Colonial Life

Chapter 5

Essential Questions?

• In what ways were the British North American colonies economically similar? Different?

• Why was Benjamin Franklin a world renowned figure in the eighteenth century?

• How are democratic ideals formulated in the years prior to the American Revolution?

13 Colonies?

• Britain actually had 32 colonies in the New World.

• Of the 13 that eventually began the US, there was a population of 2.5 million in 1775.– 310 million today!

• Vastly rural and east of the Appalachian Mountains.

• 4 big cities: Philadelphia( then 34,000, now 1.5 million), NY, Boston, Charleston

Mixing of People

• Germans flocked to the colonies for religious freedom, which was non-existent in Europe.– Brought protestant (Lutheran) faith [ Amish}.– Settle in the backcountry of Pennsylvania.

• Scots Irish ancestors moved from Scotland, to Ireland (name), to US for economic reasons.– Little land and British restrictions forced them from Ireland.– This Diverse group settled in the backcountry of Mary.,

Virg., NC, SC.– Brought their love of whiskey (moonshine)

Scots Irish Ancestry Today

Other Settlers

• Many other Northern European peoples immigrated to the colonies– French Huguenots (protestants)– Welsh– Dutch– Swedes– Jews– Irish

Non-Europeans

• Of course, many American Indians resided in the colonies before the revolution.

• Most American Indians moved west of the Appalachian Mountains to avoid whites.

• Africans, imported for the slave trade, also made up a large portion of the population.

• Centuries of importation lead to a loss of many tribal identifications.

Modern African Descent

Colonial Society• Unlike Europe, no nobility (kings, lords)• Upward mobility possible through land and slave

purchases and mastery of trades.– Many indentured servants moved from near slavery into the

upper classes.– Impossible in the closed societies of Europe.

• Middle class comprised of skilled artisans (skilled craftsmen).

• Poor white tenant farmers were near the bottom of society.

• Of course, people of African and Indian descent had little hope of achieving economic prosperity.

Clothing of Colonial Era

Colonial Economics• Northern Colonies– NH, Mass., RI, Conn.– Fishing and whaling– Fur (beaver) exports– Rum– Lumber (Illegal for

colonists to cut down the best trees)

– Ship building

• Middle Colonies– NY, NJ, Penn., Dela.– Fertile grain producers– Trading, commerce

(banks)– Lumber– Limited industry (iron

forges, textiles)

Southern Economy• Based on the plantation

system.• Slave labor used to

produce rice, indigo, tobacco (raw materials).

• The South imported almost all goods from Europe.

• Most poor farmers practiced subsistence farming (only grew what they needed).

Triangular Trade• The need for fresh

laborers (slaves) prompted the triangular trade.

• Ships left Europe with manufactured goods (guns, knives, clothes, rum) sailing for Africa.

• In Africa the goods were traded for slaves.

• The same boat would then transport the slaves to the 13 colonies.

• Once sold, raw materials (tobacco, lumber, wheat) were loaded into the boat to be taken back to Britain.

Triangular Trade

Balance of Trade• Despite the triangular trade routes, Britain also

exported large amounts of manufactured goods to the colonies.

• The British controlled the trade early on, and could force the colonists to pay high prices for goods while Britain paid low prices for the materials the colonies produced.

• Colonists sought to trade goods with other nations, but the Molasses Act (1733) kept this from occurring.

• British control of trade would slowly erode colonial trust in the motherland.

Colonial Transportation• No trains, planes, cars, or steamboats.• Few roads, none paved– Dusty, muddy, poorly maintained

• Taverns appeared periodically on the roads.– Served as restaurants, hotels, leisure.

• Ben Franklin organized the colonies first postal system.– Slow, news often out-of-date when received.

1735 Highways?

Church Folk

• Separation of church and state did not fully exist.

• Church of England (Anglican) was supported by taxes in Geor., NC, SC, Virg., Mary., and NY.– This helped to consolidate

the King’s power (King head of church).

– Sermons short, leisure allowed

• Congregational Church (Puritans) supported by colonial governments of NH, Mass., Conn.– Sermons were long-winded.– “Fire and brimstone”– Leisure was discouraged

• By the 1700s, most colonists could worship as they pleased (or not at all).

Great Awakening• 1730s and 40s• New Protestant beliefs

from Europe threatened traditional Puritanical American tradition.

• GA was a huge revival, or mass conversion of people toward church customs.

• New denominations, missionary work, and many colleges were created

• Fiery preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield fascinated and scared Christians into living more moral lives.

• These talented orators preached “fire and brimstone” = clean up your life or go to hell!

• The GA brought together large groups of Americans, whom were beginning to see themselves differently from Europeans.

Great AwakeningJonathan Edwards George Whitefield

Colonial Education• British tradition

considered education as something reserved for aristocrats, not the masses of society.

• Many early churches in America promoted literacy so that members could read the Bible.

• Still, most in the lower classes had too much work to do as youths.

Many colleges (Harvard, Yale) were founded by churches to educate the clergy.

In the North, education was administered through the church.

In the South, a few tax supported schools existed, but they were rare.

Literature and Science• There are very few

colonial authors.• Phillis Wheatley, an

educated slave, is still remembered for her poetry.

• Benjamin Franklin gained colonial and worldwide prominence for Poor Richard’s Almanac.

• This book was updated yearly and included useful guides as well as humor.

• Franklin also went on to promote science through his experiments and inventions.– Kite/lightning– Franklin Stove– Bifocals– Libraries

Colonial FacesPhillis Wheatley Benjamin Franklin

Hot Off the Press• 40 colonial newspapers

by the eve of the Revolution.

• News from Europe took months to arrive.

• Roots of 1st Amendment “Freedom of Press” in the trial of Peter Zenger

• Published true reports of corruption committed by governor.

• Charged with libel (false accusations in print)

• Judge told the jury that the facts didn’t matter, and that Zenger was guilty because he spoke against gov.

• Jury acquitted him

Colonial Politics• By 1775 only two

colonies elected their own governors.

• Most colonies had a 2 branch legislature.– The upper house was

chosen by the King.– The lower house was

popularly elected.

• In truth, London had little say in the lives of most American colonists.

• The majority of decisions were made by the colonists themselves at town meetings.

• America was far more democratic than UK, but only land owning white males could participate.

Colonial Life• Food plentiful• Very cold in winter, hot

in summer• No plumbing• No electricity (candle

and whale oil lamps)• Social events included

militia musters, house-raising, husking bees.

• Entertainment: horse racing, cockfighting, lotteries, plays.

• Opportunities for social mobility were present here, not in Europe.

• Colonies were diverse, but the majority of residents were British Protestants.