Early American History: Colonial Society, Enlightenment, and Revolution

Marriage and Women's Property

Upon marriage a woman lost legal ownership; her property became her husband's.

Typical Family Size in Colonial New England

About 6-7 children.

Land Scarcity in New England

It encouraged westward expansion, pressured families to find new land, and intensified inheritance/land subdivision issues.

William Penn's Recruitment of Germans

For religious freedom, labor, and to build a prosperous colony—Penn advertised liberty and economic opportunity.

Tenant Farmers in the Middle Colonies

Limited land access, difficulty accumulating wealth, and often becoming squatters or remaining tenants.

Scots-Irish Immigration to America

Political disenfranchisement and economic pressure in Ireland; Andrew Jackson is given as an example.

Enlightenment Thinker on Natural Rights

John Locke.

Deism

Belief in a non-intervening God; Benjamin Franklin is an example.

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Jonathan Edwards; the Great Awakening (religious revival).

Attractive Revivals for Marginalized Southerners

Presbyterian and Baptist revivals.

Virginia's House of Burgesses Preaching Restriction

It made it illegal to preach to slaves without owner permission.

Spark of the French & Indian War

Conflict over control of the Ohio Valley where the French built forts; Washington's skirmish helped ignite the war.

Albany Plan of Union

Ben Franklin's proposal to unite colonies for defense and taxation; failed because colonies feared losing taxing power and Britain feared empowered colonies.

Consequences of Britain's Victory in North America

Removal of French territorial power in North America; increased British debt and tighter imperial control (end of salutary neglect).

Proclamation of 1763

It banned settlement west of the Appalachians to reduce frontier conflict; colonists resented it because they had fought for that land and wanted access.

Currency Act (1764)

Prohibited colonies from issuing paper money.

Stamp Act (1765)

It was the first direct tax on colonists (legal documents, newspapers), prompting widespread protest and the Stamp Act Congress.

Vice-admiralty courts

Courts that tried smugglers without juries and with different rules (presumed guilty until proven innocent), seen as a denial of colonial legal rights.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Parliament's claim that it had authority to legislate for the colonies 'in all cases whatsoever.'

Committees of Correspondence

An institution through which colonists coordinated resistance across colonies.

Tea Act of 1773

It granted privileges to the East India Co. and retained a tax on tea—colonists opposed the principle of taxation without representation even if tea was cheaper.

Coercive/Intolerable Acts

Closed Boston Harbor; revoked Massachusetts charter (reduced self-government); allowed royal officials to be tried in Britain (undermining local justice); expanded Quartering Act.

Continental Association

A colonial organization created by the First Continental Congress to enforce economic sanctions (boycotts) against Britain.

Common Sense

A pamphlet by Thomas Paine that helped swing colonial public opinion toward independence.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

American victory convinced France to ally with the colonies, providing critical military and financial support.

Articles of Confederation

Major accomplishments include winning the Revolutionary War; passing the Land Ordinance of 1785 and Northwest Ordinance of 1787 (which prohibited slavery in that territory).

Shays' Rebellion

An armed uprising of Massachusetts farmers protesting taxes/debt and weak government enforcement—exposed the federal government's weaknesses under the Articles.