Chapter Four Notes

1. Pluralism of the Colonies

   1. Many different types of people, cultures, and religions were accepted in the colonies

      1. How does this differ from Europe?

         1. In Europe there was one dominant culture and religion 

   2. “E pluribus Unum”

      1. Latin for “ ”out of many, one”

      2. In America, we have different religions, ethnic groups, cultures, languages, and we are all American

   3. Largest number of newcomers to America 1775 were black slaves 

      1. On the eve of the American Revolution one in five Americans were black

2. New Cultures created 

   1. By 1750, “American” was commonly used in colonial culture

      1. Importance: Colonists no longer saw themselves as ONLY British

   2. New American dialect 

      1. Raccoon, skunk, banjo, cookies, waffles, yankee, plaid, bullfrog

      2. Importance: New words separates Americans even more

   3. Religious tolerance: 

      1. All religions in the New World are accepted and respected 

3. Colonies had to be carved out of the wilderness

   1. Very tedious, backbreaking work

   2. Took a lifetime to clear a decent sized farm

4. Labor  

   1. Indentured Servants

      1. Promised to work for a specific period of time in exchange for passage from Europe to the colonies 

      2. Bought and sold like property

      3. Lived under harsh conditions and, many died before they ‘earned’ their freedom

         1. Why would someone become an Indentured Servant?

            1. For religious freedom, or to provide a better life for his family

   2. Slavery 

      1. As supply of white indentured servants sharply declined, slavery exploded in the colonies

5. "Middle Passage” (Part of Triangular Trade Route)

   1. A trip to West Africa across the Atlantic Ocean, to the West Indies

   2. Slaves were packed into the holds of ships, suffered intense heat, sickness, and depression

      1. Africans were stolen from their tribes and sold into slavery. 

   3. 1 out 7 slaves died during the trip

   4. John Newton

      1. Slave ship captain who later becomes a preacher and abolitionist (against slavery)

      2. Spoke of the ills of slave trade and was a leader in England eventually outlawing the slave trade 

      3. Wrote the lyrics to “Amazing Grace”

A Life on the Middle Passage

1. Packing the Slave Ship

   1. Tight packing: Ship packed with as many slaves as possible

   2. Loose packing: Slaves were given room to turn around 

2. Hardship On board 

   1. 1400 miles to the new world- 9 to 12 weeks on board

   2. Suicide

   3. Terrible Situation

      1. Rats and bugs

      2. Dead next to the living

      3. Poor drinking water and spoiled food

      4. Dysentery and Smallpox

Colonial Social Movements 

1. Great Awakening (1730-1750)  

   1. Facing decline of church attendance, the Awakening has begun by ministers

   2. It sought to counter both materialism and secularism 

      1. Materialism: money and possessions

      2. Secularism: Items of this world that are not religious

   3. God’s will could only be understood by the heart and soul alone, not through the mind

      1. Don’t think just believe

   4. The message was carried through all cities and rural areas by famed “evangelists” 

      1. England’s George Whitfield (Booming voice)

      2. Jonathan Edwards: most famous colonial evangelist

   5. The Awakening introduced the “hell fire and damnation” sermon

      1. “O sinner” 

      2. Produced many conversions: preachers trying to get colonists back to religion

   6. The importance of the Great Awakening 

      1. Secured that America would always have many religions 

         1. Pluralism

         2. All religions accepted and respected in the colonies

      2. The anti-authoritarian (Against King George the III) and anti-corruption (Against wrong doing) combative attitude of the Great Awakening “sowed the seeds” of revolt against Great Britain and led colonists toward revolution

         1. Sowed the seeds: Gave colonists thoughts 

2. Salutary Neglect ( Big ignore )

   1. England was ignoring   

      1. Why?

         1. Distance across the Atlantic Ocean

         2. England became involved in conflicts

         3. The colonies were not considered important until too late

   2. Results of Salutary Neglect 

      1. Power of the colonial assemblies increased 

         1. The colonists got used to making their own decisions

      2. “Power of the Purse” 

         1. The colonists got used to making decisions about their money and did not like taxes

      3. Right to veto

         1. Colonists started to ignore some of the King’s laws

Colonial Conflict 

1. Seven Years War 

   1. French and Indian War (French and Indians vs English and Colonists)

   2. British defeated the French and signed the Treaty of Paris (That’s where it was signed)

   3. Treaty of Paris 

      1. England gained Canada and French lands east of the Mississippi River 

      2. Spain, ally of the French, lost Florida to the British 

   4. England plunged into huge debt

      1. Why will this become important?

         1. Britain made the colonists pay for the war through taxes

2. England had to gain control (Salutary Neglect) of the colonies to make them pay for the war debt

   1. Proclamation of 1763

      1. Closed off all lands west of the Appalachians

      2. Why did the King close western lands?

         1. “To keep them safe”

            1. The king just doesn’t want another war

         2. To keep the colonists close to the coast 

            1. It allows the King and his Redcoats to easier keep control of the colonists

            2. Easier to collect taxes

         3. Protect lucrative (rich) British fur trade

      3. Colonists felt cheated because they had fought in the war and wanted land 

   2. Quartering act 

      1. Colonial cites must provide food and shelter for the Royal troops