Our Part

Ashlee Marie PerezRomina Angelelli

Alyssa Ortiz

Provincial Cities

The five largest cities in American colonies- Boston, Newport, New York, Philadelphia and Charles town- were only responsible for 5% of the colonial population.

Urban populations of colonial America were small but grew quickly.

Due to the fact that most of the American cities were intermediary trading posts they were exposed and greatly influenced by the latest European ideals and styles. For example: People in American colonies began

sponsoring plays, and concerts Wearing latest fashions Archiechture (Georgian) Adapted furniture designs by Thomas

Chipendale.

American Enlightenment

Considered by my most historians an age of reason.

The enlightenment was an intellectual revolution, where new ideas changed the way Europeans thought.

 Work of Europe's greatest minds: Newton, Locke, Voltaire, and Hume are what influenced the enlightenment in the American colonies.

The enlightenment produced many serious scientific thinkers. They made important discoveries dealing with astronomy, nature, and also allowed for recordings in changes of temperature. 

Many of these thinkers encouraged others to search for a solution to social and political problems.                              

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Most influential of the American Enlightenment thinkers.

Regarded as a philosopher (a person of reason and science).

In 1721, he and his brother founded the New England Courant a newspaper which mocked political and religious leaders the newspaper was not well accepted by Bostonians and he decided to move to Philadelphia where he would have more inventive freedom.  He wrote under the name of Silence

Dogood.

Franklin never denied god, instead he just allowed himself to think with reason.

Invented many things like the lightning rod (1756) and a working stove which we still use today.

Became a symbol of material progress through human ingenuity. 

Economic Transformation

Population increase (tenfold)

Income did not decline, even if there was more people to feed/clothe

Economic success Abundance of land and extensive growth of agriculture

More than half of American goods produced for export when to the British

Navigation Acts were still in effect Tobacco, furs, etc. had to be landed first at a British port

Molasses/Sugar Act of 1733 placed a heavy tax on molasses imported from foreign ports

Economic Transformation

• Hat & Felt Act of 1732 and Iron Act of 1750 Limited production of colonial goods that would compete with British exports.

• These acts and laws created tension between the colonies and Britain.

• Emerging consumer society in Britain Rising demand was a major market force shaping colonial economy (sugar and tobacco)

• 27% of exports in 1768 Merchants operating out of Boston, Newport, and Philadelphia to the West Indies.

• Trade with Africa made up less than 1% of all American exports.

• Colonies relied on profits made in West Indies Exported many goods to Britain, but the cost of British goods shipped back to the colony was greater than what they made in profits.

Consumer Society

English exports to the colonies increased by 360% by the mid 18th century. This transformed the British economy greatly (it picked up after 1690)

Factories in Britain were an asset Could produce goods more efficiently and cheaper.

British industrialization weakened American handicraft and folk art.

British merchants offered Americans generous credit Colonists agreed to pay interests in their debts.

Growth in American debt.

18th century also saw a substantial increase in intercoastal trade made up 30% of tonnage capacity by 1760.

Consumer Society•Great Wagon Road Traditionally an Iroquois trail which allowed Philadelphian farmers to carry their grain to market.

•Usage of Canestoga wagons (a.k.a Wagons of Empire). Invented by German immigrants.

•Flood of British imports resulted in:

•Weakened local and regional identities by exposing the colonies to sophisticated British goods.

•Expanding coastal + overland trade brought colonists of different backgrounds into frequent contact.

The End.