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What was the English common law?
The English common law was developed and used in England, but later used by the colonies.
This law was the idea that laws could be created based on court decisions.
That means that laws were being created based on the needs of the people.
This also created a unique set of laws for every colony, because every colony had unique court proceedings.
Because of the English common law, lawyers became the most coveted and respected position in the colonies
What were colonial assemblies?
Because the colonies were growing in population, each colony needed to establish a form of government to keep the colonists happy.
Each colony had their own assembly with representatives
These representatives were elected by white, male landowners (the reps didn’t really represent the people, only the voting men)
These assemblies passed all local laws and ordinances.
What were town meetings?
Town meetings were a future that was unique to only New England
In these meetings, anyone could bring up problems and they could vote directly on public issues
How were towns created?
New England created the ideas of towns based on churches. If you worshiped a specific church, that church would create its own town with all of its followers. There were many new towns created, all of which were very condensed.
What were the impacts of condensed towns?
Because there were so many people living in small towns, there became problems with inheriting land.
Children were no longer allowed to inherit houses in towns
So they would have to move out of the town and create more towns → This led them to be more developed tan the south because the south was generational with land.
What were the results of the population and immigration boom in the colonies?
Greater intellectual exchange and demographic changes
What were some reasons for population growth in the colonies?
There was abundant land for people to settle on
There were new resources → healthier living situations and food
More space to create families and to pass down land
Greater quality of life → more space, less sickness, more sanitary conditions
Who came during the waves of immigration?
Puritans, Quakers, Scots-Irish, Germans, etc.
(they came because there were new opportunities for the people and new cultures were developed in regions of the world)
Why did the North have to diversify its economy?
The North had to diversify becuase of climate and weather
in the spring and summer, they would farm and plant
In the winter, they found an abundance of fish
They also had lots of lumber, which was depleted in England
How would New England use all of their resources?
New England would trade wood for cobblestone with England → cobblestone roads
They would also have fishing and whaling as well as metalworks and lumber
Development of New England: Towns
Created towns based on churches and were tightly packed
Towns were created very quickly and were very small compared to the south, which had large counties
Development of New England: Shipbuilding
In New England, the Scots that had immigrated would create ships using lumber in New England
England became more dependent on New England because they didn’t have enough lumber and would need their shops
Because of the Navigation Acts, the South also became dependent on the North’s ships → creates tension and resentment from the South
Who was at the top of the social structure in the North?
The highest class in the North were the merchants
They sold goods made by other people and craftsmen
Most merchants were also smugglers because no one would regulate them and they would sell to other countries, making the merchants very wealthy
John Hancock was one of the most successful smugglers
Who was the middle class in the North?
The middle class of the North and New England were the retailers, innkeepers, and artisans. They did make money, but did not make as much as the wealthy merchants.
Who was at the bottom of the social structure in the North?
The bottom of the social structure were the sailors and the unskilled workers. They were the lower class, did not make that much money. Many were free laborers, as there weren’t many slaves because of the changing climate (less agriculture)
What created a strong economy in the South?
Because of the climate in the South, there was a lack of economic diversification. Plantations grew, and cash crops (agricultural crops that are planted for the purpose of selling on the market or for export to make profit) dominated the Southern economy.
Why were plantations so popular and successful in the South?
They were so successful because the South had:
Fertile soil
Long rivers and swamps (good for tobacco and other crops)
Year-long growing season
While the North was progressing and developing rapidly, the South was very slow and stuck to their agricultural ways (hyper-focused)
What were the main crops in the South?
Tobacco in the Chesapeake
Rice in the Carolinas and Georgia
Indigo (purple dye)
Why was indigo successful?
Indigo would produce a shade of purple, which is the color of royalty
The South would sell this purple dye to the royals at high prices
Southern Success
Because of their plantations, the South became very wealthy. They would continue to fam, would sell to England, and there would be a small white population. They were also so wealthy because they didn’t pay for labor → slaves
How did planters get such a large influence in the South?
Planter: landowner who runs the plantation
Because planters were no longer actually doing the planting, they would become lawyers which would give them more power
There was also a very small white population in the South, so the planters would become the representatives of the South
The planters/lawyers had a great influence but they would not really represent the South
How would plantations be inherited in the South?
Plantations: a large track of land focused on 1 cash crop and belonged to one family
Plantations would be passed down by families and it would go to the eldest son
How would women be treated in the South?
Women would never be allowed to go against their husband if they were married. If they disagreed with their husband or disobeyed their husband, they would be punished → the ducking chair
Who was at the top of the Southern hierarchy?
The Planters: the elites and aristocrats
They were the smallest group and the top of society
They were known as the “Gentry”
They dominated the South and were very influential
What was in the middle of the Southern hierarchy?
The Small Farmers
They were the majority of the agrarian population
They were known as Yeoman farmers
They had smaller family farms, but no slaves
Who was at the bottom of the Southern hierarchy?
Landless Whites
They would live on the land of someone else
They would work for planters
They couldn’t vote because they did not own land
Slaves
Had no rights, no land, bottom of hierarchy
What were the similarities that all of the colonies had?
An excellent system of roads
These roads allowed trade
Allowed news and communication to spread
Americans believed in equal access to information
Sense of Religion
All colonies and every person was committed to the religion
They were committed because of their faith but also because the church = state
The Salem Witch Trials
Salem - 1692
100 people were accused, 20 deaths (19 people, 1 dog)
Reasons of Salem
Reflection of European culture
Gossip/political reasons
Consequences of Salem
Puritans lost credibility
What was the cause of the Great Awakening?
When people began to separate a bit from the church → boredom, religion was revived in the colonies by the Great Awakening. It was caused by reactions to the Enlightenment
How did New Light Ministers preach?
They began to use fear in their religious sermons. Since people wanted to go to heaven, they would be forced to go to church. The ministers would give very emotional sermons. Most famous would be Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield
What were itinerants and how would they travel?
Itinerants were traveling “preachers” → they would travel a lot between colonies, spreading the word of the ministers. They would use the system of roads to travel between the colonies
What were the Old Lights like?
They were before the Great Awakening. They were traditional and strict → rational. They were the leaders of the government
What were the New Lights like?
From first Great Awakening. Emotional, passionate, used fear
What new religions formed from the the Great Awakening?
Baptists and Methodists (Evangelical Churches and Dissenting Churches)
Note 
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