Chapter 5 Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolu6on, 1700–1775 In what ways did the growth of the colonial popula5on, both in numbers and diversity, help the development of a dis5nct new society in early-­‐mid 1700s? Conquest by the Cradle •  One of the defining characteris6cs of the thirteen colonies was “lusty” popula6on growth –  1700 – 300,000 colonists –  1775 – 2.5 million colonists What factors would lead massive popula5on growth? How would this affect the poli5cal balance between the colonies and Great Britain? A Mingling of the Races •  German-­‐Speaking People –  6% of the popula6on –  fleeing religious persecu6on, economic oppression, and war –  primarily Lutheran –  No loyalty to the Bri6sh Crown/government –  Held on to their tradi6ons and customs A Mingling of the Races •  Scots-­‐Irish –  7% of the popula6on –  originally from Scotland –  were experienced colonizers who se[led on the fron6er •  No problem with figh6ng/killing American Indians –  “pugnacious, lawless, individualis6c” •  Paxton Boys and the Regulator Movement –  no love for the Bri6sh A Mingling of the Races •  Other groups: –  Less than 5% of the popula6on made up of French Huguenots, Welsh, Dutch, Swedes, Jews, Irish, Swiss, and Scots –  Largest non-­‐English group was Africans (20%) What is an American? -­‐ Crevecour Reading Figure 5-1 p80
The Structure of Colonial Society •  “A shining land of equality and opportunity” compared to Europe –  unless you were a slave –  Social ladder was wide open early on •  By 1770, there were signs of stra6fica6on and barriers to mobility –  Due to numerous wars and an evolving economy The Structure of Colonial Society •  New England –  Size of farms shrank over 6me…why? •  South –  Planters owned large tracts of lands and most of the slaves –  Large gap between “gentry” and poor whites –  Indentured servants con6nued to come –  Slave trade con6nued •  led to fear of slave rebellion •  Were efforts to stop the slave trade, but were vetoed by the Bri6sh Dominant Denomina6ons •  Two “established” churches by 1775-­‐ –  Anglican Church •  Official religion in Georgia, N and S Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and a part of NY •  Imposed on addi6onal colonies, with opposi6on •  Clergy supported Britain and the king •  Problems-­‐ –  More worldly than religious –  Shorter sermons, hell not-­‐so-­‐bad, amusements were acceptable –  No resident bishop to preside over young ministers –  Congrega6onal Church •  Grown out of the Puritan Church •  Established in all of the New England colonies, except R.I •  Clergy began preaching sedi6on and rebellion •  Problems-­‐ –  Ministers turned from the Bible to more burning poli6cal issues of the day –  Presbyterianism-­‐ closely associated with Congrega6onalism was never made official in any colony •  Major challenge for religion-­‐ large amount of popula6on did not worship at any church, small minority actually belonged to a church Table 5-1 p86
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The Great Awakening •  Causes –  The Puritan churches’ elaborate theological doctrines –  Liberal ideas were beginning to challenge the old-­‐6me religion –  Jacobus Arminius-­‐ preached that individual free will determined a person’s eternal fate-­‐ spiritual conversion was not necessary for church membership The Great Awakening •  1730s and 1740s •  First started in Northampton, Mass by Jonathan Edwards –  “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” –  Preached the need for complete dependence on God’s grace, not salva6on through good works –  4 years later-­‐ George Whitefield The Great Awakening •  Old Lights vs. New Lights •  Old Lights –  Orthodox clergy –  Skep6cal of the emo6onalism of the revivalists •  New Lights –  Defended the Awakening for its role in revitalizing American religion The Great Awakening •  Effects –  Undermined the older clergy –  Increased the number and compe66on of American churches –  Encouraged a new wave of missionary work –  “New Light” centers of learning-­‐ Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth –  First mass movement of the American people •  Broke down sec6onal boundaries, growing sense of a single group of people p88
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XI. Pioneer Presses •  Prior to 1775, most Americans were too poor or too busy to read books •  Most commonly read material would be the newspaper, 40 newspapers by eve of rev. –  Proved to be powerful for airing colonial grievances and rallying opposi6on to Bri6sh control Zenger Trial •  Celebrated legal case, 1734-­‐1735 •  Zenger’s newspaper a[acked the corrupt royal governor, was charged with libel •  Zenger’s defense-­‐ liberty of exposing and opposing arbitrary power was at stake •  Importance-­‐ –  Achievement for freedom of the press, democracy –  Led the way for open public discussions –  Helped establish the doctrine that true statements about public officials could not be prosecuted as libel