The Development of New England Colonies

US History

Colonial Regions

Backcountry- ran along the Appalachian mountains

English Colonies Population in North America:

• 1700: 257,000• 1750: 1,170,000

NE-Atlantic Trade Three types of trade:

1. Trade with other colonies.

2. Direct Exchange of goods with Europe.

3. Triangular trade

Triangular trade- the transatlantic system of trade in which goods, including slaves, were exchanged between Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Navigation Acts Because New England made profits from trade, England

wanted to receive part of those profits so England instituted the Navigation Acts.

Navigation Acts- 16511. All shipping had to be done on English ships or ships made

in the English colonies.

2. Products such as tobacco, wood, or sugar could be sold only to England or its colonies.

3. European imports to the colonies had to pass through English ports.

4. English officials were to tax any colonial goods not shipped to England.

Merchants ignored the acts: led to smuggling- importing or exporting goods illegally.

Also had trouble preventing pirates from interfering.

African Americans in New England

Few slaves in New England, slavery not economical in this region of small farms and short growing seasons.

Some slaves were hired out to work on docks, shops, or warehouses.

Occasionally some enslaved persons were able to buy freedom- could become a merchant, sailor, printer, carpenter or landowner.

New England was home to more free blacks than any other region, but were still not treated equally.

Changes in Puritan Society

Gradual decline of the Puritan religion. Caused by:

1. Drive for economic success conflicted with Puritan views

2. Competition from other religious groups (Baptists, Anglicans)

3. Political changes- a new royal charter granted religious freedom for all.

Vote based on property ownership, not church membership

Middle Colonies Good Conditions attracted immigrants

German farmers created advanced farming methods. Produced cash crops

After harvesting corn, wheat, rye or other grains—they were taken to the gristmill—where they were ground into flour. These were built on rivers and used water power.

The middle colonies were nicknamed “the breadbasket”

Middle Colonies-Cities Excellent harbors were the perfect site for cities–

New York City (Hudson River), Philadelphia (Delaware River) They exported cash crops and imported manufactured

goods

The wealth of Philadelphia and NYC brought public improvements: Buildings Paved roads Streetlights (oil)

Diversity and Tolerance The early settlers to the middle colonies—The Dutch

and the Quakers—helped to promote tolerance. Quakers-

Insisted on the equality of men and woman First to raise voices against slavery

Tolerant attitude of most people, did not prevent slavery in the middle colonies.

Southern Colonies South’s soil/climate allowed for year-round growing—

ideal for rice and tobacco. Required much labor to produce these cash crops.

In the 1660s, planters began using more enslaved Africans on their plantations. By 1750, 40 % of the South’s population were enslaved Africans.

The turn to slavery made plantation owners with a large number of slaves even wealthier. New social class—THE PLANTER CLASS

They were a small part of the South’s population , but held the most economic and political power in the South.

Life Under Slavery Planters hired overseers to watch and direct the work

of slaves. Overseers punished slaves who they thought weren’t

doing their full share of work.

Slaves lived in small one-room cabins furnished with sleeping cots; Typical food for a week might be a small basket of corn and a pound of pork

In spite of brutal conditions, many kept customs and beliefs from their homelands These customs and beliefs became the basis of African-

American culture.

Slave Rebellions Africans fought their enslavement in several ways:

Working slowly on purpose Damaging goods Pretending not to understand orders Open Rebellion

Stono Rebellion- an uprising of slaves that led to planters making stricter slave laws (couldn’t leave the plantation without permission, slaves were not allowed to meet with free blacks)

Backcountry The region of dense forests located near the

Appalachian Mountains

Settlers- First made a living trading with Native Americans Farmers began to move to the region and built log

cabins to shelter their families. The desire for land led many Backcountry settlers to

move westward. The move west led to more encounters with Native

Americans—and even the Spanish and French.