Colonial Colonial Life Life andand SocietySociety

A03A03

7.8.317.8.31

American American Colonies at Colonies at the End of the End of

the the SeventeentSeventeent

h Centuryh Century

PopulatiPopulation on

GrowthGrowth

Estimated Total Estimated Total Population of Population of New Spain, New Spain,

New France, New France, and the British and the British North American North American Colonies, 1700Colonies, 1700––

17801780

PopulatioPopulation: n:

GeographGeographic ic

ExpansioExpansionn

Movement into the Movement into the Backcountry, 1720–1760Backcountry, 1720–1760

PopulatiPopulation: on:

Ethnic & Ethnic & Racial Racial

Diversity Diversity

Population: AgePopulation: Age

Population Structure by Gender and Age: Population Structure by Gender and Age:

British Mainland Colonies, 1760s, and United States, British Mainland Colonies, 1760s, and United States, 1980s1980s

Societies & Economies Societies & Economies Purpose Families Ethnicity Economy

New England

Religious Nuclear families

Mostly English

Family farms

Middle Colonies

Mixed Nuclear families

Mixed European

Family farms

Chesapeake Gain wealth

Extended families

English (majority)& African

Market plantations (tobacco)

Lower South Gain wealth

Extended families

English & African (majority)

Market plantations (rice, indigo)

Religion: Religion: DiversityDiversity

• ToleranceTolerance??

• Great Great AwakeninAwakeningg

• George George WhitefielWhitefieldd

Religious Diversity Religious Diversity in 1750in 1750

EducationEducation

• New EnglandNew England• ““Old Satan Deluder” Act (1647)Old Satan Deluder” Act (1647)

EconomyEconomy

• Mercantilism – theory, purposeMercantilism – theory, purpose• Navigation ActsNavigation Acts• ““triangular” tradetriangular” trade• Smuggling – quality of royal officialsSmuggling – quality of royal officials

The Rise of the American Merchant, 1750The Rise of the American Merchant, 1750

Value of Value of Colonial Colonial

Exports by Exports by Region, Region, Annual Annual

Average, Average, 17681768––17721772

Colonial Products in the Mid-1700sColonial Products in the Mid-1700s

Government: Government: Britain & Its Britain & Its ColoniesColonies

• Tradition of Lax RuleTradition of Lax Rule– English Civil WarEnglish Civil War– Glorious Revolution - triumph of Glorious Revolution - triumph of

ParliamentParliament– George I and II reliance on ParliamentGeorge I and II reliance on Parliament– ““Whigs”Whigs”

• Salutary NeglectSalutary Neglect• Colonial tradition of self-rule Colonial tradition of self-rule

– Colonial assemblies - powersColonial assemblies - powers– Weakness of governorsWeakness of governors

Government Government and religion and religion in the British in the British

Colonies, Colonies,

17201720

Eighteenth century merchants Eighteenth century merchants conducting business in a conducting business in a

coffeehousecoffeehouse

Snake cartoon by Benjamin Snake cartoon by Benjamin FranklinFranklin