Life in Colonial America

1. Life in Colonial America

2. Why was New England more stable than the Chesapeake Region? • NE colonists tended to arrive in family units, large families • Chesapeake colonists were young single males who arrived as indentured servants • Chesapeake Region had a much higher death rate among colonists ( diseases- malaria, dysentery) • NE less disease and cleaner water • The ratio of males to females in Chesapeake was much more imbalanced, than NE making it difficult to find a wife and start a family • Population increased faster in NE allowing for the development of stable communities • Life span in NE about 70years, Chesapeake about 50years

3. New England Economy • Harsh climate and rocky soil made farming difficult • Short fast rivers and good harbors • Believed in owning and improving land • Land usually given to congregations and towns subdivided among family • Turned to shipbuilding, commerce, whaling and fishing to make a living

4. Middle Colonies Economy • Known as the “breadbasket” of the colonies • Climate and soil produced a grain surplus • Large slower rivers allowed for fur trade and transportation • Major cities Philadelphia and New York City • Merchants and artisans flourished

5. Southern Economy • Based on cash crops- tobacco, rice and cotton • Based on plantation system- wealthy landowners used slaves to harvest cash crops • Wealthy landowners controlled economy and politics • Small farmers- owned a 1 or 2 slaves, struggled to make living • Landless whites- worked as laborers for low wages • African slaves about 40% of population

6. John Peter Zenger • was jailed in NY 1735 because he criticized royal governor in his newspaper • Charged with seditious libel • His defense he printed the truth • Was acquitted • Basis for freedom of press

7. Education • New England • First public school system in the Americas • Based in religion • Literacy very important • Hornbook • New England Primer • Massachusetts law required towns of over 50 families to provide elementary school

8. The New England Primer

9. The New England Primer

10. Education: Middle and Southern Colonies • Middle Colonies • Generally private and religiously based • Southern Colonies • Private tutors • Broad education • Classics (Latin and Greek) and maybe French • History, Philosophy, and perhaps Science • Music

11. Education • Colleges

12. New colleges founded after the Great Awakening.

13. Phillis Wheatley • Slave girl who was taught to read • and write • 1st important African American • writer • Proof that blacks were not • intellectually inferior

14. Benjamin Franklin • Seen as the symbolic American and as • personification of the Enlightenment • Self educated- was a painter, scientist, • inventor, statesmen and writer • Invented lightning rod, bifocal glasses • highly efficient stove • Wrote Poor Richard’s Almanack • 1) writings of many thinkers of • the day • 2) emphasized thrift, industry • morality and common sense • 3) only the bible read more

15. THE ENLIGHTENMENT AND THE GREAT AWAKENING • 1700s: An intellectual movement known as the Enlightenment began in Europe and a religious movement known as the Great Awakening started in the Colonies • The Enlightenment emphasized reason, science, and observation and led to the discovery of natural laws • Copernicus, Galileo, Franklin and Newton were key figures

16. THE GREAT AWAKENING • The Great Awakening was a spiritual renewal that swept the American Colonies • 1st mass social movement in American History • Main issues- religious style, personal faith, church practice and public decorum • Deepest effect on young people • Movement stressed the importance of the individual

17. THE GREAT AWAKENING • Reasons it arouse • 1) movement toward secularism- certain practices should exist separate from religion • 2) influential preachers • 3) colonial instability, looking to god for help • 4) dissatisfied with traditional Puritan church services

18. Jonathan Edwards • Jonathan Edwards was a Puritan priest was credited with starting Great Awakening • Fire & Brimstone style of worship; large, emotionally charged crowds • Rejection of salvation by works, affirmed need for complete dependence on grace of god • (sinners in the hands of an Angry God)

19. The Great Awakening • Orator George Whitefield followed, touring colonies, led revivals, countless conversions, inspired imitators • Most influential figure of the movement • Founded the Methodist Church in Georgia and SC George Whitefield

20. Old Lights vs. New Lights • Old Lights- God existed and created the world - denied God communicated with man in any form - got to have if good, skeptical of emotionalism • New Lights- heaven by salvation by grace through Jesus Christ - challenged traditional authority - divided congregations - used emotion to inspire followers

21. Results of Great Awakening • Split denominations thus increasing religious competition in American • Brought religion to many who had lost touch with it • Undermined older clergy • Encouraged new wave of missionary work among slaves and Indians • Founding of New Light Colleges- Dartmouth, Brown, Rutgers, Princeton