The Thirteen Colonies
The principles of equality, cooperation, and religious tolerance on which Penn founded his vision would eventually become fundamental values of the new American colonies.
Colonies Prosper • Purpose => Make Britain wealthy • Based on mercantilism (centered around balance of trade – amount of goods sold vs. what was bought)
Mercantilism • The theory states the idea that “the world had a limited supply of natural resources…….the more you had, the less someone else had”. • The more American goods the British could sell to other countries, the less money they would have, making Great Britain richer and therefore more powerful.
Navigation Acts (Trans-Atlantic Trade) • England viewed the colonists’ pursuit of being prosperous as an economic threat • The size is overwhelming to England as well. • Beginning in 1651, Parliament passed the Navigation Acts to make sure they were on the favorable side of the trade exchange
• No country could trade with the colonies unless the goods were shipped in English ships • All vessels had to be operated by crews that were at least ¾ English • The colonies could only export certain goods to England. • Almost all goods traded between the colonies and Europe had to pass through an English port
Tensions Emerge • The Acts did not sit well with all the colonists • Many colonists resented the trade restrictions and continued to smuggle or trade goods illegally to and from other countries • King Charles punished individuals for not following laws • Massachusetts colony’s corporate charter was revoked and they became a royal colony under strict control of the crown.
Dominion of New England • Seeking to make • Sir Edmund Andros, northern colonies a veteran military more obedient, King officer, was to rule the James placed the colony land from Maine • “You have no more to New Jersey under privileges left you, one vast colony… than not to be sold for Dominion of New slaves.” England
The Glorious Revolution • In 1689, Parliament voted to offer the throne to William and Mary. – Mary: the Protestant daughter of King James
• Parliament passed a series of laws establishing its power over the monarch • These laws established the supremacy of the parliament. • King James fled when William & Mary were installed as rulers of England • Bloodless overthrow of government!
England Loosens the Reins • Economic and political differences pull England’s attention away from the colonies to focus on their new rival France • England practices salutary neglect: relaxed enforcement of regulations in return for the continued economic loyalty of the colonies.
Southern Colonies • • • • •
Virginia Maryland North Carolina South Carolina Georgia
Characteristics of the Produced a singleSouth cash crop on a plantation
• • Primarily a farming economy • Very few merchants • Farming families made and provided for themselves • Not many visits to town (self-sufficient) • Very few major cities…Major port was Charles Town • Farmers used the South's extensive river systems and had little need for multiple ports like the North • Fewer social problems because of less urban
Agricultural South Social Ladder of the South
Plantation Farmers
Small Farmers
5
Women 4
3
Indentured Servants 3
p.74-78
Slaves 3
p.76
Triangular Trade American Colonies
Be able to identify The “Middle Passage�
Middle passage Europe and West Africa
West Indies
Look at picture on p.76. Imagine yourself on that boat. What do you think the conditions are like?
Growth of African Population • As cash crops prospered, the need for workers and larger farms arose • Colonists turned to African slaves • Many white colonists believed that blacks were savages and needed to be taken care of by whites. • In 1607 when Jamestown was established, there were no African slaves in British North America but by 1700, thousands were brought to work the land. • The majority of the slaves worked in the Southern colonies and supported the region’s agriculture based economy .
Stono Rebellion Slaves Protest -break tool -stage work slowdowns -fake illness
Revolt -1739, South Carolina -Slaves march to the Stono River just S.W. of Charleston and kill several farmers along the way
Result of Rebellion • Farmers encircle the slaves • Kill many slaves on the spot • Execute the rest of the slaves • Lead to the tightening of already harsh slave laws • Runaway notices published
New England Colonies • • • •
Massachusetts New Hampshire Connecticut Rhode Island
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Characteristics of the North/Middle Produced several crops per farm Developed thriving commercial industry Strong Merchant class Numerous cities – Boston, New York, Philadelphia (2nd largest besides London) Wide variety of social problems between the haves and the have nots More ethnic, religious, and national groups among populations Larger families up to 27 kids Meticulously planned cities Divorce uncommon
Middle Colonies • • • •
New York Delaware New Jersey Pennsylvania
Characteristics of the Middle Colonies were that of New England
The North • High population caused problems – – – – – –
Firewood was scarce Fire spread rapidly Garbage was hard to get rid of Clean water was scarce Disease spread rapidly Human excrement were hard to get rid of
Society Groups of the North • Germans went to Pennsylvania because of the religious toleration
– The Mennonites were one group – They shared the Quakers opposition to war
• Scots – Irish came to Philadelphia • Dutch – New York • Scandinavians – Delaware • Jews – Newport and Philadelphia
Slavery in the North • There was slavery in the north as well as racial prejudice – More rights – Appeal to colonial courts – Testify against whites in court
• Laws still would not allow slaves to gather in public, carry weapons and were not protected against punishment
Women of the North/South • Women had few rights Second class citizenship as in most other colonial towns with limited legal or social rights • Religion held women subservient to husbands • Generally, taught the basics: reading, writing and arithmetic • Domestic task of canning, sewing, embroidery and most other household chores
France on the New land! • France’s history in North America
– 1534 Jacques Cartier explored St Lawrence River – 1608 Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec (first permanent French settlement) – Marquette and Jolliet explored the Great Lakes and upper Mississippi region – Robert Cavalier, Sieur de la Salle explored lower Mississippi around 1682 and named it Louisiana (after King Louis XIV) – Trouble is soon to come!
Champlain
France
• France had no desire to build towns or start settlements • France did not want to occupy land but exploit it economically through trading…. … beaver pelts (high fashion) • The French had strong relations with the Natives because of their economic potential unlike their British rivals.
The French-Indian War
England in the 1700’s • By the 1750’s, England had established itself a world powerhouse. • England had destroyed the Spanish Armada on the Atlantic Ocean in 1588 • England now turned its attention to France but it did this in the America’s • The colonists favored the British conquest because they hoped that the British would help them in their further struggles against the Indians • Britain favored the war because it meant more and diverse areas of land for settlement and furthering their mercantilist ideals
Going to War
• Great Britain and France would soon be going to war over the Ohio River Valley • WHY is the Ohio River Valley of such importance?
Who do the Indians side with?
•WHY?
Start of War •
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The French built a fort (Fort Duquesne) at the junction of Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, an area that had been promised to rich Virginia planters This area is Pittsburgh, Penn. today (Three Rivers Stadium) This junction forms the Ohio River Virginian government sent a militia under the command of George Washington to drive the French off the British land…A battle followed!
Washington at Fort Duquesne •
A 22 year old Colonel (bought) at the onset of the war, (young and dumb) Washington builds an outpost 60 miles from Fort Duquesne and calls it Fort Necessity! Next, Washington attacks! The French counterattack and on July 4th of 1754 force Col. Washington to surrender. Imagine that! Our 1st President was a failure on the field of battle!
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again! •
One year after his initial defeat, Washington headed back into battle under the leadership of British General Edward Braddock. The British soldiers weren’t accustomed to an unseen enemy like the French and their Indian aides. (row fighting, -how come the French didn’t know this when guerilla war was going on in Vietnam in the 1950’s and 1960’s?) The invincible British Army tucked tale and ran. Two horses were shot from under Washington as he tried to rally his Virginia troops. 1755 and 1756 were miserable years for the colonists and British.
French and Indian War • The fourth war between Great Britain and France for control of North America had begun • Known to the British as the 7 Years War • 1754-1763 – they can’t add!
1759 • The war takes a turn for the British as William Pitt began winning small battles which would lead to a British Indian alliance with the Iroquois. • Under the cover of night, British troops lead by Gen. James Wolfe scaled the high cliffs of Quebec which protected the city. • On the Plains of Abraham which served as the buffer zone between the cliffs and the city a brief but fierce battle ensued. • Surprised by the British approach, Marquis de Montcalm, as well as his French troops, were caught off guard and defeated. • This was the last major battle of the war and gave the British a victory!
Official End to War • Came in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris! – Great Britain received Canada and lands east of the Mississippi – Spain gained all lands west of the Mississippi River – Britain acquired Florida from Spain, an ally of France *Native Americans lost as well…The British were hard to deal with!
Proclamation of 1763 • To avoid any more conflict with Native Americans, the British government banned all settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. • The problem was that Britain could not enforce the request with settlers continuing to move west.
Tensions Between the Colonists and Mother Britain Continue! •
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Britain stations 10,000 troops along western borders to control the Native Americans to enforce the Proclamation! The Native attacks lead by Pontiac (Ottawa Chief) captured 8 American forts. Ask about blankets! Britain also passes Sugar Act and Writs of Assistance to help pay the war debt that accrued during the war. A writ and an order are both considered a law.
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Colonists view troops as a threat to their own activities and a desire for liberty. Proclamation line angers colonists who ignore the boundary and continue moving westward Most colonial merchants protest increased taxes and cry “taxation without representation”