APUSH Society and Culture in Provincial America Ch3

Colonial Population Growth

The colonial population grew quickly through immigration, slavery, and natural increase.

Indentured Servitude

Indentured servitude was the main labor system in early colonies but declined by the late 1600s, leading planters to rely more heavily on African slavery.

Chesapeake Indentured Servants

Many indentured servants, especially in the Chesapeake, finished their service with little opportunity, fueling unrest and making slavery a more permanent and dependable labor source.

Natural Increase in Population

Colonial population growth shifted from mainly immigration to natural increase, especially in New England and the mid-Atlantic, where higher life expectancy and family balance supported rapid growth.

Chesapeake Death Rates

The Chesapeake struggled with high death rates, disease, and imbalanced sex ratios until the 18th century.

Colonial Population Doubling Rate

Overall the colonial population doubled about every 25 years, reaching over 2 million by 1775.

Colonial Medicine

Colonial medicine was primitive, with high death rates for women and children during childbirth, reliance on outdated humoral theory, and little understanding of infection or disease.

Role of Midwives

Midwives played an important role in providing care and advice, often more trusted than physicians.

Medical Practices in Colonies

Both midwives and physicians relied on practices like bleeding and purging until Enlightenment ideas later encouraged more scientific approaches.

Gender Imbalance in 17th Century America

Gender imbalance in 17th-century America shaped women's lives, with early marriage, frequent childbearing, and high mortality rates—especially in the Chesapeake.

Stability of New England Families

In New England, longer lifespans and more balanced sex ratios kept families intact and gave parents more control over children's marriages.

Widows in the Chesapeake

In the Chesapeake, many women became widows and sometimes gained property and influence.

Entrenchment of Slavery in Colonial America

Slavery became deeply entrenched in colonial America through the expansion of the transatlantic slave trade and the passing of strict slave codes.

Royal African Company Monopoly

By 1697, the Royal African Company's monopoly ended, making enslaved Africans more available.

Population of Enslaved Africans by 1760

By 1760, the population of enslaved Africans in the English colonies had risen to about 250,000.

Diversity of American Colonies

The American colonies developed a diverse population made up of many races, ethnic groups, and nationalities.

Immigrants

Included Huguenots from France, Germans (Pennsylvania Dutch), Scots-Irish, and Irish, along with enslaved Africans and Native Americans already present.

Slavery

Central to every colony's economy, though the scale and type of work varied by region.

Southern colonies

Relied heavily on slaves for tobacco and rice plantations.

Northern colonies

Used fewer slaves, often in farming, trades, and domestic work.

Industry in the colonies

Developed, but agriculture and natural-resource-based work remained dominant.

Northern industries

Built small industries (ironworks, shipbuilding, mills, crafts) but faced limits from poor transportation, small markets, and British restrictions like the Iron Act of 1750.

Colonial trade

Expanded despite huge challenges and created a wealthy merchant class.

Triangular trade

Linked the colonies, the West Indies, Africa, and Europe in complex networks.

Consumer culture

Grew as wealth led colonists to buy more goods, making it a key part of colonial life.

Luxuries in colonial life

Goods once seen as luxuries (like tea, linens, and furniture) became common.

Southern Communities

The plantation system shaped southern life, relying on slavery for labor and wealth.

Market vulnerability of planters

Planters were vulnerable to market changes due to reliance on the plantation system.

Slave life on plantations

Most slaves lived on large plantations where they built families, practiced blended religions, and resisted through revolts or everyday defiance.

Stono Rebellion

A revolt by enslaved Africans in 1739.

Northern Communities

Built around towns, covenants, and religion, with smaller farms and fewer slaves than the South.

Salem witch trials

Revealed fears of Satan, religious zeal, and anxiety over women who challenged male authority.

Social mobility in colonial society

Colonial society was more fluid than England's, with greater opportunities for social mobility.

American identity

Shaped by diverse community structures in colonial society.

Colonial wealth display

Wealthier colonists used possessions, manners, and refinement to display social status.

Agricultural dominance

Agriculture remained dominant in the colonies despite the development of industry.

Colonial merchant class

Created through the expansion of trade despite challenges.

Economic focus of colonies

Each colony developed its own economic focus, with farming, hunting, and fishing being central.

Colonial cities

Hubs of trade, industry, culture, and political discussion.

Philadelphia and New York

Served as ports and marketplaces, spreading new ideas through newspapers, books, taverns, and coffeehouses.

Awakenings and Enlightenments

The clash between traditional religious belief and Enlightenment ideas reshaped colonial thought.

Religious diversity in the colonies

No single dominant faith, leading to greater toleration than in Europe.

Great Awakening

A major religious revival that challenged established churches and encouraged personal faith.

Revivalist preachers

Figures like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield inspired many, leading to divisions between 'New Lights' and 'Old Lights.'

The Enlightenment

Emphasized reason, science, and human control over society, shifting focus away from faith alone.

Influential Enlightenment thinkers

Locke, Rousseau, Franklin, and Jefferson spread ideas influencing education, politics, and America's founding principles.

Rising literacy and printing technology

Spread information and ideas across the colonies.

Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac

An example of how printed materials shaped everyday colonial life.

Value of education in colonies

Valued especially for white men, though access was unequal by class, gender, and race.

Founding of colleges

Colleges like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton were founded mostly for training ministers but also expanded into secular studies.

Spread of science

Enlightenment ideals spurred interest in science and experimentation in the colonies.

Benjamin Franklin's experiments

Experiments with electricity demonstrated the blend of science and society.

Concepts of law and politics

Colonists adapted English law and politics but developed more self-rule and freedoms.

Zenger trial (1734-35)

Protected press freedom and highlighted the power of colonial assemblies.

Colonial assemblies

Gained power while governors had little real control.