1. Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution
1770 – 1775
By: Mr. Michael R. Kahoe
Del Valle High School

2. Conquest by the Cradle American population growth spurred on rebellion
1700 – 300,000 (20,000 black)
20 English subjects for every 1 colonist
1775 – 2.5 mil (1/2 mil black)
England only had a 3 to 1 pop. advantage
Average age of only 16!
Biggest colonies: Virginia, Mass., Penn., NC, MD
Biggest cities: Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Charleston
90% lived in rural areas

3. A Mingling of Races Colonial America was a melting pot
Germans in Pennsylvania
6% of total pop. by 1775
No loyalty to England
Clung to their language and customs
Primarily Lutheran
Scots-Irish
7% of pop.
Settled in Penn. and south along the foothills of the Allegheny Mts.
Frontiersmen, distilled whiskey
Clashed with the Indians
Not fond of England or any gov.
Andrew Jackson

4. A Mingling of Races
Pop. of 13 colonies was the most mixed of anywhere in the world

5. Structure of Colonial Society
No nobility
High level of social mobility
Even for incoming indentured servants
Growing elite class (few)
Few poor
Available land was declining
Plots were being subdivided
Great planters growing more powerful in the South
Many colonists called for an end of importation of slavery

6. Clerics, Physicians, & Jurists
Christian ministers were the most honored profession
Doctors were badly trained
Bloodletting was widely used
Barbers were a good substitute for the doctor
Smallpox epidemics were common
Lawyers weren’t highly regarded

7. Workaday America Agriculture was the leading industry
90% farmed
Tobacco, cotton, rice in the South
Grain in the middle colonies
Fishing and shipbuilding took place up North
Skilled craftsmen were scarce
Looked to England for manufactured goods
By 1700s colonists began to look for other markets to sell beside England

8. Colonial Economy

9. Triangular Trade Route

10. Horsepower & Sailpower
Few roads in America during the 1700s
The dirt thoroughfares were dangerous to travel
Travel along waterways was more pleasant and cheap
Taverns – mix of social classes
Information was passed, gossip, new ideas
Colonial postal system was unreliable and slow

11. Dominant Denominations
Two major tax-supported religions 18th century Colonial America
Anglican: Church of England
Found in the South and N.Y.
King was the head of authority
Less demanding
No bishop in America
Congregational
Found in New England colonies
Grown from Puritan church
More demanding

12. The Great Awakening
Religious fervor was fading during the 1700s. It was caused by:
Elaborate theological doctrines
Easing of membership constraints
New ideas begin to challenge longstanding traditions
Good works can save you from damnation!
Jacobus Arminius – preached that free will determined ones fate

13. Great Awakening
Great Awakening – was a religious revival of the 1730s and 1740s
Jonathan Edwards – influencial preacher from Northampton, Mass.
Spoke of a complete dependence on God’s grace
Said good works could
not save you
“Sinners in the Hands of
an Angry God”

16. Great Awakening
George Whitefield – very popular colonial preacher who was an expressive orator
Strong voice could sway
1,000 parishioners
Spoke of human helplessness & power of God
Converted many
Inspired imitators
New light vs. Old Light
“Dr. Squitum”

17. Schools and Colleges
Colonists considered education to be for aristocrats only (males)
New England
More interested in education than South
Had primary and secondary schools
Mainly to teach religion
Middle Colonies & South
Had elementary schools
Wealthy had private tutors

18. Schools and Colleges Schools were quite grim and very strict
Taught religion, Latin & Greek
Nine universities were established during the Colonial period
Harvard (1636) to prepare the ministry
William & Mary, VA (1693)
Yale, Conn. (1701)
Princeton, NJ (1746)
U. of Penn (1751)
Columbia, NY (1754)

19. A Provincial Culture
Art & culture were heavily influenced by British tastes
Most artists had to move to Europe to make a living
John Trumbull
Charles Willson Peale
Benjamin West
John Singleton Copley

20. Benjamin Franklin “The First Civilized American” His Literature
Proved lightening was electric
His Literature
Poor Richard’s Almanac ( )
Preached thrift, industry, morality & common sense
Autobiography
His inventions
Bifocals
Franklin stove

21. Pioneer Presses Not many libraries in the Colonies
Few private collections
About 40 small colonial newspapers
Most ran weekly
Zenger Court Case ( )
Peter Zenger – NY Newspaper printer charged with libel against a corrupt royal governor
Wins major court case
Forerunner to belief in freedom of the press

22. The Great Game of Politics
13 colonies had different forms of gov.
8 had royal governors
3 had proprietors
2 were self governing
Each had a 2 house legislative body
Council, upper house (appointed by king)
Lower house, elected by people
Representative government is cherished by Americans

23. The Great Game of Politics
Colonial governors were generally able
Some were incompetent or corrupt
Governors had difficulties with the colonial assemblies
Some would withhold the gov. salaries
County government – South
Town-meeting – North
Not everyone could vote
Religious membership
Own property

24. Colonial Folkways Colonial life was drab and tedious
Diet was coarse and monotonous
Churches were not heated
No running water, no plumping, no bathtubs
Candles provided faint light
Garbage disposal was poor
Hogs, buzzard
Militia mustering

25. Colonial Folkways Lotteries were approved Stage plays were popular
Ministers saw them as being a waste
Holidays were celebrated
New England frowned upon Christmas
Thanksgiving becomes a true American festival