AP US History - Chapter 4: Growth, Diversity, and Conflict

1720-1763

Reverend Benjamin Wadsworth

A Puritan Bostonian who believed it was a woman’s job to submit to their husbands thanks to god

Women’s role in Puritan society

Puritan beliefs placed men at the head of the household, and women learned the subordinate role from when they were small children. Stricter things about women, less value given to them. Completed domestic chores to help their husbands, tending gardens, weaving clothes, knitting, making candles and soap, churning milk, etc etc. Bearing and rearing children were very important, after marriage in early twenties, by early forties they had 6-7 kids, delivered by a neighbor or midwife

Women’s place in religion

Some women were so occupied with their tasks they didn’t have time, but many women participated in religion despite their reduced role. Some found outlets in other sects that provided them equality, but by the 1760s most institutions subscribed to male dominance.

Land Ownership

An appeal of colonist life, gave social identity especially in New England, land was very valued and those who could not be self sufficient and keep it lost status. Land was sometimes given to first son, the rest were given money, apprenticeships, or uncleared tracts. If not, they were placed in indentured servitude where they then faced high barriers to eventually become freeholders

Marriage

Sons and daughters in wealthier families received a marriae portion that repaid them for labor and allowed parents to choose their match, marriages were often arranged

coverture

A principle in English law that placed wives under the protection and authority of husbands, so they didn’t have independent legal standing.

Freehold Crisis

Due to natural growth, the population rapidly expanding, dividing and subdividing farms such that parents could only provide one adequate inheritance. In the 1750s in concord, 60% of farmers owned less land than their fatther had

Breakdown of Traditional Marriage

As families could provide less to children they lost control over children’s lives. More and more premarital sex so they could get pregnant and have permission to marry.

Maintaining of the Freeholder Ideal

New Englanders still valued independence and self sufficiency so some chose to have smaller families through birth control, others went on the frontier to make new farms, others switched from grains to corn and potatoes. Gradually changed from grain to livestock economy

household mode of production

System of exchanging goods and labor that allowed 18th century families to survive on shrinking farrms. Women and children worked in groups to spin yarn, sew quilts, and shuck corn. Men borrowed and loaned tools, animals, and grazing lands. Farmers plowed shopkeeper fields for goods or credit. Cash rarely changed hands instead books were kept tracking debt and credit, balanced every few years

The Middle Colonies

New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Lots of differing orgins and people who sought to preserve religious and cultural identity. Lots of fertile land and rising grain prices brought prosperity to farmers in the region

tenancy

The rental of property. A system used by wealthy families to attract workers to their manors

New York tenants

aspired for land ownership but had a hard path ahead of them due to low output levels and profits just being enough for little things

Quaker Colony Issues

Everything was great if not a bit poor in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but as people flooded in land became scarce and many migrants became squatters

squatter

someone who settles on land they do not own, a practice of 18th century migrants on unsurveryed land hoping for first purchasing rights.

Walking Purchase of 1737

In the face of land scarcity the penn family exploited an Indian deed to claim more land north of Philidelphia. Opened new lands but accelerated driving out of natives and poisoned relations with them.

Philidelphian Immigrants

Many migrants came to Philidelphia as a stepping stone to land owning, others came as laborers that were much needed due to the colony’s explosive growth

agricultural capitalists

in the 1760s eastern Pennsylvanian landowners started using slave and poor irish/scottish labor to farm wheat, were part of a forming class of agricultural capitalists. Were wealthier than average and it showed in their way of life

land ownership in the Middle Colonies

only ½ of white men owned land, often only owned a cow, were poor germans and scots, aspired to be land owners but land price was rising so it was very difficult

Cultures of Middle Colonies

Despite how many different religions and nationalities, most groups fought to maintain identity, marrying among their own ethnic group. Quakers were initially dominant but by 1720 germans and scots challenged that dominance

German Immigration

Germans came in waves, 100k drawn by the Quaker vision and fleeing military conscription, in the 1720s more came from overcrowded villages, and people wrote home being like “this is great you should totally come" A third wave came to Philidelphia in 1749-56, 40k strong. Moved downward to Shenandoah valley, maintaining traditions religion and language.

Redemptioner System

Used by Germans to help pay costs, a type of indentured servant ship in the middle colonies. They did not sign contracts in Europe but rather negotiated terms once they were in America

Scots-Irish Settlers

Irish migrants were some of the most numerous, some Irish Catholic, some prebysterian, some descendants of english calvinists. Scots were especially persecuted making colonies attractive. Retained their culture still.

Condemnation of Religious Diversity

Especially in Western Europe, ministers thought too many religions would mean no religion at all and holy things such as the sanctity of sunday would break down

Religous Communities in Pennsylvania

Despite diversity and lack of government enforcement religious communities maintained morals and education, regulating behavior

Quaker German Alliance

When the Scots wanted a harsher take on Indian relations when they started to outnumber Quakers, so Quakers allied with Germans to quell that, so Germans did but wanted more governmental power instead.

1750 Middle Colonies Society

Lots of political turmoil, lots of conflict between groups, but still all value liberty and economic opportunity

Enlightenment

An eighteenth century philosophical movement that emphasized using reason and reevaluating previously accepted doctrines and traditions, as well as to understand the world

Pietism

A christian revival movement that emphasised Bible Study, conversion experiences, and the person’s individual relationship with god that was widely influential in Britain + colonies

Transportation Growth

Transportation improved, opening the colonies in new ways, 550 ships into Boston alone per year. A road network was also slowly taking shape, carrying people through colonies despite difficulty of road building. Information, news, books people, spread much more rapidly

Colonial Booksellers

This influx of information filled shelves, and colonies began printing their own newspapers as well

Shifting Beliefs

Thanks to european enlightenment, things shifted from religion to reason, advocating natural rights,

Christian Response to Enlightenment

Some clergy responded by shifting their preachings to fit reason, claiming the two aren’t mutually exclusive. They rejected some more supernatural calvinist beliefs, using lockes philosophy to give individual members more power. Even puritans started looking to practical solutions rather than divine intervention

Benjamin Franklin

Perfect product of American Enlightenment, a prominent Philidelphian printer. formed a morals philosophy and politics club. Was a deist. Didn’t like slavery, compared it to the political bondage of the colonies. popularized enlightenment ideas in his books, the poor richard’s almanac. Published books and scientific findings

Deism

The belief that god created the universe and then let it run based on Natural laws

Natural Rights

The right to life liberty and property, an idea utilized by John Locke

Pietism/The Great Awakening

An idea starting in Germany around 1700, an alternate to deism that some americans took insteaad. Travelled with German migrants and started a revival of enthusiasm for christianity. Similar movement in New England, relied on passion and emotion in sermons, used feelings for their audience. lead to converts eager to spread the message

Old Lights

more traditional religious folk who criticized how emotional and dramatic it all was, didn’t like women being allowed to participate. Advocated for living a virtuous life

New Lights

Converts who thought spiritual rebirth was very very important. Believed anyone could be a minister with the right connection for god, no need for authority or anything

George Whitefield

Upon reading about German Pietism he became a follower of John Wesley, carrying his message around America, attracting huge crowds. Wore white and was as much an actor as a minister, travelled a lot. Rise of print helped spread his word around

Religious Conflict in South

Anglican ministers served middling whites, freeholders who weren’t those like lead planters, but were still under the thumbs of those wealthy planters

Samuel Morris

Inspired by Whitefield in 1743, he led some Virginia Anglicans out of their congregation and invited Samuel Davies to deliver impassioned sermons and lead prayer meetings

Prebysterian Revival

Threatened well to do Anglican Planters since they couldn’t show their power showing up to Anglican church if no one else was there. Harassed most yeomen into staying by denouncing Prebysterianism

The Baptist Insurgency

In the 1760s thanks to New Light ministers, thousands of white farmer families were converted. Baptists were radical protestants who prioritized adult baptism. Welcomed slaves into their revivals and viewed people as equal which made people angry. Denounced the planters lifestyle and were very close. Was under attack but Baptist congregations multiplied. 15% of virginians were baptist by 1775. Did not welcome women

The French and Indian War

When overlapping claims of British and French territory came to a head in 1754

French Claims

were maintained by a vast network of trade posts and forts, sustaining allyships with the nearby natives

Ohio River Valley

A weak spot in Frances trading empire due to Iriquois attacks driving out the local natives that they had allies with. British traders then began to attract and trade with natives

The Iriquois

Britain’s ally for native relations, sent half kings to the river valley to remain some level of control

Fort Duqusene

A final in the chain of forts built from Lake Erie to the headwaters of the Ohio. located in present day pittsburgh

Governor Dinwiddie

To reassert british claims, he sent Colonel George Washington on an expedition. Washington discovered that most Indians had sided with French

Tanghrisson

One of the Iriquois half-kings. When Washington fired on French troops, he rushed in and killed a French officer to ensure a war that could further Iriquois interests in the valley

Washington’s defeat

Washington’s company was very quickly defeated by French troops and it left Britain calling for war, a troubling prospect

Damage to the Covenant Chain

Iroquois leaders believed that the British were neglecting them while settlers were intruding on their lands. They also worried that the British were losing ground against the French in the ORV

The Albany Congress

Called in the colonies due to the damage of the covenant chain. Hendrick Peters Theyonaguin, a prominent Iroquois challenged Britain more vigorously and Benjamin Franklin proposed a “Plan of the Union”

Albany Plan of the Union

Ben Franklin proposed for a central American government for the colonies, creating a central assembly to deal with trade, Indian policy, and the colonies defense. Disliked because of compromising both colonial and parliamentary power.

Henry Pelham

The british prime minister who was anti war due to the imposition on the colonies.

War Hawks

Expansionist minded British politicians who pushed for war.

June of 1755

The British captured Fort Beasejour, located in disputed territory (Nova Scotia/Acadia). Soldiers from Massachussetts then drove out the french, sending them to the islands, louisiana, or france. THey took over the French Catholic farms

July of 1755

General Edward Braddock and other Virginians + British marched on Fort Duquesne, routed by a French and Indian force, half of the men were killed or wounded and they shamefully retreated

Battle of the Monongahela

Terrible terrible defeat in July of 1755, 63 out of 86 officers die, 914 of 1300ish soldiers.

The Seven Years War

By 1756 the war has spread across the Atlantic. Britain and Prussia vs. France Spain and Austria. Major offensives happened globally

William Pitt

Designed the British War effort, was an arrogant expansionist who believed he could fix it. threw money at the colonists since they outnumbered the French. Planned to overthrow the French colonies

Anglo-American Victories

Starting 1758, they just kept winning against the French. Forced French to abandon Duquesne, renamed it Fort Pitt. Captured Fort Louisburg at the mouth of the St. Lawrence. In 1759 James Wolfe lead an Armada and took over Quebec, the royal navy stopped french ships from sending aid. The conquest of Canada was complete in 1760. The East India Company drove French traders from India, they won cuba and the Phillipines from Spain and sugar islands that were later returned

British Super Power

With victories on all fronts across the globe, Britain established itself as a colonial empire.

Native Discontent

Though they gave Britain tentative support, many Native groups preferred French traders to English settlers. Lead to uprisings in Detroit (Pontiac) and seizure of British outposts in 1763

Pontiac’s Rebellion

Led by Ottawa chief named Pontiac, attacking british forts, brutal attrocities on both sides

Treaty of Paris

vastly expands British empire in America gaining all their lands

Royal Proclamation of 1763

declared the land west of the Appalachians Indian territory off limits to settlers bc of how expensive it would be to maintain. many colonists still ignored

Reasons for British Military Success

Economic resources. It wrested control of trade routes from the dutch in the 1700s and was major commercial power in both atlantic and indian oceans. by 1750 it was using new technologies for manufacturing, giving it a leg above the competition

Britain’s Industrial Revolution

Powered by Mechanical power developments such as the water mills and steam engines. these could power machines for all sorts of tasks. Produced textiles iron things etc at quicker speeds for lower costs. Discovered new ways to mistreat workers

Consumer Revolution

An increase in consumption due to increased manufacturing increased quality of life and debt both for individuals and colonies

American Purchasing

To pay for the goods manufactured by Britain Americans increased their output of everything they made and opened lines of credit overseas. Exports paid for only 80% of imports

1763

Military subsidies end and the colonies enter a economic recession

Connecticut Pennsylvanian Conflict

Many families at the edge of Connecticut joined a company that was prospecting lands further east due to a clause, but it was being sold to Pennsylvanians. Devolved into warfare.

Hudson River Valley Conflict

Dutch tenant farmers, Wappinger Indians, and Massuchussets squatters all wanted to claim manorial lands, lords were like ummm no and used legal system to get rid of them

Proprietary Claim Revival

Up and down the coast aristocrats and lords used ancient claims to seize land and charge taxes, a part of the rising value of American land. American farmers didn’t want to become peasnats and started looking West for potential land to settle on instead

The Paxton Boys

Scots who after Indian warriors attacked looked for legal settling, Quakers said no, went on a murder spree of assimilated Indians. When Penn tried to bring them to justice, a mob marched on philidelphia, Ben Franklin arranged a truce. Won notice but very little change.

Regulators

Landowning South Carolinians who after fighting with natives demanded things like courts and fair taxation from the government. Fearing slave revolts, easterners agreed to some but didn’t allocate power

North Carolina Conflict

in 1766 a strong Regulator movement arose in NC. Economic recession lead to tobacco prices falling in the early 60s, many farmers could not pay off their debts. Debtors joined together and resisted their government, proposing reforms. It didn’t work bc in 1771 the governor mobilized troops and defeated a regulator force.

Effects of Great War for Empire

England incurs debt, King George starts thinking about charging taxes on the colonists which isn’t taken very well