American Identity Early 1700’s

1. American IdentityEarly 1700’s

2. I. Land, Rights, and Wealth • Cheap farmland and plenty of natural resources • In England fewer than 5% owned land • Land ownership gave colonists political rights • Only white male land owners were allowed to vote

3. II. Colonial Social Ranks • High • Large landowners • Church, government officials • Wealthy merchants • Upper middle • Small farmers and trades people • Lower middle • Renters and unskilled workers • Low • Slaves, indentured servants

4. III. Women and young people at work • Most farm women made things their families needed • Women would also trade with other families • Average families had 6 to 8 children • More children meant more workers • As young as 3 or 4yr olds were expected to be useful • At age 11 boys left home to be an apprentice

5. IV. School • Only wealthy families went to school for writing and arithmetic • New England- 85% white men could read • Middle colonies- 60% • Southern colonies- 50% • England- only 60% could read

6. V. Books • Colonial readers supported a publishing industry • Newspapers, almanacs, and regional histories were popular • Books drew colonies together

7. VI. The Great Awakening • Traveling ministers preached that inner religious emotion was more important than outward religious behavior • Congregations began to split apart • Many joined Baptists and other Protestant churches • Churches gained 20,000-50,000 followers • Awakening encouraged equality and right to challenge authority

8. VII. The Enlightenment • Stressed learning about science and purpose • It began in Europe as scientists began to unlock the laws of the Universe • John Lock argued that people had the rights of life, liberty, and property • Enlightenment ideas caused colonists to question England's authority