Life in the English Life in the English ColoniesColonies

Chapter 4Chapter 4

Colonial GovernmentsColonial Governments

►Legislative AssembliesLegislative Assemblies: : represented colonists. Became represented colonists. Became chief law-making body in chief law-making body in coloniescolonies

►GovernorsGovernors: enforced laws. : enforced laws. Usually appointed by KingUsually appointed by King

►CourtsCourts: for local justice. : for local justice.

The Colonies were more The Colonies were more Representative than BritainRepresentative than Britain

►Available land = more voters!Available land = more voters!

►Officials were required to live in Officials were required to live in same district as their same district as their constituentsconstituents

►Americans valued Americans valued representation!representation!

Growth of TradeGrowth of Trade

►Britain used colonies for Britain used colonies for resourcesresources

►Trade laws limited colonial Trade laws limited colonial economies & favored Britaineconomies & favored Britain

►Led to increase in smugglingLed to increase in smuggling

Colonial WomenColonial Women►Contributed to Contributed to

colonial colonial economy thru economy thru various jobsvarious jobs

►But laws kept But laws kept married women married women from owning from owning property or property or working working outside the outside the home.home.

The Great Awakening The Great Awakening 1730s-1740s1730s-1740s

►Widespread evangelical Widespread evangelical Christian movement.Christian movement.

►Led to a willingness to question Led to a willingness to question traditional church practicestraditional church practices

►Stressed spiritual equality & Stressed spiritual equality & personal salvation personal salvation

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment►Spurred by Scientific RevolutionSpurred by Scientific Revolution

►Political philosophers used reason Political philosophers used reason to create goodto create good society society Hobbes & LockeHobbes & Locke = social contract & = social contract &

natural rights.natural rights. MontesquieuMontesquieu = separation of powers. = separation of powers. VoltaireVoltaire = freedom of expression = freedom of expression RousseauRousseau = protecting individual = protecting individual

rights.rights.

EducationEducation►Education focused on religion, Education focused on religion,

law, & Classical literaturelaw, & Classical literature

►Elementary schools only Elementary schools only common in New England.common in New England.

►1636: Harvard founded1636: Harvard founded►1701: Yale founded1701: Yale founded

Benjamin Franklin (1706-Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)1790)

►Writer, inventor, Writer, inventor, ambassador, philanthropist.ambassador, philanthropist.

►Discovered lightening is Discovered lightening is electricityelectricity

►Most famous American of his Most famous American of his timetime