Chapter 4Chapter 4The Maturing of Colonial The Maturing of Colonial SocietySociety

The American PeopleThe American People, 6, 6thth ed. ed.

I.I. The North: A Land of The North: A Land of Family FarmsFamily Farms

Northern Agricultural SocietyNorthern Agricultural Society New England gradually saw a New England gradually saw a

predominance of independent farming predominance of independent farming villages that utilized their unique collection villages that utilized their unique collection of resources to produce a mixed economy of resources to produce a mixed economy of fishing, craft production based on of fishing, craft production based on timber, and traditional staple crops.timber, and traditional staple crops.

The middle colonies enjoyed better soil The middle colonies enjoyed better soil conditions than the north and usually conditions than the north and usually produced a surplus of goods.produced a surplus of goods.

Unfree Labor/Changing ValuesUnfree Labor/Changing Values

Northern colonies had less need for labor due Northern colonies had less need for labor due to shorter growing seasons; there was a to shorter growing seasons; there was a heavier reliance on indentured servants versus heavier reliance on indentured servants versus the South.the South.

Colonists began to see life as not just Colonists began to see life as not just preparation for the afterlife; religion did not preparation for the afterlife; religion did not vanish, but its intensity began to wane.vanish, but its intensity began to wane.

The American ethics of hard work and The American ethics of hard work and materialism were highlighted in Ben Franklin’s materialism were highlighted in Ben Franklin’s Poor Richard’sPoor Richard’s Almanac.Almanac.

Women and the Family in Women and the Family in the Northern Coloniesthe Northern Colonies

A universal opinion of the time held A universal opinion of the time held women in a position of social submission.women in a position of social submission.

Marriage was a means of transferring Marriage was a means of transferring property, not a vehicle for romance.property, not a vehicle for romance.

Unmarried women in the colonies were Unmarried women in the colonies were almost unheard of.almost unheard of.

Families were patriarchal, with the father Families were patriarchal, with the father issuing stern discipline to his children.issuing stern discipline to his children.

Ecological TransformationEcological Transformation The rabid demand for wood quickly The rabid demand for wood quickly

depleted the coastal forests of the depleted the coastal forests of the colonies.colonies.

Livestock animals brought over from Livestock animals brought over from Europe devastated the ecosystems of Europe devastated the ecosystems of America.America.

Native animals became extinct as fur was Native animals became extinct as fur was over harvested.over harvested.

II. The Plantation SouthII. The Plantation South

The Tobacco and Rice CoastsThe Tobacco and Rice Coasts

The areas of agricultural production in The areas of agricultural production in the colonies of Virginia and Carolina the colonies of Virginia and Carolina emerged with similar reliance on slave emerged with similar reliance on slave labor for production.labor for production.

Both areas developed a planter hierarchy Both areas developed a planter hierarchy of society based on race and wealth.of society based on race and wealth.

Enslaved Africans in the Enslaved Africans in the Southern ColoniesSouthern Colonies

A continued growth in the slave trade and A continued growth in the slave trade and natural reproduction during the natural reproduction during the seventeenth century saw the population seventeenth century saw the population ratio of Africans in America grow to one-ratio of Africans in America grow to one-fifth.fifth.

More than 350,000 Africans entered the More than 350,000 Africans entered the colonies between 1700 to 1775. colonies between 1700 to 1775.

III. Contending for a ContinentIII. Contending for a Continent

France’s Inland EmpireFrance’s Inland Empire New France, comprised of the Mississippi Valley New France, comprised of the Mississippi Valley

from the Great Lakes to New Orleans, was from the Great Lakes to New Orleans, was developed into an active series of trading posts developed into an active series of trading posts and forts which threatened to pin the English to and forts which threatened to pin the English to the Atlantic coast.the Atlantic coast.

The growth of French strength brought them into The growth of French strength brought them into conflict with the British on several occasions; conflict with the British on several occasions; King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War and Port King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War and Port Royal saw each combatant relying on Indian Royal saw each combatant relying on Indian troops.troops.

Spain’s Frail North American Spain’s Frail North American GripGrip

Spanish settlements in the New World Spanish settlements in the New World limped along as losing enterprises due to limped along as losing enterprises due to a number of factors. a number of factors.

Spain was marginally successful in Spain was marginally successful in protecting its holdings in present-day protecting its holdings in present-day Florida and California, where Catholic Florida and California, where Catholic missions hoped to convert local natives missions hoped to convert local natives into good Christians.into good Christians.

IV.IV. The Urban World of The Urban World of Commerce and IdeasCommerce and Ideas

Sinews of Trade/ Sinews of Trade/ The Artisan’s WorldThe Artisan’s World American economic muscle centered American economic muscle centered

around the Atlantic seaports that afforded around the Atlantic seaports that afforded easy trade with the European powers.easy trade with the European powers.

Merchants and artisans were the most Merchants and artisans were the most wealthy and powerful groups in these wealthy and powerful groups in these thriving towns.thriving towns.

A guild system similar to Europe’s A guild system similar to Europe’s emerged in order to protect certain trades emerged in order to protect certain trades and crafts from unqualified practice.and crafts from unqualified practice.

Urban Social Structure/ The Urban Social Structure/ The Entrepreneurial EthosEntrepreneurial Ethos Growth in population and economic Growth in population and economic

sophistication brought about changes in sophistication brought about changes in the social structure of emerging cities.the social structure of emerging cities.

Wealth, as well as poverty, began to Wealth, as well as poverty, began to appear.appear.

As the cities grew, common views of self-As the cities grew, common views of self-denial and community fell by the wayside denial and community fell by the wayside in favor of materialism and individualism.in favor of materialism and individualism.

V. The Great AwakeningV. The Great Awakening

Fading Faith/ Fading Faith/ The Awakener’s MessageThe Awakener’s Message An overwhelming religious apathy swept the An overwhelming religious apathy swept the

mainly protestant populace of the British mainly protestant populace of the British colonies.colonies.

The Great Awakening emerged as a series of The Great Awakening emerged as a series of revivals within different religious sects.revivals within different religious sects.

Revivalists such as Jonathan Edwards and Revivalists such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitfield delivered a message of George Whitfield delivered a message of religious redemption and encouraged rejection religious redemption and encouraged rejection of over-educated and heartless clergy.of over-educated and heartless clergy.

Revivalism in the North and Revivalism in the North and SouthSouth Religious zeal in the North became Religious zeal in the North became

worrisome to the wealthy elite as their worrisome to the wealthy elite as their position in society was questioned by the position in society was questioned by the Awakeners.Awakeners.

The South also saw a rejection of the The South also saw a rejection of the assumed authority of the landed gentry assumed authority of the landed gentry as a ruling class; in both regions, religion as a ruling class; in both regions, religion became a mode for social reflection and became a mode for social reflection and change.change.

Legacy of the AwakeningLegacy of the Awakening A wide-spread framework of varying A wide-spread framework of varying

denominations that could exist denominations that could exist harmoniouslyharmoniously

An emerging tradition of separation of An emerging tradition of separation of church and statechurch and state

Legitimized religious and social diversity Legitimized religious and social diversity within local communitieswithin local communities

Fostered changes in political and moral Fostered changes in political and moral viewsviews

VI. Political LifeVI. Political Life

Structuring Colonial Structuring Colonial GovernmentsGovernments Contrary to the monarchial structure of England, Contrary to the monarchial structure of England,

the colonies developed a system of government the colonies developed a system of government based on the authority of a governor or agent of based on the authority of a governor or agent of the king supplemented by a legislature of locally the king supplemented by a legislature of locally elected representatives.elected representatives.

A general lack of police power gave import to A general lack of police power gave import to public demonstrations against unpopular laws public demonstrations against unpopular laws and set an American precedent of popular and set an American precedent of popular dissent.dissent.

Local PoliticsLocal Politics Colonial Assemblies gradually gained Colonial Assemblies gradually gained

more authority over the royal governors.more authority over the royal governors. This growth reflected the wishes of the This growth reflected the wishes of the

people and could not be effectively people and could not be effectively repressed.repressed.

Tying elected official's success in office to Tying elected official's success in office to the satisfaction of their constituents the satisfaction of their constituents became a central feature of colonial became a central feature of colonial politics and Whig ideology.politics and Whig ideology.