Ch 5

Jonathan Itschner Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution Chapter 5 Outline American Pageant 1. Conquest by the Cradle a. Overall population growth spurt (1775: 2.6 million) i. 3 English to 1 American led to potential power shift b. Most population was farther east 2. A Mingling of the Races a. Melting pot of cultures i. Germans fled to America because of general oppression 1. Enhanced religious diversity in PA 2. 1/3 of Philadelphia’s population ii.Scots-Irish were Scots who were relocated to Ireland where Irish Catholics resented the Protestant Scots 1. Fled to America (PA mostly), but because land was taken by Germans, they squatted on lands farther west (illegal) a. Experienced at pioneering from English displacement in Europe b. Non-English felt less loyalty to England (seed of independence) c. Middle colonies had more diversity 3. The Structure of Colonial Society a. More loose and undefined compared to England b. Well off merchants became sorts of aristocrats c. Less poor class than England d. Mid 1750’s: many families had less land due to population increase e. Convicts from England imported to America i. Increased social diversity f. Fears of slave uprisings 4. Clerics, Physicians, and Jurists a. Clergy still had some presence b. Physicians helped cure some cases of smallpox c. Lawyers =bad 5. Workaday America a. Agriculture was leading industry b. Triangle Trade i. Fishing led to cod exports ii.Spanish/Portuguese gold, wine, and oranges to London  exchanged for industrial goods  sent back to America c. Manufacturing had small presence in America i. Valley Forge (iron forges) ii.Home manufacturing iii.Lumbering was largest 1. Ship building (cod fishing) d. English used raw materials from America in England for manufacturing e. American demand was larger than England could meet

Jonathan Itschner

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i. Led to other country exports/imports 1. France: Tobacco a. French West Indies: they purchased lumber, gave colonies $ to buy things from England Molasses Act passed by English Parliament to stifle American trade with French West Indies (weren’t trading with British West Indies)

6. Horsepower and Sailpower a. Dirt roads were very inefficient b. Water passages were more pleasant but not as reliable c. Taverns were hosts for gossip and democracy (allowed for meetings of a sort) d. Mid 1700’s postal system 7. Dominant Denominations a. Anglican (Church of England) i. Tax supported (England/Colonies) ii.Prop of king’s authority b. Congregational Church i. Tax supported (MA) ii.From Puritan church c. Churches used for political issues i. Supported source of taxes 8. The Great Awakening a. Many churches were strained because of their strict doctrines vs. liberal membership b. Great awakening was a large religious revival i. 1730-40 ii.Jonathan Edwards 1. No salvation from all works: needed God’s grace 2. Vivid sermon descriptions (hell paved with skulls) iii.George Whitefield 1. Human helplessness, divine omnipotence 2. Electric style of preaching: large crowds, like obsessive tv preachers c. Undermined Orthodox clergy; made them look “old” 9. Schools and Colleges a. Congregational Church dominated education i. Mostly religious teachings (doctrine and dogma) ii.Late 1700’s  more secular teachings (reason and logic) b. Only for males c. South was too hard to establish school system d. College was mainly preparation for the ministry 10.A Provincial Culture a. Mostly British artistic taste b. Architectural style adapted to different climates c. Literature had similar style to Britain

Jonathan Itschner i. Phillis Wheatley 1. Poetry published regardless of status (slave girl) ii.Benjamin Franklin 1. Poor Richard’s Almanac a. Second to Bible in reading amounts d. Franklin notably advanced American science 11.Pioneer Presses a. Printing press spread ideas of oppressive British rule b. John Peter Zenger i. Published article about corrupt governor; charged 1. Deemed not guilty in court a. Marked turning point in freedom of press 12.The Great Game of Politics a. Minority of state governors actually were elected (most were appointed by King) b. Two-house legislature i. Upper house 1. Appointed by crown or proprietors ii.Lower house 1. Appointed by people (male land owners) c. Many back-country elements were unrepresented d. Some governors appointed by King were inadequate for the job e. Defied many English laws f. Local governments (town meetings, county level) worked best (democratic) g. Must have owned land to participate in politics h. Much more democratic than any other country in 1775 13.Colonial Folkways a. Life was better than rest of world but had some drawbacks b. Forms of entertainments like cards, horse racing, and billiards c. All parts of colonies united by their origins