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Life in Colonial America
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Early Immigation German- Scots-Irish- Farmland west of Philadelphia
Maintained German language, customs, and religion (Lutheran) Showed little interest in colonial politics By 1775 made up 6% of population Scots-Irish- Immigrated from northern Ireland Ancestors had moved from Scotland Settled in the frontier along the western parts of Pennsylvania, Virginia, the Carolina’s, and Georgia Had little respect for the British Made up 7% of population
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Other populations French Protestants, the Dutch, the Swedes. Made up 5% of total population The Africans- % of total colonial population 90% lived on Southern plantations
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Colonial Religion Protestantism The Great Awakening
Protestant denomination was a majority of colonial religion Presbyterian Dutch Reform Lutherans Mennonites Quakers Two Main Churches: Church of England Congregational Church in Massachusetts and Connecticut Religious movement characterized by fervent expressions of religious feeling Jonathan Edwards Father of the Great Awakening Famous sermon- “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Old Testament form of God- his vengeance on human sinfulness
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Great Awakening Edwards influence was mainly in the New England Colonies. Another preacher traveled to all the colonies. George Whitefield Hellish torments of the damned Ordinary people could understand the Christian religion without the help of ministers Religious impact Emotionalism became a big part of protestant services Ministers lost authority Division between “New Lights” and “Old Lights” Baptists and Methodists grew out of the Great Awakening Political impact Shared a common experience New view of authority Democracy
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Colonial Society Education Professions Physicians Lawyers The Press
New England Schools that taught the Bible to children Middle Colonies Private education Teachers lived with the families Southern Colonies Private tutors lived with the families, parents taught Higher education Founded in Cambridge Theological education for ministry Physicians Lawyers The Press Newspapers grew John Peter Zenger- started freedom of the press
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Colonial Economy Mercantilism- Navigation Acts (1650-1673)
‘a government should regulate trade and production to enable it to become self-sufficient’ Colonies existed for one purpose-to enrich the parent country Navigation Acts ( ) Only English ships and crew could bring goods to England All good sent to the colonies could only come through English ports Enumerated goods from the colonies could only be shipped to England
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Mercantilism Navigation Act
Positive Negative New England ship building prospered Chesapeake tobacco had a monopoly in England English military protected the colonies from potential attacks by the French and Spanish Colonial manufacturing was limited Chesapeake farmers received low prices for their crops Colonists had to pay high prices for goods from England
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New England Family Marriage- Family Stability- “invented” grandparents
Women married at 20ish Starting producing babies Every two years Eight surviving children One family had as many as 27 children Family Stability- Nurturing families Guidance and obedience “invented” grandparents Very little premarital pregnancy divorce was rare
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Southern Society Wealth and Status-
Slavery was a major contributor to the sharp division of wealth and status Society did not start out with fancy homes and nice clothes Major plantations emphasized colonial life in the south
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Salem Witch Trials Jeremiad- Half Way Covenant-
Doom-saying Old Testament Prophet- Jeremiah Scolded parishioners for their waning piety Half Way Covenant- Partial membership rights- children of members Religious purity was sacrificed for wider religious participation
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Witch Hunt Outcome Present day interpretation
Women became the majority of the church population Adolescent girls claimed to be bewitched by older women 1692- twenty individuals were hanged, one was pressed to death. Two dogs were also hanged It is now believed that many of the girls who were accused of being witches were probably suffering from mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disease It has also been thought that some wild grasses that the people ate caused them to hallucinate, and/or go into drug induced states
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