chapter 4: the mosaic of eighteenth-century america

©2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All ©2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved.Rights reserved.

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Chapter 4: The Mosaic of Chapter 4: The Mosaic of Eighteenth-Century Eighteenth-Century AmericaAmerica

Preview:Preview: “British colonials were such a diverse, “British colonials were such a diverse, contentious lot that any hope of political union seemed contentious lot that any hope of political union seemed utterly impractical….Yet despite such disagreements, a utterly impractical….Yet despite such disagreements, a majority of white colonials took pride in their English majority of white colonials took pride in their English traditions and in membership in a powerful empire.”traditions and in membership in a powerful empire.”

The Highlights:The Highlights: Forces of DivisionForces of Division Slave Societies in the Eighteenth-Century SouthSlave Societies in the Eighteenth-Century South Enlightenment and Awakening in AmericaEnlightenment and Awakening in America Anglo-American Worlds of the Eighteenth CenturyAnglo-American Worlds of the Eighteenth Century Toward the Seven Years’ WarToward the Seven Years’ War

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Forces of DivisionForces of Division Immigration and Natural IncreaseImmigration and Natural Increase

– Enormous ethnic diversityEnormous ethnic diversity– 250,000 enslaved African immigrants250,000 enslaved African immigrants– 250,000 Scots-Irish250,000 Scots-Irish– 135,000 Germans135,000 Germans– Some Swiss, Swedes, Highland Scots, Some Swiss, Swedes, Highland Scots,

and Spanish Jewsand Spanish Jews– Tremendous birthrate: three times Tremendous birthrate: three times

higher than todayhigher than today

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The Settlement of the BackcountryThe Settlement of the Backcountry– Settlers from older communities Settlers from older communities

streamed into rural western sections of streamed into rural western sections of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the CarolinasPennsylvania, Virginia, and the Carolinas

– Backcountry society was very isolatedBackcountry society was very isolated– Few legal and religious institutionsFew legal and religious institutions– Importance of frontier womenImportance of frontier women

Social Conflict on the FrontierSocial Conflict on the Frontier– 1763: Paxton boys protest inadequate 1763: Paxton boys protest inadequate

protection from Indiansprotection from Indians– In the absence of courts, “regulators,” or In the absence of courts, “regulators,” or

vigilantes meted out justice in vigilantes meted out justice in backcountrybackcountry

– Ethnic differences sparked tensionsEthnic differences sparked tensions

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Boundary Disputes and Tenant WarsBoundary Disputes and Tenant Wars– Settlement of frontier prompted bitter Settlement of frontier prompted bitter

disputes between colonies over disputes between colonies over boundariesboundaries

– 1760s: Ethan Allen and the Green 1760s: Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys resist New York Mountain Boys resist New York governance of Vermontgovernance of Vermont

– Tenant insurrection throughout the Tenant insurrection throughout the NortheastNortheast

“The settlement of the frontier also triggered disputes between colonies over their boundaries. At the root of the confusion were the old colonial charters and their vague definitions of western borders that allowed groups of settlers and speculators from different colonies to claim the same tract of land”(117).

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Eighteenth-Century SeaportsEighteenth-Century Seaports– All major colonial cities were seaportsAll major colonial cities were seaports– Dominated by merchants and artisansDominated by merchants and artisans– Blacks, both free and slave, numerousBlacks, both free and slave, numerous

—held “Negro election days” which —held “Negro election days” which honored black leadershonored black leaders

– Different experiences for women in Different experiences for women in urban settingsurban settings

Social Conflict in SeaportsSocial Conflict in Seaports– Ethnic and religious diversity created Ethnic and religious diversity created

tensionstensions– Class resentment also palpableClass resentment also palpable

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Slave Societies in the Slave Societies in the Eighteenth-Century Eighteenth-Century SouthSouth The Slave Family and CommunityThe Slave Family and Community

– 1700-1740: peak years for importation 1700-1740: peak years for importation of African slaves into the coloniesof African slaves into the colonies

– By mid-century, natural reproduction By mid-century, natural reproduction created American-born slave majority created American-born slave majority

– Elaborate kinship networks evolved, but Elaborate kinship networks evolved, but relationships always vulnerable to salerelationships always vulnerable to sale

– African influences perpetuated in African influences perpetuated in religion, music, skills, and folktalesreligion, music, skills, and folktales

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Slavery and Colonial Society in Slavery and Colonial Society in French LouisianaFrench Louisiana– Experience of Africans in Louisiana Experience of Africans in Louisiana

was different than that of Africans in was different than that of Africans in rest of North Americarest of North America

– 1729: Africans joined forces with 1729: Africans joined forces with Indians in the Natchez RevoltIndians in the Natchez Revolt

– Greater freedom for blacks in Greater freedom for blacks in Louisiana Louisiana

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Slave Resistance in Eighteenth-Slave Resistance in Eighteenth-Century British North AmericaCentury British North America– Slaves used both overt and subtle Slaves used both overt and subtle

methods to resist enslavementmethods to resist enslavement– 1739: Stono Rebellion in South 1739: Stono Rebellion in South

Carolina was the largest of the colonial Carolina was the largest of the colonial periodperiod

– Yet slave rebellions in America far less Yet slave rebellions in America far less frequent than in the Caribbeanfrequent than in the Caribbean

“Throughout the eighteenth century, slave rebellions occurred far less frequently on the mainland of North America than in the Caribbean or Brazil” (126).

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Enlightenment and Enlightenment and Awakening in AmericaAwakening in America The Enlightenment in AmericaThe Enlightenment in America

– Ben Franklin and many colonial Ben Franklin and many colonial leaders were devotees of the leaders were devotees of the Enlightenment ideal of human reasonEnlightenment ideal of human reason

– Movement of “rational Christianity” – Movement of “rational Christianity” – Christian beliefs must be reasonableChristian beliefs must be reasonable

– Many ministers grew concerned over Many ministers grew concerned over the growth of rationalismthe growth of rationalism

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The First Great AwakeningThe First Great Awakening– evangelical reaction to rationalismevangelical reaction to rationalism– 1739-41: George Whitfield toured the 1739-41: George Whitfield toured the

colonies, attracting many to his form of colonies, attracting many to his form of enlivened worshipenlivened worship

– Message appealed to all classes and Message appealed to all classes and ethnicitiesethnicities

The Aftermath of the Great AwakeningThe Aftermath of the Great Awakening– Movement deepened divide between Movement deepened divide between

religious factionsreligious factions– Growth of Baptist and Presbyterian Growth of Baptist and Presbyterian

churcheschurches– Colonial diversity accentuated by the Colonial diversity accentuated by the

Great AwakeningGreat Awakening

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Anglo-American Anglo-American Worlds of the Worlds of the Eighteenth CenturyEighteenth Century English Economic and Social English Economic and Social

DevelopmentDevelopment– Large financial institutions and textile Large financial institutions and textile

factories dominated England’s factories dominated England’s economy; colonies were predominantly economy; colonies were predominantly ruralrural

– London’s population in 1750: 675,000London’s population in 1750: 675,000– 90 percent of all colonists lived in towns 90 percent of all colonists lived in towns

of fewer than 2,000 of fewer than 2,000

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The Consumer RevolutionThe Consumer Revolution– English producers sold appealing English producers sold appealing

array of consumer goods to colonistsarray of consumer goods to colonists– Consumption of imported Consumption of imported

manufactures rose 120 percent, manufactures rose 120 percent, 1750-17731750-1773

Inequality in England and AmericaInequality in England and America– Clear class distinctions in EnglandClear class distinctions in England– Colonists ambivalent toward English Colonists ambivalent toward English

grandeur grandeur – Concerned over the idle classes in Concerned over the idle classes in

England, both rich and poorEngland, both rich and poor

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Toward the Seven Years’ WarToward the Seven Years’ War– William Pitt’s designs on making William Pitt’s designs on making

England the most powerful imperial England the most powerful imperial nation in Europenation in Europe

– Event altered Americans’ conception Event altered Americans’ conception of themselves as Englishof themselves as English

“The Albany Congress had demonstrated that a few Americans like Franklin had seen beyond the diversity of a divided colonial world to the possibility of union….But it would take another war, one that restructured an empire, before some Americans saw in themselves a likeness that was not English” (136).

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Politics in England and AmericaPolitics in England and America– England’s balanced constitution England’s balanced constitution

caused some alarm among colonialscaused some alarm among colonials– Colonial governments modeled after Colonial governments modeled after

English governmentEnglish government The Imperial System before 1760The Imperial System before 1760

– English government’s policy of English government’s policy of benign neglect: indifference toward benign neglect: indifference toward American coloniesAmerican colonies

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chapter 4: the mosaic of eighteenth-century america

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