Chapter 5

1. Chapter 5 Life in the English Colonies (1630 – 1770)

2. Section 1 Forms of Government

3. Colonial Governments • Privy Council set English policy in the colonies – allowed most to run own affairs • Each colony had a governor (head of government) • Most assisted by advisory council • Job was to carry out policies set by England

4. Colonial Assemblies • In the colonies the government was based on Parliament, the English lawmaking body (bicameral legisltature-2 houses) • Colonial assemblies had the power to • Raise taxes and organize local governments. • Shared control of the military with the governor. • And approve laws • Virginia’s Assembly (Jamestown 1619) first colonial legislature in North America • First house-Council of State • Second House-House of Burgess (elected by colonists) • Town meetings are center of politics; governor has final say if there is a disagreement; developed tradition of holding 2 or more a year

5. Colonial Courts • Colonists used courts to control local affairs • Supported interests and ideas of their communities • Ex. Laws in Massachusetts enforced Puritan’s religious views (efforts to combine church and state) • Sometimes protected individual freedoms • Ex. John Peter Zenger– freedom of the press • charged with committing libel (a false statement) against a public official • Andrew Hamilton, his attorney, argued he could publish whatever he wanted as long as it was true • jury’s verdict = not guilty

6. Dominion of New England King James II • King James II became King of England and was determined to take more control of England and the colonies. • Dominion of New England united the northern colonies under one government • Edmund Andros was the appointed royal governor • Limited powers of towns meetings to prevent protests

7. The Glorious Revolution • King James tried to change England from a Protestant country to a Catholic one. • The Glorious Revolution was when William and Mary overthrew James without a single blood dropped. Mary was James’ daughter and she was asked by England to become queen. • English Bill of Rights- (representative body) Powers of Monarch were reduced and Parliament gained power.

8. William and Mary

9. Section 2 The Growth of Trade

10. English Trade Laws • In the late 1600s England practiced mercantilism-system that created and maintained wealth by controlling trade • Nation could be self sufficient if it had a good balance of trade (fewer imports than exports)

11. English Trade Laws-cont’d • 1650-1696 Parliament passed the Navigation Acts-required colonies to do most of their trade with England. Also set duties (import taxes) • English laws limited free enterprise, economic trade with little government control • They did this by preventing colonists from buying or selling directly with foreign countries

12. Colonial Trade • 1733, Parliament passed Molasses Act, placed duties on sugar, molasses and rum • Colonists responded by smuggling goods in • Some merchants took part in triangular trade • Colonies traded with West Indies, then shipped goods to Britain

13. Triangular Trade

14. Middle Passage • Middle Passage was the voyage that brought slaves across the Atlantic to the Americas • Many died during the voyage • Lasted Three months • Legs and necks were chained. • Cramped spaces. • Some colonists opposed the slave trade • Quakers in Germantown, PA made 1st recorded protest against slavery

15. Middle Passage cont’d

16. Section 3 The Colonial Economy

17. Agriculture in the Southern Colonies • Farms in the south did well because of the warm climate and long growing season • Many farms grew cash crops-crops sold for profit • Tobacco (VA), rice, and indigo (SC) were most important cash crops • Slave codes passed – laws to control slaves • Colonies with large number of slaves had strictest codes • South Carolina’s slaves could not hold meetings or own weapons • Some colonies did not allow slaveholders to free slaves • Virginia Assembly passed law allowing people to kill runaway slaves that resisted

18. Industry and Trade in New England • Few grew cash crops because of harsh climate and rocky soil • Few slaves • Trade was vital to New England’s economy • Entrepreneurs traded locally and overseas • Fishing and shipbuilding were the two leading industries • Shipbuilding prospered because region had plenty of forests and local fishing industry needed ships • Diverse economy needed skilled craftspeople • Apprentices learned blacksmithing, weaving, shipbuilding, and printing

19. Middle Colonies • Good growing season and rich land-could grow large amounts of food • Middle colonies grew staple crops (crops that are needed) – wheat, barley and oats • Indentured servants largely filled labor needs • Trade and free enterprise important • By the mid-1700s Philadelphia had become one of the largest British colonial cities

20. Women and the Economy • Ran farms and businesses (clothing and grocery stores, bakeries, drug stores) • Some women practiced medicine, often as nurses or midwives • Colonial laws and customs limited women’s economic activities • Married women could not work outside the home without her husband’s permission • Husband had the right to keep money she earned • Most worked in the home, managed households and raised children

21. Section 4 The Great Awakening

22. Words of the Great Awakening • Revivals were held to bring back sense of religious (emotional gatherings where people came together to hear sermons and declare their faith) • Because of the revivals many colonists experienced “a great awakening” in their religious lives • Great Awakening reached its height in the 1730s and 1740s – widespread Christian movement involving sermons and revivals

23. Words of the Great Awakening cont’d • Jonathan Edwards was one of the most important leaders of the Great Awakening • Pastor that urged sinners to seek forgiveness for sins or face punishment in hell forever • Author of Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God • A British minister George Whitefield, one of the most popular ministers of the G.A., helped thousands of colonists found new faith in Christianity • Because of Whitefield • Ministers preached all people were born sinners who could only be saved by the will of God

24. George Whitefield

25. Old and New Lights • “Old Lights” – traditionalists • “New Lights” – followers of the Great Awakening • Presbyterian Church in middle colonies changed • Gilbert Tennent led new movement attacking traditionalists • Church split into two groups – “Old Side” and “New Side” • Church attendance greatly increased in middle and southern colonies (particularly in Virginia) • Much of this growth took place among Baptists and Methodists • Great Awakening influential on frontier • Traveling preachers held revivals • Important because there were few churches

26. Gilbert Tennent

27. The Great Awakening and Society • Women welcomed the message • Free and enslaved Africans were drawn to message of acceptance and spiritual equality • Despite equality message, revivals separated by race • Before the Great Awakening, there was little communication between people living in different colonies • Changed as ministers moved about, exchanging ideas • Led some colonists to begin demanding political equality • Revivals were popular places to talk about political and social issues

28. Section 5 American Culture

29. New Ideas in Europe • During 1600s Europeans began to experiment more and make new discoveries. Their new ideas about the universe became known as the Scientific Revolution. This revolution began in math and astronomy. • Galileo Galilei-one leading figure, demonstrated that planets revolve around the sun • Late 1600s Isaac Newton developed much of the scientific method.

30. New Ideas in Europe cont’d • Scientific Revolution also changed how people viewed human actions-Age of Reason or the Enlightenment. • Enlightenment philosophers used reason and logic. They studied human nature and suggested ways to improve the world • Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu formed ideas about how government should best serve people

31. John Locke • John Locke believed that people had natural rights such as equality and liberty. People should obey their rulers if the state protected their life, liberty, and property

32. Colonial Education • More schools in New England than in Middle and Southern colonies • Valued ability to read the Bible • Wanted to make future generations of educated ministers so they created town schools • Schoolchildren often used the New England Primer – characters and stories from the Bible • Middle and southern colonies – children often lived far from towns; had to be taught by parents or tutors • Most stopped education after elementary grades

34. Colonial Education • First college founded in English colonies was Harvard • Nine colleges were established – most in the middle colonies and in New England • Classes focused on religion • Men studied sciences or law

35. Colonial Scientists • Scientists taught themselves by observing the world around them • American Philosophical Society – founded in Philadelphia for the study of science by Benjamin Franklin • Members wanted to improve communication among colonial scientists • David Rittenhouse – society’s second president; designed mathematical and astronomical instruments

36. Colonial Scientists Benjamin Banneker – free African American who lived in Maryland; predicted a solar eclipse; first colonist to build a clock

37. Benjamin Franklin • Most famous colonial scientist • Started the most successful newspaper in the colonies – also published Poor Richard’s Almanack (1732-1757) • Believed that reason could be used to make life better • Invented useful devices • Lightning rod reduced risk of fire started by electrical storms, Franklin stove heated homes effectively, and bifocals corrected far- and nearsightedness • Flew kite during lightning storm to prove lightning = form of electricity

38. Colonial Writers and Artists • Anne Bradstreet wrote poetry about her family and her faith • Phillis Wheatley was one of the first African Americans to be published. Wrote On Being Brought from Africa to America. She described how Christianity changed her life • Robert Feke became a widely admired painter