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