1 / 39

American Life in the 17 th Century (1607-1692)

American Life in the 17 th Century (1607-1692). AP US History Mr. Long. Unhealthy Chesapeake. Characteristics of Southern Colonies Disease took its toll early (10yrs cut from life expectancy) 50% of babies died Settlements grew slowly Men outnumber women 6:1

Download Presentation

American Life in the 17 th Century (1607-1692)

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. American Life in the 17th Century (1607-1692) AP US History Mr. Long

  2. Unhealthy Chesapeake • Characteristics of Southern Colonies • Disease took its toll early (10yrs cut from life expectancy) • 50% of babies died • Settlements grew slowly • Men outnumber women 6:1 • Colonies have their early struggles but the colonists push through these tough times.

  3. Tobacco Economy • The South was bad for settlement but great for tobacco • Tobacco= cash crop/savior of the south • Supply Price = Farmers plant more/more land • More Crop = Need for More Labor • Where will this new source of labor come from?

  4. Tobacco Economy • Indentured Servants: Chief source of labor for the early colonies was white indentured servants from England. • 4-7 yr terms in exchange for passage to new world and eventual “freedom dues” • Reasons for Ind. Servants: • The Settlers (south) were not reproducing fast enough • African slaves are to expensive • Indians die to quickly

  5. Tobacco Economy • Headright System: • Whoever paid for the passage of the indentured servants got 50 acres of land (Masters are reaping the benefits) • As time progressed land became more scarce and the indentured servants would have to hire themselves back out. • By 1700 over 100,000 indentured servants had come to New World. • ¾ of population in Maryland and Virginia

  6. Frustrated Freeman and Bacon’s Rebellion • Bacon’s Rebellion: • 1676 • 1,000 indentured servants/poor farmers under Nathaniel Bacon went on a rampage of plundering and pilfering • Reason: Colonial government would not protect rural farmers from Indian attacks. • Why did this scare Virginians? • What is the Result? • Plantation owners (minority) looking for less troublesome workers. “Eyes turn to Africa”

  7. Colonial Slavery • In 17th Century most African slave labor still went to sugar plantations in Caribbean. • African slaves don’t become substantial source of labor in North America until 1700. • Reasons for Increase in African Slaves: • Bacon’s Rebellion • Wages went up in England = less poor whites coming to New World • In 1698 the Royal African Company lost its charter (had monopoly on slave trade) • By 1750 African Slaves = ½ Population in Virginia and outnumber whites in S.C. 2:1

  8. Colonial Slavery • Middle Passage: Name given to the trip from West Africa to the New World on slave ships. • These trips were fatal due to conditions (20% death rate) • Slavery began for economic reasons but by 1700 racial differences begin molding the American system. • Slave Codes: • As early as 1662 (S.C) • Made slavery extremely tough life (lifetime terms for slave and children) • Created a distinction between white servants and black slaves

  9. Africans In America • Deep South (Caribbean): • Toughest conditions for slaves (heat, work is harder, no women, high death rate) • Chesapeake: • Tobacco is an easier crop to work • Plantations bigger (more slaves) and closer together so there is more contact with friends and relatives. • More females = family life is possible = natural reproduction = less cost for masters.

  10. Africans In America • Revolts: • Many revolts due to a “natural desire for freedom” • Stono Revolt: • 1739 • Slave revolt in S.C.; slaves attempted to reach Spanish Florida but were stopped by colonial militia.

  11. Southern Society (Life = Tough) • Slavery defines the social structure of the South • As it spread the gap between wealthy and poor increased • Large Spread Out Plantations • No real towns (very rural society) • Southern Life revolved around plantation system!

  12. Southern Society (Life = Tough) • Southern Aristocratic Structure • Plantation Owners: hard working businesslike lot. They owned land and controlled the politics but nothing like the aristocrats in Europe. This is a distinct American Culture • Small Farmers: far below plantation owners. Owned small plots and few slaves. There were subsistence farmers. (farmed to survive). • Landless Whites: former indentured servants. No land, so many had to hire themselves out. • Indentured Servants: Serving 4-7yr service terms • African Slaves:

  13. New England Family (Life = Good) • Characteristics of Northern Colonies: • Settlers added 10yrs to lifespan (clean water, cool temp = less spread of disease) • Migrated as families, not singles (natural reproduction) • Long life= stability (multi-generational guidance) • Small villages/towns: result in close knit groups (religion, geography) • Towns were orderly (Education, church led to democratic gov)

  14. Halfway Convent & Salem Witch Trials • At this time the zeal of the Puritans seems to be diminishing • Halfway Convent: The practice that children of the baptized but not yet converted “elect” could also be baptized. • Churches wanted membership up • Many thought this weakened the Puritan church • No distinction between “elect” and church membership anymore. • Jeremiad:form of preaching, preachers scolded parishioners for their waning piety (warned of the pain of Hell) • Salem Witch Trials (1692): A group of young girls accused an older women of being a witch and practicing witchcraft on them

  15. New England Way of Life • Puritan Work Ethic: • NE had bad soil = no real need for slaves, but there is a need for industry • Puritans were hard workers • Bad soil and strong sermons = not as many profit hungry farmers • Indian Relations • Ideals of land differed greatly • Whites = money, Indians = life/religion

  16. New England Way of Life • Good Harbors • They were expert ship builders and fisherman (cod) • Movement • B/C there was bad soil many settlers spread out across the continent (west) which spread NE ideals • Organized towns • Democracy • Schools • Religion • Etc.

  17. Early Settlers Days and Ways (1600-1700) • The overwhelming majority of settlers wee small farmers • Compared to England the colonists of America lived in abundance • Cheap Land • Lots of Food • High Wages (3x more than England) • Americans have their own culture • Those who tried to live by old world society led to rebellion (Bacon’s)

  18. Early Settlers Days and Ways (1600-1700) • Overall New World = Equality and Democracy (for whites) • Colonists are framing their own identity by 1700 • Self Government • Self Taxation • Land Owners • Religious Freedom

  19. Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution (1700-1775) AP US History Mr. Long

  20. Look for distinguishing characteristics the colonies shared! • America has a distinct social, economic and political structure: An “American Way of Life” • Other British colonies DID NOT

  21. Conquest By The Cradle • There is serious population growth in the New World • 1700: 300,000 people • 1775: 2.5 Million people • Most of this population boom is from natural fertility (whites in the North, blacks in the South) • Political Consequences for England • 1700: 20 English for 1 colonists • 1775: 3 – 1 • We begin to see a power shift but colonial focus is still to the East (England) not West yet.

  22. Mingling the Races • America is a melting pot from the beginning • Germans: 6% by 1775 • Fleeing Religious persecution, economic oppression and ravages of war. • Settled mainly in Pa (Pa Dutch) • Built solid, permanent homes • No deep rooted loyalty to English (TREND)

  23. Scots-Irish: 7% by 1775 • Did not get along w/ Catholics in Ireland, economic (restrictions by English on wool) • Settled in Pa (West) down Alleghany barrier down to S.C. • Had no love for English (treatment in Ireland, English made them move)(TREND)

  24. Other European Groups: 5% by 1775 • No loyalty to British (TREND) • Africans: 20% by 1775 • 90% of African population is in the South by 1775 (Slaves) • Diversity • NE: mostly original Puritan immigrants = least ethnic diversity • Middle: bulk of white immigrants = variety of people but mostly white • South: Black and White (Diverse) • Mixed African tribes = Unique African American culture forming. • We see the foundations for a multicultural American National Identity!

  25. The Structure of Colonial Society • Compared to Europe, America is a shining land of equality and opportunity (except slavery) • Cheap/Accessible Land-Majority of population were small farmers. • Social Mobility- possible to go from indenture d servant to landowner (Rare in OW) • Wages are higher- 3x higher then England • Freedom of Religion • Democracy in infancy

  26. Structure of Colonial Society • Prior to Revolution we see rising worries of “Europeanization” in NW • 10% of Bostonians/Philadelphians owned 2/3 of taxable wealth. • Poor in NW increased (Widows, Orphans from war) but still less then England • NE farm size shrinking (no land left) due to generation of dividing • South: wealth in hands of few (plantation owners) • Slaves could not dream of escalating in class (Whites feared uprising)

  27. Work in America • Agriculture = biggest workforce/leading industry • 90% of population involved • South: tobacco, rice; Middle: Grain “Bread” colonies • Christian minister- most honored position (remember why many colonists came) • Physicians- not highly esteemed (poor training) • Lawyers- were looked down upon b/c noisy trouble making windbags • Fishing- • major industry in NE (Bad farm land, rocky) • Stimulated Ship building industry • More money then in Incan/Mayan conquests • Manufacturing (Secondary importance) • Not many skilled craftsman in colonies so they are expensive (Rely on England) • Lumber is the most important product (1/3 of English ships built in NW)

  28. Triangle Trade (Mercantilism, trade)

  29. Triangle Trade • Trade imbalances • Population boom in colonies means they need more goods from England but England doesn’t need more goods from NW = money problem • Results: • Search for new foreign markets = French West Indies/Spain • Molasses Act (1733): Prohibits the colonists trading with French West Indies. • Becomes a source of REVOLUTIONARY FUEL and leads to increased smuggling/bribing

  30. The Great Awakening (1730s-1740s) • Great Awakening: period of religious revival in American religious history. • The religious zeal (fire) of the Puritans had steadily decreased as time went on in colonies: WHY? • They are not being persecuted anymore • Time has passed (Think of retreat highs)

  31. The Great Awakening (1730s-1740s) • Two burdens of the Puritan Church • Elaborate theology • Compromising efforts to liberalize membership requirements • Biggest Threat to Puritan Church = Arminianism • Jacob Arminius preached that individual free will not God’s divine decree determined a person’s fate (anti-predestination) • All humans not just elect could receive God’s free grace!

  32. The Great Awakening (1730s-1740s) • Jonathan Edwards: • preached of the follies of believing in salvation through good works and affirmed the need for complete dependence on God’s grace. • Painted the picture of Hell and Eternal Torments in detail • Great orator • George Whitefield: • Great orator, it is said he could make people weep by merely speaking • Led tremendous revival meetings in NE

  33. The Great Awakening (1730s-1740s) • Old Lights v. New Light • The Old Lights (orthodox clergy) did not agree with the emotional spirituality of New Lights b/c they get their authority from education. • This create schisms which created more denominations and more competitiveness in churches • MOST IMPROTANT: It broke down sectional/denominational lines among Americans and was the first spontaneous mass movement of people. UNITY!

  34. Colonial Politics • Colonies had Two House Legislature • Upper House: appointed by the crown in royal colonies (8) or proprietor (3) • (2) colonies self-governed (Conn, RI) • Lower House: Elected by the people (property owners) Self Taxation w/ Representation = colonies hold dear to themselves

  35. Colonial Politics • Governors • Often able, some very corrupt • Hard to enforce laws from 3,000 miles away (colonists saw them as bothersome) • Colonists wouldn’t pay them if they didn’t get their way • Colonial Assemblies • Found ways to assert authority and get their own way (don’t pay governors)

  36. Colonial Politics • Local Governments • North: Town Meeting (Fit their society) • Middle: Mixed government (Town meeting/county gov) • South: County Government (more autocratic) • Remember: The colonies have been left to their own vices to run their own governments. (Independent minds) • Seeds of Democracy are planted in America • Free speech/press: Zenger, representative gov, equality of economic opportunity, toleration, education, etc.

  37. “American Culture” vs. English Culture

  38. “American Culture” v. English Culture • Colonists are still English in most customs but we begin to see trends towards a new “American Culture” • REMEMBER: • Colonists now have fewer ties to England, its been over 100 years since Jamestown. • They feel like their own nation = natural desire for freedom

  39. Colonial Folkways • Similarities of Colonies by 1750 • Basically English in language and custom • Protestant in religion • Some degree of ethnic/religious tolerance (not blacks) • Social mobility possible (not slaves) • Self government (not complete democracy) • Communication was improving (roads, waterways) Like a Patchwork Quilt each part slightly different but held together by common origins, ways of life, and common beliefs in toleration, economic development and self-rule

More Related