1. Chapter 5 – Colonial Society on the Eve of the Revolution
Great population growth:
-1700
-300,000 people total
-20,000 of total black
-1775
-2.5 million people total
-500,000 of total black
400,000 each of white immigrants & black slaves – the rest were by natural fertility

2. By 1775:
Largest colonies were VA, MA, PA, NC, MD and largest cities were all on ports (Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Charleston)
Population was a “Melting Pot”:
6% Germans, 7% Scots-Irish, 5% other Europeans (French, Swedes, Dutch, Irish, Swiss), 20% African (South owned 90% of slaves)
America had the most diverse population in the world with New England being the least diverse colonial region; in middle and southern colonies, ½ of population was non-English

4. Paxton Boys – 1764 – Scots-Irish led a revolt against Quaker’s peaceful policy toward the Indians (right after the French and Indian War)
Compared to Europe, America was a land of equality (there was no titled nobility)
By 1775 there is some social stratification; “merchant princes” in New England and middle colonies; church seating was by social rank
“What then is an American, this new man?” – French writer Jean de Crevecoeur wrote about America’s population

5. De Crevocoeur wrote in 1770, “They are a mixture of English, Scotch, Irish, French, Dutch, Germans and Swedes. From this promiscuous breed, that race now called Americans have arise … I could point out to you a family whose grandfather was an Englishman, whose wife was Dutch, who son married a French woman, and whose present four sons have now four wives of different nations.”

6. Clerics, Physicians and Jurists
Ministry:
Most honored profession, but by 1775 had less influence
Physicians:
Poorly trained, not well-respected
Epidemics like smallpox and diptheria
Law profession:
“noisy windbags”, “troublesome rogues”, “drunkards” and “brothel keepers”

7. Working Americans 90% worked in agriculture; Chesapeake grew tobacco
and the middle colonies were the “bread basket”
New England: fishing; commerce and manufacturing; lumbering and also “cottage industries” like weaving and spinning cotton into cloth; beaver hats
Needed new foreign markets; growing American population versus a slow growing British population; U.S. started trading with the French West Indies
1733 Molasses Act – passed by Parliament to stop colonists from trading with French West Indies; colonists bribed and smuggled to get around the law

10. Americans needed cash from the French West Indies to buy goods from the British

11. 1700s – roads connected large cities, but the terrible conditions made travel very slow
Waterways were the main transportation; population grew on the banks of large rivers; water travel was slow but cheap
Taverns: gossip, information; “cradles of democracy”
Postal service in 1700s was slow, infrequent and not private

12. Religion in America
By 1775 there were 2 tax-supported churches in America:
1. Anglican (Church of England)
Southern colonies
Faith was less fierce, more worldly
College of William & Mary (1693)
More loyal to the crown than New England
2. Congregational Church
New England
Preachers talked of Revolution from pulpit
Religious toleration begins to develop

13. The Great Awakening 1730s-1740s
1700s – colonists were religiously less fervent
New liberal ideas like the Arminians who said that an person’s free will and NOT divine decree determines salvation; you can be saved by good works; “half-way” covenant (let people into church w/out a spiritual conversion
Jonathan Edwards – most well-know Great Awakening preacher – from Mass. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
“thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully provoked”

14. Results of the Great Awakening:
George Whitefield – another Great Awakening preacher – new evangelical style of preaching; drama
Human helplessness and divine omnipotence
Roaring revival meetings
Leads to greater independence and diversity in thought
Expansion of Protestant evangelism
Almost a mixture of religions due to trans-Atlantic exchanges
Old Lights (intellectual) vs. New Lights (emotive)
Other denominations like Presbyterians and Baptists increased in #
Results of the Great Awakening:
1. More emotion in religion
2. Increase in # of churches
3. Missionary work w/Indians and slaves
4. Colleges to train ministers – Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth

15. *****Great Awakening was the first mass movement of the American people! *****
GA laid the groundwork for the American Revolution!
Jonathan Edwards
George Whitefield

16. Important Results:
_________ was emphasized – every person is equal in the eyes of God.
Encouraged help for blacks and Indians.
Encouraged separation of church and state.
Led to the creation and growth of new evangelical denominations: ___________ and ________, and challenged the established religious orders. It laid one of the social foundations for the American Revolution.
Allowed more participation by _______.
Equality
Methodist
Baptist
women

17. Schools and Colleges England – only the wealthy attended school
New England:
More interested in education than the South – Bible reading
Focused on boys – many educated in England universities
Early on had many primary and secondary schools
South and Middle: some elementary; rich people used tutors

18. Art, Literature and Architecture
America still heavily influenced by the Old World in all areas, but
most did not have time for such leisure
ART:
Charles Wilson Peale – portrait artist – George Washington
ARCHITECTURE: old world style modified – T. Jefferson
LITERATURE: also old world style; one exception was
Phyllis Wheatley – slave girl & poet
Ben Franklin – “Poor Richard’s Almanack” –

19. Colonial Press John Peter Zenger trial:
Americans were too poor to buy books but some had private
libraries
Pamphlets, leaflets, journals, newspapers were very common
John Peter Zenger trial:
Newspaper printer; criticized NY royal-appointed governor
Defended by Alexander Hamilton in court against charges
of “seditious libel” Hamilton said, “Freedom of the press:
it is the cause of liberty!”
Zenger found not guilty by jury; victory for freedom of the press

20. Colonial Politics
Governments of colonies: variety but 8 had royally-appointed
governors
Almost all had 2-house legislatures
Upper house – appointed or elected
Lower house – popular vote (must own property)
Power of the Purse: colonial assemblies would not pay royal
governors if they did not yield to their wishes
Colonies: not democratic yet, but ahead of Old World in tolerance,
education, economic opportunity, freedom of the press, assembly
and religion