Colonial Society Flashcards
What caused a Dramatic increase in population
High Birth rate (Children were free labor for families), and An abundance of fertile American land and a good food supply
Where did most of the European Immigrants settle?
Many settled in the Mid-Atlantic colonies (Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware.) and southern colonies (Georgia, North and South Carolina.)
Why did the European immigrate?
Wanted to escape religious persecution and wars. Economic opportunities (Farming and setting up shops)
Why didn’t the many Europeans immigrate to New England?
Because of the weather and stronger Puritan control.
Did the English numbers increase with the mass spread of immigration?
No, Numbers did not increase = Fewer problems at home
Where did the Germans settle?
Settled in Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Dutch country) and midwest
What did Germans maintain throughout their time in the New World?
Maintained German culture (language, religion.) (Lutheran, Amish, Mennonite)
Where did Scotch-Irish/Scandinavians settle?
Settled in Mid-Atlantic colonies and southern colonies
What was different about African life in the new world?
The largest non-European group
Laws that discriminated against A.A.
1775 - Made up to 20% of the colonial population/90% lived in southern colonies)
What were characteristics of the colonies?
Self Government, Religious Toleration, Social Mobility
Self Government
Representative Assembly elected by eligible voters (white male property owners)
Some governors selected by the Crown or elected by the people
Religious Toleration
All colonies allowed different types of religions and different types of religious freedom.
Some allowed Protestants but not Catholic and non-Christians (Pennsylvania was the most liberal)
Social Mobility
People have an opportunity for social mobility
Classes based on social economics with landowners at the time craft workers/small farmers were common people.
What was the most important part of colonial life?
The family
The Family
Economic and social center of colonial life
People married young and had more children
Small farmers
Men in the family did what? Benefited from what?
Workers/Landowners
Law gave men unlimited power (he could beat his wife)
What were women meant to do? (Im just putting in the full notes at this part so some things might not make sense)
Have an average of 8 children
Domestic Duties
Divorce was legal, and had limited legal and political rights
Often had somewhat equal standing with man (because of shared roles and responsibility)
New England’s Economics were based on what?
Subsistence levels of farming grew
Small Farms
The Middle Colonies economics were based on what?
Wheat and corn were main crops for export
Large farmers with laborers (Indentured Slaves and workers)
Led to the growth of major cities such as Philadelphia and New York.
The southern colonies’ economics were based on what?
Initially small farms-subsistence farming (Simple farming, just family farms)
Few large plantations
Monetary system?
Used gold and silver to pay for imports
Developed money paper (inflation)
Trade
Transportation
Developed future cities around harbor and ports
Horses and stages were common
Taverns were social and political centers
The postal system was developed
Many different Protestant/Christian Denomination groups
Congregationalist
Presbyterian
Reformed Churches
Anglican Church/Episcopalians
Lutherans
Mennonites
Quakers
What religious groups were most discriminated against?
Jews, and Catholics
Great Awakening
Religious movement that swept through the colonies and increased religious excitement in the 1730s
John Edwards
A well-known minister who typified the ideas of the Great Awakening
John Edwards’ famous sermon is what?
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
John Edwards said that ________
God was rightfully angry with human sinfulness
John Edwards believed that
You could ask for forgiveness you could be saved and those that didn’t faced eternal damnation
George Whitefield
Revivals in Tents/Fields. Said that God was all-powerful and only saved those who professed their belief/faith.
George Whitefield said that _________
People could understand the gospel without ministers
Religious Impact
Sinners confessed and were saved -> Became an emotional experience that characterized the Great Awakening.
Ministers lost some influence = no longer needed to explain the Bible
Evangelical Groups (Baptist, Presbyterians) attracted greater numbers.
Political Influence
Created a need for Separation of church and state.
Democratic Effect
People could make own religious and political decision
Science in the colonies
Benjamin Franklin worked with electricity and created bifocals and the Franklin stove
Ministry
Ministers only profession that was respected among common people
Physicians/Medical Science
First medical school was College of Philadelphia
Benjamin Franklin had a part in creating the first medical school.
Education is _____ in the colonies
Primarily for boys
Higher Education offered these schools
Harvard
William and Mary
Dartmouth
National Character
Colonists exercised right of free speech
Elected Representative
Religious Toleration
Forever Seeking Improvement
Newspapers in the colonies did what?
Give News from Europe
Offered Ads for services and opinion articles
Ben Franklin did what (relating to the Press)
Created the first cartoon titled “Join or Die”. It was a political cartoon that depicted snake severed into pieces that symbolized the American colonies.
Zenger Case
A newspaper had used slander against NY Governor
Jury ruled for Press (Against English tradition)
Steps towards Freedom of Press
SOUTHERN COLONIES:
Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia
MID-ATLANTIC COLONIES:
Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York
NORTH-EAST/NEW ENGLAND COLONIES:
Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire.
