Notes: English Colonies 1660-1763

The Civil War and Interregnum

  • Charles I marries Henrietta Maria; French Catholic; Parliament opposes absolutist monarchy
  • 1642-1649: English Civil War; Parliament vs Royalists; Charles I executed in 1649
  • Oliver Cromwell leads Parliament; Richard Cromwell successor; republic established and later replaced by monarchy

Restoration and Colonial Expansion

  • 1660: Restoration of Charles II; monarchy reestablished
  • Expanded colonies: the Carolinas, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania
  • Proprietary colonies: grants to trusted individuals or groups

Carolina, New York, and Proprietary Growth

  • Charles Town (Charleston) named after Charles II
  • North and South Carolina split into two colonies
  • Slavery and agriculture dominate: rice, indigo, tobacco
  • Barbados slave codes influence slave laws

New Netherland to New York

  • Formerly New Netherland, Dutch control; English take over under Charles II
  • Duke of York (James II) named land; renamed New York in his honor
  • Many Dutch settlers remain in the area

Pennsylvania and the Quakers

  • Named for William Penn; crown grants to Penn family
  • Mostly Quakers; sought religious refuge in England
  • Philadelphia grows as commercial center; relatively peaceful with natives

Mercantilism and Trade Policy

  • Goal: create wealth for the English empire
  • Navigation Act: monopoly on imports from English colonies; restricts trade to England
  • Crown lax in enforcement; period of salutary neglectWeakening of direct control

Glorious Revolution and Constitutional Monarchy

  • James II becomes king; Catholic; pushes for absolute authority
  • 1688: James II disposed by Whigs; flees to France
  • 1689: William III and Mary II ascend; constitutional monarchy established
  • Freedoms guaranteed: life, liberty, property (John Locke)
  • Toleration Act; religious tolerance increases

Slavery in the Colonies

  • Slavery present in all colonies; growth of slave trade in late 1600s-early 1700s
  • Middle Passage; many slaves arrive via Caribbean routes
  • Runaway attempts and maroon communities; slave rebellions

Slavery in the South and Rebellions

  • In South Carolina, a literate slave named Jemmy led an armed uprising; militia suppressed
  • Rebellions lead to harsher slave codes guarding against revolts

The Gentry and Southern Plantations

  • Society centers on a wealthy planter class: the gentry
  • Viewed as civilized, educated gentlemen; owned many slaves; built plantation mansions
  • Embraced scientific and Enlightenment ideas; engaged with broader intellectual currents

The First Great Awakening

  • Religious revival; emotional, vigorous worship
  • Emphasized equality before God; attracted the poor and women
  • Challenged church elitism; shift away from traditional church hierarchies

Edwards, Revival, and Denominational Growth

  • Jonathan Edwards: sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"
  • Emphasized salvation by faith; vivid language
  • Growth of Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists; churches expand in America

The Enlightenment Movement

  • European movement valuing science and reason over faith
  • Philosophes in France; deists among thinkers
  • Questioned authority; argued for separation of church and state; natural rights
  • Key ideas: reason, government to protect rights, religious toleration

Benjamin Franklin

  • Scientist and politician; electricity experiments (kite in thunderstorm)
  • One of America’s founding figures; promoted knowledge and rights

Georgia and the Prison Colony

  • Established by King George II in 1732
  • Founded as a debtor colony; buffer between South Carolina and Spanish Florida
  • Later evolves into a royal colony with broader purposes

European Rivalries in the Colonies

  • Imperial conflicts spilled over to the Americas
  • Wars fought in Europe and North America

The Seven Years’ War (French and Indian War)

  • Fought 1754-1763; led by George Washington for Britain
  • France loses major New World territory to Britain: Quebec, Montreal, Caribbean
  • Very expensive; leads to large war debt for Britain
  • Duration: 1754-1763 (~9 years)