Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution THEME: Compared with its 17 th Century counterpart, 18 th Century colonial society became more complex and hierarchical, more ethnically and religiously diverse, and more economically and politically developed. Colonial culture, while still limited, took on distinctive American qualities in such areas as evangelical religion, education, freedom of the press and self-government.

English : Colonials : : million people in 13 colonies 90% pop. is rural VA, MA, PA, NC, MD are most populous 6% are Germans 7% Scots-Irish 20% African ???? Native American Middle Colonies most multi-ethnic

SOCIAL HIERARCHY Planters Small Farmers Former Indent Servants/Freemen Indentured Servants Slaves

Professions 90% people are involved in farming Ministers Fisherman Sailors Merchants Manufacturing Few doctors Few lawyers

Religion and the Great Awakening Anglicans dominant politically Congregationalists dominant socially, esp. in NE General religious freedom Declining Puritan fervor  Great Awakening 1730’s ’s Jonathan Edwards, “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God”

Petition for bail from accused witches, 1692 This is a copy of the actual petition signed by the accused witches of the Salem witchcraft trials. (Library of Congress) Petition for bail from accused witches, 1692 Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Jonathan Edwards The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes, than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince; and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. It is to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to hell the last night; that you was suffered to awake again in this world, after you closed your eyes to sleep. And there is no other reason to be given, why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God's hand has held you up. There is no other reason to be given why you have not gone to hell, since you have sat here in the house of God, provoking his pure eyes by your sinful wicked manner of attending his solemn worship. Yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell.

Education & Literature Puritans establish schools early. Why? Primary schools est. in Middle Colonies & South Colleges being opened, i.e. Harvard, William & Mary Artists: John Trumbull, Charles Wilson Peale, John Singleton Copley Writers: Ben Franklin, Phillis Wheatley Printing presses & Newspapers  ZENGER!!!

Phillis Wheatley As a child, Phillis Wheatley was brought from Africa and sold to a Boston couple who came to recognize and encourage her literary talent. Wheatley's patriotic poetry won approval from George Washington and praise from many revolutionary leaders. She died free but in poverty in the 1780s. (Library of Congress) Phillis Wheatley Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

The burning of Zenger's New York Weekly Journal (Bettman Archive)

John Peter ZENGER, pp Criticized corruption of royal governor of NY Charged with seditious libel Defended by Andrew Hamilton Truth established as defense against libel Bolstered freedom of the press Found Not Guilty by jury

Monday, November, 1733: It is indeed urged that the liberty of the press ought to be restrained because not only the actions of evil ministers may be exposed, but the character of good ones traduced. Admit it in the strongest light that calumny and lies would prevail and blast the character of a great and good minister; yet that is a less evil than the advantages we reap from the liberty of the press, as it is a curb, a bridle, a terror, a shame, and restraint to evil ministers; and it may be the only punishment, especially for a time. But when did calumnies and lies ever destroy the character of one good minister? Their benign influences are known, tasted, and felt by everybody: Or if their characters have been clouded for a time, yet they have generally shined forth in greater luster: Truth will always prevail over falsehood. The facts exposed are not to be believed because said or published; but it draws people's attention, directs their view, and fixes the eye in a proper position that everyone may judge for himself whether those facts are true or not. People will recollect, enquire and search, before they condemn; and therefore very few good ministers can be hurt by falsehood, but many wicked ones by seasonable truth: But however the mischief that a few may possibly, but improbably, suffer by the freedom of the press is not to be put in competition with the danger which the KING and the people may suffer by a shameful, cowardly silence under the tyranny of an insolent, rapacious, infamous minister.

Order for the Public Burning of Zenger's Journals Order of Governor William Cosby October 22, 1734 Whereas by an order of this Council some of John Peter Zenger’s journals, entitled The New York Weekly Journal, Nos. 7, 47, 48, 49, were ordered to be burned by the hands of the common hangman or whipper near the pillory in this city on Wednesday the 6th between the hours of 11 and 12 in the forenoon, as containing in them many things tending to sedition and faction, to bring His Majesty’s government into contempt, and to disturb the peace thereof, and containing in them likewise not only reflections upon His Excellency the Governor in particular, and the legislature in general, but also upon the most considerable persons in the most distinguished stations in this Province; It is therefore ordered that the mayor and magistrates (aldermen sitting in their judicial capacities as Justices of the Peace) of this city do attend at the burning of the several papers or journals aforesaid, numbered as above mentioned.

Andrew Hamilton

Northern Colonies Southern Colonies Middle Colonies

COMPARE/CONTRAST NORTHERNMIDDLESOUTHERN Puritan Religious Freedom Farm & Industry Small Farms Protestant Ethic Slow, but Growing Conflict w/Indians Healthy Climate Exceptions- RI Quaker Rel. Toleration Farm & Industry Farms Democratic/Tolerant Good Rel.w/Indian Chesapeake Malarial Exceptions - MD Catholic/Misc. Royal Colonies Cash Crops Plantations Slavery Buffer States/ Punitive Wars Malarial Climate Exceptions- NC