Opportunity and Opportunity and Oppression in Colonial Oppression in Colonial

SocietySocietyAP US HISTORYAP US HISTORY

Copyright 2007, Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman

Sources of Stability: Sources of Stability: New England Colonies of New England Colonies of the Seventeenth Century the Seventeenth Century

• New Englanders replicated New Englanders replicated traditional English social order traditional English social order

• Contrasted with experience in other Contrasted with experience in other English coloniesEnglish colonies

• Explanation lies in development of Explanation lies in development of Puritan familiesPuritan families

Immigrant Families Immigrant Families and New Social Order and New Social Order

• Puritans believed God ordained the familyPuritans believed God ordained the family• Reproduced patriarchal English family Reproduced patriarchal English family

structure in New Englandstructure in New England• Huge population growth caused by high Huge population growth caused by high

life expectancy more than high fertilitylife expectancy more than high fertility• Greater longevity in New England resulted Greater longevity in New England resulted

in “invention” of grandparentsin “invention” of grandparents• Multigenerational families strengthened Multigenerational families strengthened

social stabilitysocial stability

Commonwealth of FamiliesCommonwealth of Families

• Most New Englanders married neighbors Most New Englanders married neighbors with similar valueswith similar values

• Households produced their own needs and Households produced their own needs and surplusessurpluses

• New England towns were collections of New England towns were collections of interrelated householdsinterrelated households

• Church membership associated with Church membership associated with certain families and church activities certain families and church activities increasingly reflected thatincreasingly reflected that

• Education provided by the familyEducation provided by the family

Women’s Lives Women’s Lives in Puritan New Englandin Puritan New England

• Women’s rolesWomen’s roles– Farm labor, although not necessarily same Farm labor, although not necessarily same

tasks as mentasks as men– Often outnumbered men 2:1 in church Often outnumbered men 2:1 in church

membershipmembership

• Women could not control propertyWomen could not control property

• Divorce difficult for a woman to obtainDivorce difficult for a woman to obtain

• Both genders accommodated themselves Both genders accommodated themselves to roles they believed God ordainedto roles they believed God ordained

Social Hierarchy in New Social Hierarchy in New EnglandEngland

• Absence of very rich necessitated creation Absence of very rich necessitated creation of new social orderof new social order

• New England social order:New England social order:– Local gentry of prominent, pious familiesLocal gentry of prominent, pious families– Large population of independent yeomen Large population of independent yeomen

landowners loyal to local communitylandowners loyal to local community– Small population of landless laborers, servants, Small population of landless laborers, servants,

poorpoor

• Only moderate disparities of wealthOnly moderate disparities of wealth• Servitude was more an apprenticeship Servitude was more an apprenticeship

The Challenge of the The Challenge of the Chesapeake EnvironmentChesapeake Environment

• Despite similarities in background Despite similarities in background and timing with New England, and timing with New England, Chesapeake settlements were very Chesapeake settlements were very differentdifferent

• High death rate most important High death rate most important source of distinctiveness of source of distinctiveness of ChesapeakeChesapeake

Family Life at RiskFamily Life at Risk

• Normal family life impossible in VirginiaNormal family life impossible in Virginia– Mostly young male indentured servants Mostly young male indentured servants – Most immigrants soon died Most immigrants soon died – In marriages, one spouse often died within In marriages, one spouse often died within

seven yearsseven years

• Extended families commonExtended families common

• Mortality rates so high that without Mortality rates so high that without immigration, population would have immigration, population would have declineddeclined

Women in Chesapeake Women in Chesapeake SocietySociety

• Scarcity gave some women Scarcity gave some women bargaining power in marriage marketbargaining power in marriage market

• Female indentured servants Female indentured servants vulnerable to sexual exploitationvulnerable to sexual exploitation

• Childbearing extremely dangerousChildbearing extremely dangerous

• Chesapeake women died twenty Chesapeake women died twenty years earlier than women in New years earlier than women in New EnglandEngland

The Structure of Planter The Structure of Planter Society: The Gentry Society: The Gentry

• Tobacco the basis of Chesapeake Tobacco the basis of Chesapeake wealthwealth

• Large landowners had to have labor Large landowners had to have labor under their controlunder their control

• Great planters few but dominantGreat planters few but dominant– Arrived with capital to invest in workersArrived with capital to invest in workers– Amassed huge tracts of land Amassed huge tracts of land – Gentry intermarried and become colony’s Gentry intermarried and become colony’s

elite leaders elite leaders

The Structure of Planter The Structure of Planter Society: The FreemenSociety: The Freemen

• The largest class in Chesapeake The largest class in Chesapeake societysociety

• Most freed at the end of indentureMost freed at the end of indenture

• Lived on the edge of povertyLived on the edge of poverty

The Structure of Planter The Structure of Planter Society: Indentured Society: Indentured

ServantsServants• Servitude a temporary statusServitude a temporary status

• Conditions harshConditions harsh

• Servants regarded their bondage as Servants regarded their bondage as slaveryslavery

• Planters feared rebellionPlanters feared rebellion

The Structure of Planter The Structure of Planter Society: Post-1680s StabilitySociety: Post-1680s Stability• Before 1680, the rank of gentry was Before 1680, the rank of gentry was

open to people with capitalopen to people with capital• Demographic shift after 1680 Demographic shift after 1680

created Creole elitecreated Creole elite• Ownership of slaves consolidated Ownership of slaves consolidated

planter wealth and positionplanter wealth and position• Freemen found advancement more Freemen found advancement more

difficultdifficult

The Structure of Planter The Structure of Planter Society: A Dispersed Society: A Dispersed

PopulationPopulation• Large-scale tobacco cultivation Large-scale tobacco cultivation

requiredrequired– Great landholdingsGreat landholdings– Ready access to water-borne commerceReady access to water-borne commerce

• Result: population dispersed along Result: population dispersed along great tidal rivers great tidal rivers

• Virginia a rural society devoid of townsVirginia a rural society devoid of towns• Education system was seen as Education system was seen as

unnecessary and got little attentionunnecessary and got little attention

Race and Freedom Race and Freedom in British Americain British America

• Indians decimated by disease and increasing conflictIndians decimated by disease and increasing conflict

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qTqdxP2qVo (King Philip’s War/Metacom)(King Philip’s War/Metacom)

• http://youtu.be/vFfxRm8ZXsw (Part 1) (Part 1)

• http://youtu.be/G92duTgaZ_A (Part 2) (Part 2)

Other examples such as the Paxton Boys in Other examples such as the Paxton Boys in Pennsylvania (see handout)Pennsylvania (see handout)

• European indentured servant pool waned after 1660 European indentured servant pool waned after 1660 as wages roseas wages rose

• Enslaved Africans filled demand for laborEnslaved Africans filled demand for labor

Roots of SlaveryRoots of Slavery

• First Africans came to Virginia in 1619First Africans came to Virginia in 1619• Status of Africans in Virginia unclear for Status of Africans in Virginia unclear for

fifty yearsfifty years• Rising black population in Virginia after Rising black population in Virginia after

1672 prompted stricter slave laws1672 prompted stricter slave laws– Africans defined as slaves for life Africans defined as slaves for life – Slave status passed on to children Slave status passed on to children – White masters possessed total control of slave White masters possessed total control of slave

life and laborlife and labor– Mixing of races not toleratedMixing of races not tolerated

Origins and Destinations of Origins and Destinations of African Slaves, 1619-1760African Slaves, 1619-1760

Constructing African Constructing African American Identities: American Identities:

Geography’s Influence Geography’s Influence • Slave experience differed from Slave experience differed from

colony to colonycolony to colony

• 60% of South Carolina population 60% of South Carolina population blackblack

• Nearly half Virginia population blackNearly half Virginia population black

• Blacks much less numerous in New Blacks much less numerous in New England and the Middle ColoniesEngland and the Middle Colonies

Constructing African Constructing African American Identities: African American Identities: African

InitiativesInitiatives• Older black population tended to look Older black population tended to look

down on recent arrivals from Africa down on recent arrivals from Africa • All Africans participated in creating All Africans participated in creating

an African American culturean African American culture– Required an imaginative re-shaping of Required an imaginative re-shaping of

African and European customs. African and European customs.

• By 1720, African population and By 1720, African population and culture were self-sustainingculture were self-sustaining

Constructing African Constructing African American Identities: Slave American Identities: Slave

ResistanceResistance• Widespread resentment of debased status Widespread resentment of debased status

• Armed resistance such as South Carolina’s Armed resistance such as South Carolina’s Stono Rebellion of 1739 a threatStono Rebellion of 1739 a threat

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=eUt6DnSH9cU

• Black mariners linked African American Black mariners linked African American communities and brought news of outside communities and brought news of outside world to American slavesworld to American slaves

Rise of a Commercial Rise of a Commercial EmpireEmpire

• English leaders ignored colonies until English leaders ignored colonies until 1650s1650s

• Restored monarchy of Charles II Restored monarchy of Charles II recognized value of colonial traderecognized value of colonial trade

• Navigation Acts passed to regulate, Navigation Acts passed to regulate, protect, glean revenue from protect, glean revenue from commercecommerce

Response to Economic Response to Economic CompetitionCompetition

• ““Mercantilism” Mercantilism” – One country’s gain is another country’s lossOne country’s gain is another country’s loss– Countries gain by control of world’s scarce Countries gain by control of world’s scarce

resourcesresources• English trade regulations more English trade regulations more ad hocad hoc

responses to particular problems than responses to particular problems than coherent mercantilist policycoherent mercantilist policy

• Varieties of motivationVarieties of motivation– Crown wanted moneyCrown wanted money– English merchants wanted to exclude DutchEnglish merchants wanted to exclude Dutch– Parliament wanted stronger navy—encouraged Parliament wanted stronger navy—encouraged

domestic shipbuilding industrydomestic shipbuilding industry– Most people preferred more exports, less importsMost people preferred more exports, less imports

Regulating Colonial Trade: Regulating Colonial Trade: The Navigation Act of 1660 The Navigation Act of 1660

• Ships engaged in English colonial tradeShips engaged in English colonial trade– Must be made in England (or America)Must be made in England (or America)– Must carry a crew at least 75% EnglishMust carry a crew at least 75% English

• Enumerated goods Enumerated goods onlyonly to English ports to English ports– 1660 list included tobacco, sugar, cotton, indigo, dyes, 1660 list included tobacco, sugar, cotton, indigo, dyes,

gingerginger– 1704-1705 molasses, rice, naval stores also1704-1705 molasses, rice, naval stores also

• EffectsEffects– Encouraged ship building in EnglandEncouraged ship building in England– Made it harder for rivals to get certain goodsMade it harder for rivals to get certain goods– Generated revenue for the crownGenerated revenue for the crown

Regulating Colonial Trade: Regulating Colonial Trade: The Navigation Act of 1663The Navigation Act of 1663

• The Staple ActThe Staple Act

• Goods shipped to English colonies Goods shipped to English colonies must pass through Englandmust pass through England

• Increased price paid by colonial Increased price paid by colonial consumersconsumers

Regulating Colonial Trade:Regulating Colonial Trade:Implementing the Acts Implementing the Acts

• Navigation Acts aimed at removing Dutch Navigation Acts aimed at removing Dutch role in English commerce role in English commerce

• Planters hurt by Navigation ActsPlanters hurt by Navigation Acts• New England merchants skirted laws New England merchants skirted laws • English revisions tightened loopholesEnglish revisions tightened loopholes• 1696—Admiralty Courts and Board of 1696—Admiralty Courts and Board of

Trade created Trade created • Navigation Acts eventually benefited Navigation Acts eventually benefited

colonial merchantscolonial merchants

Colonial Factions Spark Colonial Factions Spark Political Revolt, 1676-1691Political Revolt, 1676-1691

• English colonies experienced unrest English colonies experienced unrest at the end of the seventeenth at the end of the seventeenth centurycentury

• Unrest not social revolution but a Unrest not social revolution but a contest between gentry “ins” and contest between gentry “ins” and “outs”“outs”

• Winners gained legitimacy for their Winners gained legitimacy for their rule rule

Civil War in Virginia: Civil War in Virginia: Bacon’s Rebellion—Bacon’s Rebellion—

BeginningsBeginnings• Discontent with Governor Berkeley’s ruleDiscontent with Governor Berkeley’s rule

– Green Spring faction controlled lucrative Green Spring faction controlled lucrative economic activityeconomic activity

– Frontier population felt that Berkeley did not Frontier population felt that Berkeley did not protect them from Native Americansprotect them from Native Americans

• Nathaniel Bacon united this discontent Nathaniel Bacon united this discontent into rebellion in 1676into rebellion in 1676

• Rebellion allowed small farmers, blacks Rebellion allowed small farmers, blacks and women to join, demand reformsand women to join, demand reforms

Civil War in Virginia: Civil War in Virginia: Bacon’s Rebellion—OutcomeBacon’s Rebellion—Outcome

• Rebels burned capital, caused great Rebels burned capital, caused great disorderdisorder

• Governor William Berkeley regained Governor William Berkeley regained control, but was recalled to Englandcontrol, but was recalled to England

• Rebellion collapsed after Bacon’s deathRebellion collapsed after Bacon’s death

• Gentry recovered positions and united Gentry recovered positions and united over next decades to oppose royal over next decades to oppose royal governorsgovernors

The Glorious Revolution in The Glorious Revolution in the Bay Colony: King Philip’s the Bay Colony: King Philip’s

WarWar• Population divided by increased tradePopulation divided by increased trade

– Brought non-Puritan settlersBrought non-Puritan settlers– Navigation Acts inflicted direct royal presenceNavigation Acts inflicted direct royal presence

• 1675—Metacomet led Wampanoag-1675—Metacomet led Wampanoag-Narragansett alliance against colonistsNarragansett alliance against colonists

• Colonists struggled to unite, to defeat Colonists struggled to unite, to defeat IndiansIndians

• Deaths totaled 1000+ Indians and Deaths totaled 1000+ Indians and colonistscolonists

The Glorious Revolution in The Glorious Revolution in the Bay Colony: The the Bay Colony: The

Dominion of New EnglandDominion of New England• 1684—King James II established 1684—King James II established

“Dominion of New England”“Dominion of New England”– Colonial charters annulledColonial charters annulled– Colonies from Maine to New Jersey Colonies from Maine to New Jersey

unitedunited– Edmund Andros appointed governor, Edmund Andros appointed governor,

ruled tyrannically ruled tyrannically

• 1689—news of James II’s overthrow 1689—news of James II’s overthrow sparked rebellion in Massachusettssparked rebellion in Massachusetts

The Glorious Revolution in The Glorious Revolution in the Bay Colony: Outcomesthe Bay Colony: Outcomes

• Andros deposed when word of revolution Andros deposed when word of revolution in England reached New Englandin England reached New England

• Dominion of New England split up in 1691Dominion of New England split up in 1691• William III and Mary II gave William III and Mary II gave

Massachusetts a new charter Massachusetts a new charter – incorporated Plymouthincorporated Plymouth– Voting rights based on property and wealth, Voting rights based on property and wealth,

not church membershipnot church membership

Contagion of WitchcraftContagion of Witchcraft

• Charges of witchcraft commonCharges of witchcraft common– Accused witches thought to have made a compact with Accused witches thought to have made a compact with

the devilthe devil

• Salem panic of 1691 much larger in scope than Salem panic of 1691 much larger in scope than previous accusationsprevious accusations– Twenty victims dead before trials halted in late summer Twenty victims dead before trials halted in late summer

of 1692of 1692

• Ministers outside Salem condemned practice of Ministers outside Salem condemned practice of using “Spectral Evidence” in trialsusing “Spectral Evidence” in trials

• Causes included church factionalism, economic Causes included church factionalism, economic jealousy, misogyny, and fear of Native American jealousy, misogyny, and fear of Native American attackattack

The Glorious Revolution in The Glorious Revolution in New YorkNew York

• Underlying tension between older Dutch Underlying tension between older Dutch elite and newly wealthy Anglo-Dutch elite and newly wealthy Anglo-Dutch merchantsmerchants

• 1689—news of James II’s overthrow 1689—news of James II’s overthrow prompted crisis of authority in New Yorkprompted crisis of authority in New York

• Jacob Leisler seized controlJacob Leisler seized control

• Maintained position through 1690Maintained position through 1690

• March 1691—Governor Henry Sloughter March 1691—Governor Henry Sloughter arrested and executed Leisler arrested and executed Leisler

The Glorious Revolution in The Glorious Revolution in MarylandMaryland

• 1689—news prompted John Coode to lead 1689—news prompted John Coode to lead revolt against Catholic governorrevolt against Catholic governor

• Coode’s rebellion approved by King WilliamCoode’s rebellion approved by King William

• Maryland as Royal colonyMaryland as Royal colony– Maryland taken from Calvert controlMaryland taken from Calvert control– Anglican official church; Catholics barred from Anglican official church; Catholics barred from

officeoffice

• 1715—proprietorship restored to the 1715—proprietorship restored to the Protestant fourth Lord Baltimore Protestant fourth Lord Baltimore

Local Aspirations within Local Aspirations within an Atlantic Empirean Atlantic Empire

• By 1700, England’s attitude toward By 1700, England’s attitude toward the colonies had changed the colonies had changed dramaticallydramatically

• Sectional differences within the Sectional differences within the colonies were profoundcolonies were profound

• They were all part of Great Britain They were all part of Great Britain but had little to do with each otherbut had little to do with each other