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Experience of Empire: Eighteenth-Century America
4 Experience of Empire: Eighteenth-Century America
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Growth and Diversity 1700–1750—colonial population rose from 250,000 to over two million Young population, many under 16 years Most growth through natural increase Large influx of non-English Europeans Colonists prospered
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Growth and Diversity 800 miles along Appalachian Range from western Pennsylvania to western Georgia Frontier complex, fluid, and violent mixture of Europeans, Native Americans and African Americans
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Distribution of European and African Immigrants in the Thirteen Colonies
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European Groups Coming To The Colonies
Largest non-English group – Scots-Irish Concentrated on the Pennsylvania frontier Quick to challenge authority Germans came as hardworking farmers Transportation Act – sent convicted Felons to colonies
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Native Americans Stake Out a Middle Ground
Disease and European agricultural practices made it difficult for Europeans and Natives to coexist Many eastern Indians moved into trans-Appalachian region A “middle ground” where no colonial power was yet established Whites and Indians could interact on equal basis Remnants of different Indian peoples re-grouped, formed new nations
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Native Americans Stake Out a Middle Ground
Native Americans continued to trade with Europeans for metal goods and weapons Goal of Native American confederacies was to maintain strong, independent voice in commercial exchanges Saw trade as a way of survival Play English and French against each other
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Native Americans Stake Out a Middle Ground
Increased individual commercial interaction eroded traditional Native American structures of authority Indians no longer consulted leaders when trading with European traders Over time, Native American population declined in “middle ground”
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Spanish Borderlands of the Eighteenth Century
Spain occupied a large part of America north of Mexico since sixteenth century Range from Florida Peninsula to California Multicultural, interdependent society created of Spaniards and Native Americans Spanish outposts grew slowly – harsh environment and Native Americans
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The Spanish Borderlands, ca. 1770
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The Impact of European Ideas on American Culture
Rapid change in eighteenth-century colonies Growth of urban cosmopolitan culture Aggressive participation in consumption Major source of political information in newspapers
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Provincial Cities Only about 5% of population
Five largest cities: Boston, Newport, New York, Philadelphia, and Charles Town Economies were geared to commerce, not manufacturing Inhabitants emulated English culture, fashion, and architecture Cities were becoming more elegant
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American Enlightenment
Intellectual movement that swept Europe with new, radical ideas Age of Reason – man can find perfection through reason The Enlightenment’s basic assumptions Optimistic view of human nature God set up the universe and human society to operate by mechanistic, natural laws Those laws can be found through reason Most Americans focus on practical knowledge
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Benjamin Franklin Franklin (1706–1790) regarded as only Enlightenment thinker by Europeans Symbolized the enlightenment in America which was a search for practical knowledge Started as apprentice printer and became printer and achieved wealth through printing business Curiosity lead Franklin to important scientific discoveries and inventions
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Benjamin Franklin
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Economic Transformation
Long-term period of economic and population growth England added to existing base of mercantilism rules from 1710s–1750s Colonial manufacture or trade of timber, sugar, hats, and iron restricted Regulations not enforced Trade was mainly with England and West Indies; trade in West Indies to offset debt to England
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Birth of a Consumer Society
English mass-production of consumer goods stimulated rise in colonial imports Americans built up large debts to English Trade between colonies increased – allowed Americans to learn about one another Eroded regional and local identities
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The Great Wagon Road
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Religious Revivals in Provincial Societies
The Great Awakening Spontaneous, evangelical revivals People began to re-think basic assumptions about church and state, institutions and society Movement occurred among many denominations in different places at differrent times over several decades
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The Great Awakening Jonathan Edwards sparked it as reminder of Puritan ideas – predestination Evangelical part of Great Awakening – George Whitefield preached informal outdoor sermons to thousands in nearly all colonies Split established churches into “new lights” and “old lights”
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The Voice of Evangelical Religion
Gave voice to those traditionally silenced Inspired individualism Promoted democratic spirit Optimistic attitude toward America Fostered sense of American unity Fostered sense of “new birth” among believers “New Lights” formed colleges Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, and Rutgers
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Clash of Political Cultures
Colonists attempted to emulate British political institutions Effort led to discovery of how different they were from English people English common law united colonies – legal practices resembled those of England
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The English Constitution
The British Constitution universally admired but not a written document – colonists want written Constitution Believed to balance monarchy (king), aristocracy (House of Lords), and the people (House of Commons) Balance believed to guarantee liberties English common law important in uniting colonies
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Governing the Colonies: The American Experience
Colonists copy England’s Government Royal governors: ambitious bureaucrats More powers than king in England Veto legislation Dismiss judges Command provincial military Appoint colonial officials NO TAX OR DISMISS ELECTED OFFICIALS
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Colonial Assemblies Felt obligation to preserve colonial liberties and prevent encroachments on people’s rights Assemblies controlled colony’s finances Did not cooperate with governors – sometimes hostile toward governors Exercised extreme vigilance against privileged power All colonies experiences similar problems
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Century of Imperial War
Britain’s conflicts with continental rivals like France spilled over to colonies France extended its presence from Canada into Louisiana British saw French expansion as encirclement – conflict over Mississippi river and Ohio Valley Native Americans try to hold middle ground
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North America, 1750
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King George’s War and Its Aftermath
French built Fort Duquesne to keep British from seizing Ohio River Valley Virginians under George Washington failed to expel French Albany Congress – Ben Franklin – unite colonists with British to kick out French Albany Plan failed – fiscal jealousies of colonial assemblies Lft off hre
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Albany Congress and Braddock’s Defeat: Braddock’s Defeat
1755—General Edward Braddock led force to drive French from Ohio Valley Braddock’s army ambushed, destroyed French still in control of Mississippi and Ohio River Valley
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Seven Years’ War 1756—England declared war on France
Prime Minister William Pitt shifted strategy to focus on North America By 1758, French cut off from re-supply Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh) abandoned, Quebec captured, last French forces surrendered, 1760
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Seven Years’ War Peace of Paris 1763: France lost
British got all of North America east of the Mississippi Spanish added Louisiana to their empire Seven Years’ War most important war between France and England French kicked out of North America War left Great Britain with huge debt
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Seven Years’ War, 1756–1763
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Perceptions of War Expanded horizons of colonists – more aware of their land Created trained officer corps that knew British vulnerabilities British felt colonists ungrateful and not willing to bear their fair share of burden Colonists saw themselves as “junior partners” to British Forced colonists to cooperate with each other
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North America after 1763
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Rule Britannia? Most Americans bound to England in 1763 Ties included:
British culture British consumer goods/trade British evangelists British military victories British law
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Rule Britannia? Americans thought of themselves as partners in an Empire To British, “American” equaled “not quite English”
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