Unit 1, Part 2: Colonial Life Government and Economy in the Colonies

Government England in 1500s and 1600s Relationship between monarchs and English nobles Magna Carta (1215) Nobles council to the King Parliament Colonists’ rights Colonial governments New England; republics with elected governers Other colonies; governor appointed by crown or lords proprietors

Government 1685, King James asserts royal power Revocation of New England government charters Dominion of New England 1689, The Glorious Revolution English Bill of Rights Massachusetts and Plymouth become one new colony Rhode Island and Connecticut allowed to keep original charters New York divided Zenger and criticism of NY governor leads to issues regarding freedom of the press

Economy Salutary neglect—England allowed its colonies self-rule, in exchange for cooperation with its economic policies and assistance with English wars against France and Spain Mercantilism Building power through developing industries and exporting manufactured goods Monarchs reduce foreign imports (i.e. wine from France) to colonies Taxes on imported goods Navigation Acts—only English ships could trade with English colonies Tobacco and sugar could only be shipped to England All goods shipped through English ports  duties or confiscation Pattern of trade between England, colonies, and West Africa  Transatlantic Trade Route/ Triangular Trade Route

Economy **The Transatlantic commerce produced a “consumer revolution” More and cheaper goods to the colonies Colonists wanted more and more European goods (beginning of excess) British manufacturers needed growing American market Both the middle class and the poor bought more than they could afford Trade imbalance  colonists imported more than they exported  debt

Immigration By ,000 Europeans lived in the colonies 90% came from England Half were indentured servants = poor immigrants who paid for passage to the colonies by agreeing to work for 4 to 7 years. Received basic food, clothing, and shelter Pattern of English immigration changed after 1660 The Scottish in the colonies Germans in Pennsylvania Diversity

Slavery During the 1600s, landowning colonists in the Chesapeake region needed workers to raise crops Initially, English indentured servants; but English immigration declined, while demand increased Slaves Differences between indentured servants and slaves (Very) early on Africans were treated like indentured servants (own land, vote, and enslave other Africans) New laws  Promotion of racist ideal of African / black inferiority

Slavery 1700s, 1.25 million slave from Africa shipped The brutality of the Middle Passage Slavery varied according to colonial region Development of a new culture by African Americans

Religion During the mid-1700s many colonists came to America to freely practice their religion However, in NE = intolerant; Middle colonies = tolerant and diverse Churches filled a key role in social life  served as a public space for reading govt proclamations, laws, and holding elections The Great Awakening Led to democratic beliefs

Regional Patterns The vast majority of people in the 13 colonies were farmers Colonies lacked industries By mid-1700s, colonies developed regional distinctions Variations in geography, climate, and demographics explain differences New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine) Cold winters, short growing season = no crops for sale Raised livestock and grew wheat, rye, and potatoes for food Shipped lumber and fish; Boston was the principal seaport Few African Americans Middle Class settlers Cleaner healthier environment  longer life span and rapid population growth Schools, better education, and more economic equality

Regional Patterns Middle Colonies (Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware) Temperate climate; better farmland for wheat (major export)  strong economy in 1700’s in MC, not in NE NY and Philadelphia were the largest seaports Few African Americans European Settlers  most ethnically and culturally diverse region Southern colonies (Maryland, Virginia, Carolinas, and Georgia) Warmer climate, longer growing season  profitable farming of “cash crops” Chesapeake colonies, VA and MD, harvested tobacco Carolinas and Georgia  lumber, rice, and indigo (and later “king cotton”) African Americans made up majority of population Most settlers were poor white men Difficult to sustain schools and churches (dispersion); severe economic inequality