Native Americans and Europeans

33,000 B.C -1754Period One and Period Two

Land Bridge First people came

across land bridge from Asia over 30,000 years ago

Groups spread across North and South America

Established varied lifestyles that were heavily influenced by the environment

Culture and Lifestyle Nomadic and sedentary groups Gender roles varied from group to group Development of corn or maize around 5,000 B.C. in Mexico was

revolutionary in that: Didn't have to be hunter-gatherers, could settle down and be

farmers. Began to establish permanent settlements

Native Americans developed lifestyles based on their environment

Eastern Woodlands Hunting and Agriculture (fur, corn, beans, squash) Hopewell Iroquois Algonquian

Mississippian Hunting and Agriculture

Great Plains Hunting (buffalo) Sioux

Southwest Agriculture (corn) Anasazi/Pueblo

Europe before Exploration Renaissance led to technological innovations

Sailing technology Curiosity to explore

Growth of nation-states led to competition for colonies and trade England, Spain, France, Portugal, Holland Protestant Reformation increased

competition among nation-states for “souls” Catholic countries used religion to justify

subjugation of Native Americans

Europeans come to the New World

1000 first voyages by Vikings Landed in Newfoundland, did not stay

1492 Columbus “discovers” America Financed by King and Queen of Spain Ushers in the development of the

“Atlantic World” or “Atlantic System”a. Europe would provide the market,

capital, technology. b. Africa would provide the labor. c. The New World would provide the raw

materials (gold, soil, lumber).

Columbian ExchangeCauses biological flip-flop of Old and New Worlds. traded plants, foods, animals, germs

Columbian Exchange: From the New World (America) to the Old corn, potatoes, tobacco, beans, peppers, manioc, pumpkin,

squash, tomato, wild rice, etc. also, syphilis From the Old World to the New cows, pigs, horses, wheat, sugar cane, apples, cabbage,

citrus, carrots, Kentucky bluegrass, etc. devastating diseases (smallpox, yellow fever, malaria), as

Indians had no immunities. The Indians had no immunities in their systems built up over generations. An estimated 90% of all pre-Columbus Indians died, mostly due to

disease.

Spanish Empire Spain secured claim to Americas from Treaty of

Tordesillas (1494) 1500’s dominant explorers/ colonizers of Americas Conquistadores explored and conquered much of N

and S America Vasco Balboa: "discovered“ the Pacific Ocean across

isthmus of Panama Ferdinand Magellan: circumnavigates the globe (1st

to do so) Ponce de Leon: touches and names Florida looking

for legendary Fountain of Youth Hernando Cortes: enters Florida, travels up into

present day Southeastern U.S., dies and is "buried“ in Mississippi River

Francisco Pizarro: conquers Incan Empire of Peruand begins shipping tons of gold/silver back to Spain. This huge influx of precious metals made European prices skyrocket (inflation).

Francisco Coronado: ventured into current Southwest U.S. looking for legendary El Dorado, city of gold. He found the Pueblo Indians

Spain Builds and Empire Flood of silver from SA, Mexico caused

inflation in Europe Led to rise of capitalism and commercial

banking, paid for international trade Spanish settlement led to a new “race” a

mixture of Indian, European, African (mestizos), new social structure

Encomienda system established Indians "commended“ or given to Spanish

landlords The idea was that Indians would work and be

converted to Christianity, but it was basically just slavery on a sugar plantation guised as missionary work.

Many question the Spanish treatment of Indians (de las Casas) New Laws passed to prevent abuse of Native

Americans

French Colonization Latecomer to colonizing New World Louis XIV took interest in colonial

expansion First successful colony Quebec 1609 Also claimed the Mississippi River

Valley Colony known as New France Problems with Iroquois hampered

French conquest of Ohio River Valley

French colonies autocratic, no representative assemblies, no right to fair trail

Favored Caribbean colonies because of sugar trade

New France Most valuable resource in New France- beaver fur Fur trappers (voyageurs) trapped beaver, recruited Indians

into fur business Traveled deep into wilderness, created ecological disaster by

eliminating most of beaver population French Missionaries attempted to “Christianize” Indians Voyageurs, missionaries vital role as explorers, geographers French try to block British and Spanish expansion Fort Detroit (1701), keep out British French fortify posts along Mississippi River to keep out

Spanish, protect beaver trade Establish New Orleans (1718) to keep fur and grain flowing to

mother country, keep MS River from Spanish

Comparison: French, Spanish and English

Each country had different motives and settlement patterns

French- friendly relations with Indians (comparatively), tried to convert Natives to Christianity, came in small numbers, extractive economic activity (fur trade), explored deep into continent, Catholic, had economic motives

Spanish- came to conquer (conquistador), looked for and found precious minerals, tried to convert Indians, blended their culture with Native culture, explored deep into continent to look for wealth, Catholic

English- came in larger groups (especially NE), settled and “improved” land, more religiously tolerant, wiped out Indian culture, established their own “footprint”, did not explore deep into continent, mostly Protestant

Different ViewsNative Americans had different view of

things as compared to Europeans. A. Native Americans-no man owned the land, the

tribe did. (Europeans- private property) B. Indians- nature was mixed with many spirits.

(Europeans-Christian and monotheistic) C. Indians- nature was sacred. (Europeans-

nature and land to be subdued and put to use).

D. Indians- little or no concept or interest in money. (Europeans- loved money or gold)

English Settle North America1607-1763

English interest in North America

Within 100 years of Columbus landing Americas radically transformed

1600 most of North America unclaimed, unexplored

In the 1500s, Britain failed to effectively colonize due to internal conflicts.

Elizabeth I became queen, Britain became basically Protestant, rivalry with Catholic Spain intensified.

Late 1500’s English attack Spanish ships for gold (Sir Francis Drake)

First English attempts at colonization (Newfoundland 1583, Roanoke 1585) failed

1588 English defeat Spanish Armada Allows English to cross North Atlantic Victory gives English reason for

exploration/settlement

English Interest in North America

Reasons for English colonization of the Americasa) 1500’s growing populationb) New enclosure laws – less land for poorc) Wool industry collapsedd) Population became mobile (looking for jobs)e) Tradition of primogeniture = 1st born son

inheritsALL father’s land. Younger sons tried their luck with fortunes elsewhere, like America.

f) Unity under a popular monarch

English Interest in North America

Three types of coloniesA. Self-Governing Colonies formed when the King

granted a Charter to a Joint-Stock Company, allowing them to set up its own government.

Early1600s, joint-stock company developed (investors put money into the company with hopes for a good return), provided financing for colonization

Joint-stock companies usually did not exist long, stockholders invested to make a profit, then quickly sell for profit a few years later

It was basically a partnership between Private Investors and the Crown.

B. Proprietary Colonies were basically huge Land Grants from the Crown to trusted officials.

• These Colonial Governors reported directly to the King.

C. Royal Colonies were territories directly owned and controlled by the King.

Chesapeake Colonies

The first permanent English settlements in North America were located around the Chesapeake Bay region.

The two primary colonies in this region were Virginia and Maryland.

Jamestown: First Permanent Settlement

o The first permanent English settlements in North America were located around the Chesapeake Bay region.

The two primary colonies in this region were Virginia and Maryland.

Virginia was originally established as a Self-Governing Colony.

A group of investors in London formed the Virginia Company with the hope of making Instant Profits from the colony’s raw materials.

1607 they established Jamestown, which was England’s first settlement

Jamestown: First Permanent Settlement On May 24, 1607, about 100 English settlers disembarked from their

ship and founded Jamestown. Problems included:

a) the swampy site of Jamestown, poor drinking water, mosquitoes caused malaria and yellow fever.

b) men wasted time looking for gold rather than doing useful tasks (digging wells, building shelter, planting crops)

c) zero women on the initial ship.

1608 Captain John Smith took over control and whipped the colonists into shape, gave order and discipline, highlighted by his “no work, no food” policy.

Colonists had to eat cats, dogs, rats, even other people. One fellow wrote of eating “powdered wife.”

1610 a relief party headed by Lord De La Warr arrived to alleviate the suffering.

1625 out of an original overall total of 8,000 would-be settlers, only 1,200 had survived.

Jamestown: First Permanent Settlement

At first English seen potential allies, relations grew worse when English began to raid Indian food supplies

De La Warr began “total war” against Indians

Early 1600’s clashes decimated Indians pushed them westward, removed them from ancestral lands

European colonization disrupted Native American way of life Disease took out population Trade intensified competition among tribes Tribes along Atlantic seaboard felt effects the

most When colonists could grow their own food

they had little use for Indians, Europeans wanted their land

Virginia becomes a colony

Tobacco savior of Virginia Colony cash crop- Jamestown had found its

gold. Tobacco created a greed for land-

heavily depleted the soil and ruined the land.

From 1616 to 1619, Jamestown’s Tobacco Crops grew nearly twenty-fold.

Representative self-government in Virginia 1619 settlers created the House of

Burgesses, a committee to work out local issues. This set America on a pathway to self-rule

1619 first Africans sold as slaves

Virginia becomes a colony Labor shortages in Jamestown led the British to establish the

Headright System. This system offered 50 acres of land to those who would come and

settle the colony. Needed labor- Indians died too quickly, African slaves too

expensive It also offered land to those who would pay for the transportation

of laborers who could not afford the passage. Indentured Servants were laborers who agreed to work 5 to 7

years in exchange for the cost of their passage to the British Colonies. England had surplus of laborers, turned to indentured servitude By 1700 more than 100,000 indentured servants came to the region Eventually prime land became scarce, land owners did not want to

give up land Freed workers had to hire out for low wages

Bacon’s Rebellion Landless, penniless freemen Single, young No women, money Only land in backcountry Landed elite in the House of

Burgess didn’t want the colonists to expand into the backwoods because of Indian issues

Bacon’s Rebellion Government did not retaliate

after Indian attack 1676 Nathaniel Bacon and

followers, attacked Indians , chased gov. from Jamestown and burned town

Bacon dies from disease, Berkeley captures and hangs 20 rebels

Bacon’s RebellionResults of RebellionA. Exposed resentments between inland

frontiersmen/landless former servants against wealthy gentry on coastal plantations.

B. Upper class planters searched for laborers less likely to rebel- black slaves

C. Gave right to political participation to more small landowners

Socio-economic class differences/clashes between rural/urban communities would continue throughout American history.

Maryland 1634 founded by Lord Baltimore as

Catholic refuge (from Protestant English)

Second plantation colony Huge estates given to Catholic families,

poorer, Protestants settled there also, created friction between two groups

Tobacco main crop, labor source was indentured servants (slaves came in late 1600’s)

Religious toleration Permitted freedom of worship to all

Christians 1649- Act of Toleration, guaranteed

religious toleration to all Christians, but decreed the death penalty to Jews, atheists, others who didn’t believe in the divinity of Jesus

More Catholics in Maryland than any English speaking colony in the New World

Other Southern Colonies

The Carolinas and the West Indies Decline of Spanish power led British to secure Caribbean Islands

Sugar main crop Labor intensive, capital intensive Needed to be wealthy to start plantation Caused large numbers of slaves to be imported

Slave Codes established in West Indies By 1700 slaves outnumber settlers 4:1 Laws defined the legal status of slaves and the rights of the

masters. They were typically strict and exacted severe punishments for offenders.

Sugar plantation system caused islands to depend on American colonies for food, basic supplies

Late 1600s smaller, less wealthy farmers left islands and settled in southern colonies

1670 group arrives in Carolina, brings slaves from Barbados 1696 Slave codes adopted in Carolina Slave codes became model for statutes governing slavery across

colonies

Settling the Carolinas Developed close economic ties with

“sugar islands” Many immigrated from region ,

brought slave trade with them Rice major export crop

African slaves had knowledge to grow rice Slaves had natural immunity to malaria Ideal laborers for rice plantations

By 1710 majority of people in Carolinas were African slaves

Charles Town major seaport Diverse tolerant community Attracted French Protestant refugees Caused friction with Spain

Settling the Carolinas Wild northern expanse of Carolina Settled more slowly because lack of good harbors Attracted outcasts and religious dissenters Raised tobacco and other crops on small farms,

little need for slaves (few large plantations) Distinctive traits: irreligious, hospitable to

pirates, spirit of resistance to authority, , democratic, independent minded, least aristocratic of 13 colonies

1712 separated from S.C.

Georgia 1733-Last colony to be

“planted” Savannah major port Founded by prison reform group,

major leader James Oglethorpe Debtors from England sent there Established as buffer between

English, Spanish Only colony to receive money

from English government Diverse communities Religious toleration for all except

Catholics Least populous colony Restrictive slavery laws

Southern Colonies Agriculture export based economies Life expectancy short Women had more power than in New England

and Middle colonies Slavery in all colonies Small group owned most of the land Rural population made it hard to establish

towns, schools and churches Religiously tolerant Social hierarchy develops by late 1600’s

I. Plantation owners (“first families of Virginia)II. Small farmers largest groupIII. Landless whites, many former indentured

servantsIV. Oppressed black slaves

Few cities, urban professional class slow to emerge

Life revolved around plantation Transportation by rivers, poor roads

Settling the New England and Middle Colonies

Overview Established different patterns of settlement

than plantation/southern colonies Different economies than plantation/southern

colonies Different set of values than

plantation/southern colonies Distinctive regional characteristics began to

develop during this time***be prepared to know the differences***

Great Migration to North America

Between 1620 – 1640, new colonies developed in North America due to the Great Migration of Religious Refugees from England.

The Protestant Reformation and English Civil War created a hostile religious and political atmosphere in England by the 1620’s.

Church members who adopted a reformed theology called Calvinism became known as Puritans.

New England Colonies included Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.

Pilgrims Settle in Plymouth◻ King James I harassed Puritan separatists,

went to Holland◻ Looked for haven where they could be free

to worship and live◻ 1620- Negotiated with Virginia Company,

missed destination landed in New England (Plymouth Rock)

◻ Signed Mayflower Compact- set up crude government, submit to the will of the majority, first step toward self government

◻ Male settlers met in open discussion town meetings

◻ Found economic success in fish, fur, lumber◻ Colony never important politically or

economically◻ Significant for moral and spiritual qualities,

established pattern in New England◻ 1691- Merged with Massachusetts Bay

Colony

Massachusetts Bay Colony 1629 more moderate group secured royal charter,

formed Mass. Bay Company Used charter as a form of constitution, had advantage of

being out of the reach of royal authority Well equipped group settles 1630, larger scale than

previous settlements Important industries fishing, shipbuilding Became biggest, most influential colony in New England Benefitted from shared sense of purpose, idea of

“covenant” with God

Massachusetts Bay Colony The Puritans created a deeply religious and socially tight-knit

community. Although there was a Representative Government, the Puritan

Church controlled the society through a series of Congregational Town Hall Meetings.

All free adult males, that were members of Puritan Congregations (Congregational Church) had right to vote, participate in political life

Town governments were more inclusive, all male property holders could participate, all business decided by majority vote

Was not a democracy Eventually, in order to take part in the Government or live in

Massachusetts, settlers had to be members in Good standing with the Church.

Religious leaders had enormous influence, govt. duty to enforce religious rules

Religious Dissenters Establish New Colonies

Roger Williams radical separatist, wanted clean break from English church

Challenged legality of Bay Colony charter, taking land from Indians

Did not want civil government to regulate religion 1635- Banished from colony Williams established religious tolerance in Rhode Island Most liberal of all colonies Opposed special privilege, provided freedom of opportunity Settlements consisted of exiles and malcontents from Bay Colony Strongly Independent colony

New England Spreads Out 1635 Connecticut River Valley settled,

largest area of fertile land in New England

1639 Fundamental Orders of Connecticut- like a modern constitution, democratic regime controlled by “substantial” citizens Established unified government in CT First written constitution in America

1662- More religious colony, New Haven merged with Connecticut colony

1677 Maine- absorbed by Mass. 1679 New Hampshire became a royal

colony New England colonies began westward

expansion during this period

The New England Society Climate healthier than south Migrated to region as families, population

grew by natural increase Family stability, intergenerational continuity

(concept of grandparents)Women in New England• Authoritarian male father figures controlled

each household.Recognition of property rights undermine marriage

• Laws established to defend integrity of marriage

Seeds of Colonial Unity in New England

Towns in New England Tight knit society based on

communities Surrounded by other

colonial powers, Puritan unity of purpose

Society grew in orderly fashion, distribution of land by town fathers

Towns of more than 50 had to provide elementary education in Mass.

Democracy in church govt, political govt.

New England way of Life Lack of good farmland led to

frugality of settlers Region less ethnically mixed Diversified industry, experts

in ship building and commerce

Slavery not profitable Saw duty to “improve” land,

clearing, planting, building Religion, soil, climate led to

purposefulness, self- reliance, resourcefulness

Halfway Covenant Factors: growing population, migration from towns, less religious

zeal, decline of conversions Fewer people were becoming members of the church through

profound religious experience, known as conversion In an effort to maintain the church’s influence halfway covenant

was offered as a way to membership without religious experience Half Way Covenant, weakened distinction from “elect” and others Results: wider religious participation, more women as church

members

Relations with Native Americans Spread of English led to conflict with

Indians Epidemics left them with no position to

resist English◻ 1637 Pequot War – English destroy

Pequot (in CT) led to forty years of uneasy peace

◻ English tried to convert natives, put them in praying towns (early reservations?)

◻ Only hope for resistance was in unity Between 1675 – 1676, a conflict known as

King Philip’s War was fought between the settlers and Native Americans.

King Philip was a local reference to the Native American leader known as Metacomet.

1676 King Phillips War ended, slowed westward advance of English settlement, ended Indian resistance in New England

Religious Tension and the Salem Witch Trials 1692 – Salem, MA women

accused of bewitching others, 20 put to death

Resulted from social prejudices- Puritan ideas vs. Rising Yankee commercialism (many accused from prosperous part of town), mistrust of outsiders (Quakers, Baptists accused by Puritan settlers)), cultural mistrust of women (most accused were old women)

Seeds of Colonial Unity in New England 1643 New England Confederation (two

Mass. And two CT colonies) Purpose: defense, inter-colonial problems England did not provide support b/c of Civil

Wars, let colonies become semiautonomous Each colony had two votes Exclusive Puritan club Milestone toward colonial unity 1660 Royalists restored (Stuart Restoration) in

England, Charles II takes more active role, colonies seen as economic asset

Seeds of Colonial Unity in New England 1651-1696 British pass series of

Navigation Acts that spell out goods to be sold, and put the British government in charge of trade

Policy known as mercantilism, basically political control of the economy by the state

Created by royal authority, controlled from London

Colonies existed to benefit mother country

Smuggling becomes big business

Seeds of Colonial Unity in New England

1686 Dominion of New England established, put colonies under Royal control

Restrictions on courts, press, mail, town meetings, schools; revoked land titles

Tax colonies without consent, enforced Navigation Laws

1681-1691 colonists resist royal authority After Glorious Revoluton monarchs relax control

of colonial trade, begin period of salutary neglect

Residue: more English officials in America, prevented rise of local leaders, resentment toward England

The Middle Colonies

◻ Middle colonies had fertile soil, known as “bread colonies”

◻ Rivers- ease of travel, brought people to backcountry

◻ Landholdings were intermediate in size

◻ Ethnically diverse, religious toleration

◻ Economic, social democracy found in middle colonies

The Middle ColoniesNew York The Dutch Colony of New

Netherlands was originally established to exploit the rich Fur Trade in North America.

In 1674, after several Anglo-Dutch Wars, the colony was formally turned over to the British and was renamed New York.

The acquisition of this colony linked the New England Colonies to the Southern Colonies.

Penn’s Holy Experiment Quakers, began in England 1600’s

“quaked” with religious conviction Refused to support Church of England with taxes,

serve in military William Penn establishes an asylum in New World

1681 Penn receives land grant from crown Welcomed all types of settlers Tolerant of Indians Wanted forward looking settlers, liberal land policy Attracted many immigrants

America in 1720

Population growing Permanent settlements

established Transportation,

communication improving British kept hands off

policy Colonists developed own

churches, governments, networks of trade

Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution

Conquest by the Cradle

1775- British had 32 colonies in NA

13 original colonies not the wealthiest

Average age 16 Most population east of

Alleghenies, Appalachian Mts.

By 1775 some had moved west

90% lived in rural areas Shifted balance of power

between colonies and British

Mingling of the Races

Mostly English Germans- 6% mostly Protestant, settled mainly in

Pennsylvania Scots- Irish- 7%, most important non-English group Became squatters, quarreled with Indians, white

landowners 1720’s first moved into backcountry in NC, VA, MD, PA Were squatters on land Tradition of violence, individualistic 1764- Paxton Boys protest Quaker treatment of

Indians Late 1760’s Regulator Movement in NC, insurrection

against eastern dominance of colonies affairs 5% other groups- French Huguenots,, Welsh, Dutch,

Swedes, Jews, Irish, Swiss, Scots-Highlanders African slave trade contributed to population

diversity Laid foundations for multi-cultural American national

identity

Development of Early Colonial Society America land of opportunity No titled nobility Social structure very fluid By mid 1700’s- class differences emerge small group of

aristocrats had most power Because of the wealth generated by trade, Colonial America

developed very distinct social classes. South there was a rise of an elite planter class, or gentry, mostly

located in coastal or tidewater areas where there was easy access to shipping.

New England and the Port cities of the Middle Colonies mostly wealthy merchants who lived in cities and towns where they gained prestige and power.

Western Frontier and Colonial Backcountry was settled by the smaller yeoman farmers and former Indentured Servants.

Structure of Colonial Society

Southern Social Pyramid Plantation owners at top (planters) had many

slaves Small farmers, owned land, few slaves Landless whites, some indentured servants Black slaves at the bottom

Clerks, Physicians, Jurists

Ministry most well respected profession

Physicians poorly trained, medical knowledge was limited and crude

Epidemics, plague feared by people

Lawyers not respected at first, criminals represented themselves in court

By 1750 lawyers seen as useful, played an important role in American history

Workaday America Agriculture leading industry Chesapeake staple crop

tobacco Middle colonies- grain Fishing major industry in NE Yankee (NE) seamen good

sailors, international commerce

Triangular trade- goods from American colonies, travel to Africa (or Europe) traded for slaves, then to West Indies traded for sugar, sold to Americas, huge profits made on each leg of trip

Workaday America Manufacturing not as important Some small industry- rum, iron making, spinning weaving

(by women) Lumber most important mfg. activity (for shipbuilding) British navy depended on American colonies to supply

them Americans demand more British products (b/c fast

growing pop.) British could not buy enough American goods Colonists seek foreign markets Trade imbalance between colonies, British 1733- Parliament passes Molasses Act (along with the

earlier Navigation Acts) to stop American trade with French West Indies

American merchants bribe and smuggle their way around law, creates resentment toward British government

Transportation and Religion

Roads dangerous, poor in 1700’s, only connected large cities

Towns clustered around water sources Taverns, bars along roads places of gossip, news Mail system set up by mid-1700’s, unreliable, postmen

not trustworthy Two established (tax supported) churches by 1775

Anglican, Congregational Anglican- NY,NC,SC,GA,VA,MD Closely connected with monarchy in England Congregational- NE except in RI. Many ministers dealt with political issues, early

rumblings of revolution from Cong. ministers

Great Awakening Religion lost steam in 1700’s , New ideas challenged old ways

(predestination), new ideas of free will 1730’s and 1740’s -Great Awakening Started in Mass.- Jonathan Edwards Deeply emotional sermons, well reasoned, Message of human

helplessness, divine omnipotence Most famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” George Whitfield- emotional sermons, style of shaking, heaping blame

on sinners imitated by others Orthodox clergy “old lights” skeptical of emotionalism “New Light” ministers defended role in revitalizing religion Split congregations, increased number and competitiveness of religions Direct spirituality undermined older clergy First mass movement of American people Contributed to sense that Americans were common people united by

shared experience

Effects of the Great Awakening and Enlightenment Ideas of Enlightenment brought over from

Europe, affected American thought challenged government and religious authority

Emphasized power of rational thought to explain world, appealed to urban, merchant class

Led to expansion of education (colleges and universities)

Ideas represented by Ben Franklin In the South Great Awakening appealed to

landless whites and African Americans, questioned authority of Anglican Church and powerful economic interests

Schools and Colleges Education more important in New England Towns established primary, secondary

schools, had to be able to read Bible High number of college graduates South- rural population, could not effectively

establish schools Education done on plantations by private

tutors, wealthy sent children abroad for higher education

College Education- originally to prepare people for ministry

New England est. first colleges (Harvard first 1636)

New Light” universities Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth

By 1750’s move toward other subjects First nondenominational college University of

Pennsylvania est. by Ben Franklin

Pioneer Presses

Many small newspapers, pamphlets, journals around colonies

Powerful agents for airing colonial grievances, rallying opposition

Peter Zenger Case 1734-1735 New York printer Accused of seditious libel for writing about royal

governor Case not about if statements were true or not, but

fact that they were printed Found not guilty, allowed for freedom of the

press, open public discussion, eventually led to freedom to print responsible criticisms

Colonial Governments

Variety of governments in 13 colonies By 1775 8 had royal governors appointed by king, 3 run by

proprietors and chose own governors, 2 had self governing charters All had two house legislatures (upper house-appointed, lower

house- elected) Had to own property to be a voter Self taxation through representation cherished privilege Some governors corrupt Most had trouble with colonial legislatures, saw gov. as British

mouthpiece Colonial legislatures held money from royal authorities South- local government on county level (run by planters) New England –town meeting, direct democracy Almost half of all males “disenfranchised” Property requirements to vote, ease of acquiring land made this

attainable

American Colonies in 1775By 1775 America more democratic

than EuropeBasically English in language and

customProtestant religionDemocratic ideas of tolerance,

educational advantages, equality of economic opportunity, freedom of speech, assembly and representative government emerged in this period