farms grew cash crops – little need for slaves

» Fishing and shipbuilding are the leading industries

» The New England economy needed skilled craftspeople – families sent their sons to learn skilled trades˃ Blacksmithing, weaving, shipbuilding, and printing

» The young boys who learned skilled trades were known as apprentices

The New England Economy

The Middle Colonies

» Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York

» Many people grew staple crops – crops that are always needed˃ Wheat, barley, oats

» Slaves were more important than in New England – there were also many indentured servants˃ Slaves worked as blacksmiths, carpenters, farmers, and

shipbuilders

» Cities such as Philadelphia and New York City grow rapidly

» Most married and worked in the home

» They had more rights than in England, but their rights were still very limited

» Other women ran farms and businesses˃ Clothing and grocery stores, bakeries, drugstores˃ They had to have their husbands’ permission and the

husband had a right to the money

» A few women ask for more rights, this won’t happen for a while

Women and the Economy