chapter 3 Flashcards
populations growth in 18th century
- immigration of almost a million people
- a sharp natural increase, caused chiefly by a high birthrate among colonial families
Structure of colonial society
-most of the population was English in origin, language, and tradition
- Africans and non-English immigrants brought diverse influences that modified the culture of the majority
self-government
each colony had a representative assembly that was elected by eligible voters (limited to white males property owners)
religious toleration
all colonies permitted the practice of different religions, but with varying degrees of freedom
no hereditary aristocracy
the social extremes of Europe, with nobility that inherited special privileges and masses of hungry poor, were missing in the colonies
social mobility
all people in colonial society had an opportunity to improve their standard of living and social status by hard work, except for African Americans
The Family
with an expanding economy and ample food supply, people married at a younger age and reared more children than in Europe. more than 90% of the people lived on farms.
New England economy
limited farming, logging, shipbuilding, fishing, trading, and rum-distilling
middle colonies economy
rich soil produced an abundance of wheat and corn for export to Europe and the west indies
southern colonies economy
agriculture varied greatly, with most people living on small subsistence family farms with no slaves,and a few living on large plantations with slave labor
monetary system
the British controlled the colonial economy by limiting the use of money. colonies were forced to use much of the limited hard currency to pay for imports from Britain, which increasingly exceeded colonial exports.
New England religion
congregationalists and Presbyterians
New York religion
church of England (Anglicans)and reformed church
Pennsylvania religion
Lutherans, Mennonites, and Quakers
religious challenges
- discrimination and persecution of Jews, Catholics, an Quakers
-criticism of congregationalist ministers as domineering and for preaching an overly complex doctrine - view of the church of England as a symbol of English control in the colonies
- lack of a church of England bishop in America to ordain ministers
The Great Awakening
- a movement that emphasized personal conversion and spiritual experience
- led to the growth of evangelical sects such as the Batista and Methodists
- encouraged the separation of church and state
- had a democratizing effect on American society, leading to a great emphasis on individual rights and freedoms
National character: politics
by 1750, the 13 colonies shad a similar systems of government, with a governor acting as chief executive and a separate legislature voting on laws
national character: local government
colonist became accustomed to paying taxes only if their chosen representative approved. this led to a greater emphasis on individual rights and freedoms.
voting rights
not allowed to vote:
- white women
- poor white men
- slaves of both sexes
- most free blacks
education
New England: tax-supported schools, emphasis on learning the bible
middle colonies: church-sponsored or private schools
southern colonies: limited formal education, often focused on household skills
the enlightenment
- John Locke’s ideas about natural rights and the social contract influenced American thinking and the American revolution
- natural rights
-social contract - sovereignty of the people
definition of democracy
a system of government in which power is vested int eh people ho rule either directly or through freely elected representatives
raised the question of how democratic the colonies really were.
