Colonial Society and Culture Notes

Population Growth

  • 1701: 250,000 Europeans and Africans

  • 1775: 2,500,000 total population; African population increased from 28,000 to 500,000.

  • Factors: immigration (1 million) and high birthrate due to fertile land and food.

European Immigrants

  • Origins: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, and German states.

  • Motivations: religious persecution, wars, economic opportunities.

  • Settlement: Middle colonies and western frontier of southern colonies.

  • Groups:

    • Germans: settled in Pennsylvania, maintained culture, 6\%$% of population by 1775.

    • Scotch-Irish: Northern Ireland, settled along the frontier, 7\%$% of population by 1775.

    • Other Europeans: French Huguenots, Dutch, Swedes (5\%$% of population).

Enslaved Africans

  • Forced migration, worked as laborers, bricklayers, blacksmiths, mainly field laborers.

  • 1775: African Americans were 20\%$% of population, mostly in southern colonies.

  • Some gained freedom but faced discrimination.

American Indians

  • Conflicts with settlers due to colonial growth.

  • Alliances formed (Powhaten, Iroquois) for land protection.

  • Relations varied; Pennsylvania had peaceful relations through treaties.

Colonial Society

  • Characterized by English origin, language, and tradition, but influenced by diverse cultures.

  • Liberty and Opportunity:

    • Religious Toleration: varying degrees, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania were most open.

    • No Hereditary Aristocracy: Class system based on economics, with landowners at the top.

    • Social Mobility: White residents had opportunities to improve living standards through hard work.

The Family

  • Center of colonial life, early marriage and more children due to economy and food supply.

  • Over $$90\%$% lived on farms, higher standard of living than in Europe.

  • Men: farmers, artisans, property owners, participants in politics.

  • Women: bore an average of eight children, performed multiple tasks; limited legal and political rights.

The Economy

  • By 1750s, Britain's trade heavily relied on American colonies.

  • Limited colonial manufacturing, emphasis on agriculture, forestry, and fishing.
    New England: subsistence farming, logging, shipbuilding, fishing, trading, and rum-distilling.

  • Middle Colonies: wheat and corn for export, small manufacturing, growth of cities like Philadelphia and New York.

  • Southern Colonies: varied agriculture (tobacco, timber, rice, indigo), plantations relying on slave labor.

Religion

  • Mostly Protestants with regional diversity.

  • New England: Congregationalists, Presbyterians.

  • New York: Reformed Church, Anglicans.

  • Pennsylvania: Lutherans, Mennonites, Quakers.

  • Southern Colonies: Anglicans, Catholics in Maryland.

  • Challenges: discrimination against Jews, Catholics, Quakers; resentment towards the Church of England.

  • Established Churches: tax support for Protestant denominations, gradually reduced due to diversity.

The Great Awakening

  • 1730s-1740s: a movement of fervent religious feeling.

  • Jonathan Edwards: "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."

  • George Whitefield: Preached across colonies, emphasizing faith in Jesus Christ.

  • Religious Impact: emotionalism, splits in denominations, rise of Baptists and Methodists, call for separation of church and state.

  • Political Influence: common experience for colonists, challenged authority.

Cultural Life

  • Arts and Sciences: Georgian architecture, itinerant artists, Benjamin West and John Copley.

  • Literature: religious and political writings, Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack, Phillis Wheatley, Charles Brockden Brown.

  • Science: botanists like John Bartram, Benjamin Franklin's work with electricity.

Education

  • Basic education varied, mainly for males.

  • Elementary Education: tax-supported schools in New England, church-sponsored or private schools in middle colonies, tutors in southern colonies.

  • Higher Education: sectarian colleges (Harvard, William and Mary, Yale), College of Philadelphia (nonsectarian).

Professions

  • Ministry: respected profession.

  • Physicians: training as apprentices, first medical college in 1765.

  • Lawyers: gained respect arguing for colonial rights (John Adams, James Otis, Patrick Henry).

The Press

  • Newspapers: provided news, ads, essays.

  • The Zenger Case: John Peter Zenger acquitted of libel, encouraged newspapers to criticize the government.

The Enlightenment

  • 18th-century European movement emphasizing reason and natural rights.

  • John Locke: natural laws, sovereignty resides with the people, right to revolt.

Colonial Relationship with Britain

  • Colonies were developing distinct American viewpoint and way of life.

  • Development of colonial identity reflected diverging interests.

Politics and Government

  • Similar systems of government by 1750.

  • Governor as chief executive, legislature with two houses.

    • Lower house (elected) and upper house/council (appointed).

  • Local Government: town meetings in New England, county officials in the South.

  • Voting: restricted to landowning White males, greater self-government compared to Europe.