LIFE IN ENGLAND’S COLONIES

American History Unit 1 Lecture 5

Northern Colonies Southern Colonies

Diverse EconomyBased on trade and

shippingSmall, independent

farmsPublic land

areas/more towns develop

Agricultural Economy

Plantation owners dominate society – most people small farmers

Growing slave population

North vs. South

Northern Colonies Southern Colonies

Key Industries:-shipbuilding- iron works- lumber- trade- few slaves

Key Crops:- rice- tobacco- indigo-Cash Crops

requiring intensive slave labor

North vs. South

Grove Plantation – Charleston, SC – Rice Plantation *1

Northern Women Southern Women

No legal rightsOnly single

women/widows can own property

Hard work on farms

Motherhood/family life

No legal rightsOnly basic

educationsHard work for

manyMotherhood/family

life

Lives of Women

Anne Bradstreet, Puritan Poet 3

Slavery in the Colonial South

Unique culture develops among enslaved Africans

Combine African traditions and English influence (storytelling, dance, song, religion)

Various means of resistance

Outright rebellions, like Stono Rebellion of 1739, almost always fail

Click on the sign for a PRIMARY ACCOUNT of the Stono Rebellion. 2

English Policies and Effects

How did England profit from the colonies?Answer: MERCANTILISM

Mercantilism = economic system where nations try to achieve a positive trade balance, accumulate wealth, and expand in power and influence.

English Policies and Effects

Mercantilism – Colonies supply raw materials and become a market for finished goods.

Navigation Acts – rules about how Colonies trade:1. Certain products can only be sold to

England (sugar, tobacco, rice)2. Any good sent to Europe must first pass

through England. Why? 3. Navigation Acts are not strictly enforced

English Policies and Effects

1688 – Glorious Revolution in EnglandKing James II is

replaced by William and Mary in a bloodless “revolution”

Power of the Parliament increases

English supervision of the colonies/enforcement of the Navigation Acts is very loose…called:

SALUTARY NEGLECTColonial assemblies

gain power, Merchants are

allowed to do what they want.

Colonists begin getting used to freedoms.

1. From www.south-carolina-plantations.com2. From www.hmdb.com 3. From http://liternet.bg