3) society and culture in colonial america

birth and death

½ of the pop was under 20 yo in the 1700s

new england

• survived better than the south

• balanced sex ratio

women and families in chesapeake

male authority was undermined

greater independence in the south, less women so they had more power

revival of patriarchy

women and families in new england

males dominated new england

patriarchial puritan family

medicine in the colonies

many women died in childbirth

no accurate understanding of infection, sterilization, contagion, or transmission of disease

lack of trained doctors

midwives

tension between male doctors and midwives

indentured servitude

similar to apprentice system - learned something from your master

terms: 4, 5 ot 7 were common

received clothes, tools, or land upon completion of contract

dissatisfied - a source of social unrest

beginning of slavery in the english colonies

1619 in virginia

predominately in carribean at the beginning

there was conflict among slaves and indentured servants

northern economic and technological life

more diverse agriculture in the north

extractive industries - mining, lumber

small farms, variety of foods

rise of colonial commerce

there was no common currency

navigation acts - defined economic relationship of the colonies and mother country

emerging merchant class - merchants and trading

triangular trade - loading and unloading

new england economy

was more diverse than the south

shipbuilding was most prosperous segment

southern economy

tobacco

indigo (new)

the plantation

plantation economy - more distance between each, southern hospitality

boom and bust

cash crops

large landholdings

slavery vs indentured servitude

slavery was forced and for life, women slaves gave birth to children who would be slaves

indentured servitude was a “choice” (not really), source of tension and unrest

plantation slavery

9,500,000 million brought to the americas

• brazil received more than anywhere in the Western Hemisphere

• smallest amount was in north america

slave culture - came from mixed places

• kinship networks

• syncretic (mixed) religion

• complex family structure - aunts, brothers

• interference from white owners - lack of care

stone rebellion, 1739 - south carolina

slaves rebelled, slavery got worse, led to white men being armed

the puritan community

new growth, reproduction, hard-working ethic

town was the enter of the community

civil war: puritans interpreted as evidence of God’s disfavor and divine judgement

churches - having a right to participate

generational conflict - living with family members became hard

population pressure - too close together

witchcraft phenomenon

salem witch trials reverend parris’ daughter elizabeth parris

accused tituba

led to more than 200 people accused, 20 died

first great awakening

jonathan edwards - “sinners in the hands of an angry God”

• style of preaching changed - more direct and powerful

george whitefield - helped spark a religious revival in the british colonies in north america

john and charles wesley - itinerate ministers

old and new lights - new lights led to revival movement

the enlightenment

no emotion - emphasis on the mind/science/proof

traditional authority was challenged

promoted religious tolerance

voltaire - “leader” of the enlightenment

deism - believing in a divine something

john locke - in favor of the glorious revolution, remove and unfit ruler

education

high white literacy rate

high value on education as part of religion