APUSH Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution

Social Aspects of Colonial Society Demographics in America: – Average age in 1775 was 16 – Populations increasing rapidly Pennsylvania Dutch: Germans fleeing religious persecution, economic oppression, and war Scots-Irish: from Scotland, troubled by English restrictions on production of linens and wools

Cities Philadelphia: 30,000 New York: 25,000 Boston: 16,000 Charleston: 12,000 Newport: 11,000

Colonial communication/transportation: Roads Taverns Mail Newspapers

Social Aspects Paxton Boys – – Philadelphia 1764 – Regulator movement: NC South: contained about 90% of the slave population New England: least ethnic diversity (Puritans) Middle colonies: mainly white but of varying descent “Praying towns” – New England spots to convert Natives where polyglot communities emerged – Significant because blurred boundaries of tribal identities

The Structure of Colonial Society Different from England – Land of small farmers with few exceptions – Able to move up social ladder Stratification begins to emerge pre-Revo Almshouses in Philadelphia and NYC “P” for Poor Slavery begins to divide social classes and wealth becomes concentrated in hands of prosperous gentry “Jayle birds” – about 50,000 convicts brought to colonies

Economy Agriculture – 90% of people involved Fishing – cod to Catholic Europe Triangular Trade: North America, Europe, South America, West Indies In your journal, provide an example of products/goods exchanged in the Triangular Trade Manufacturing Lumber Naval Stores Molasses Act – why is this significant?

Religion Problems for Puritan churches: 1) elaborate doctrines 2) compromising to liberalize membership requirements Arminianism – Jacobus Arminius, individual free will determined eternal fate

The Great Awakening Jonathan Edwards George Whitefield Variety of denominations Old lights vs. new lights – Religious colleges

Press Zenger Trial – NY – Zenger charged with seditious libel – Defended by Alexander Hamilton – Freedom of the press and one point for democracy

Politics Bicameral In royal colonies upper house appointed by crown – Governors often had trouble with colonial legislatures because they resented imposition of control from crown In proprietary colonies by proprietor (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware)

Homework Analyze the ways in which the following influenced the development of American society: – Puritanism during the seventeenth century – The Great Awakening during the eighteenth century