Colonial Governments and Economies in English Colonies (1630-1770)

1. Chapter 5 Life in the English Colonies (1630 – 1770)

2. Colonial Governments/Assemblies • Assemblies – based on Parliament • * Bicameral (two houses) • * Had power to raise taxes and organize local • government • * control of military with governor • First colonial legislature was an assembly in Jamestown, Virginia (1619) • * House of Burgesses – elected by colonists • Town meetings became the center of New England politics • * Developed tradition of holding one or more per year

3. Colonial Courts • Used to control local affairs • Used to support local interests and ideas • * Laws in Massachusetts enforced Puritan’s religious views (efforts to combine church and state)

4. The English Bill of Rights • Reduced powers of English monarchy • Parliament gained power • Colonists interested in shift of power from one monarch to representative governing body

5. The Growth of Trade Section 2

6. English Trade Laws • Mercantilism – create and maintain wealth • by controlling trade • *Good balance of trade = fewer imports • than exports • Navigation Acts – required colonists to do • bulk of trade with England • Best for England; limited colonies

7. Colonial Trade • Molasses Act (1733) – placed duties on sugar, molasses and rum • Triangular Trade – goods and slaves moved among England, American colonies, West Indies and West Africa

8. The Middle Passage • Brought enslaved Africans to West Indies or N. American colonies • Slavery important in southern colonies – • rice and tobacco production • required many workers

9. The Colonial Economy Section 3

10. Agriculture in the Southern Colonies • Southern economy depended on agriculture • Exported materials for building ships • Many small farms and some large plantations • Did well because of warm climate and long growing season • Cash crops – many farms grew tobacco (Virginia), rice and indigo (South Carolina) to sell for profit • These crops required many workers – slaves performed most of the plantation labor • Slave codes passed – laws to control slaves • Colonies with large number of slaves had strictest codes • South Carolina’s slaves could not hold meetings or own weapons • Some colonies did not allow slaveholders to free slaves

11. Industry and Trade in New England • Few grew cash crops because of harsh climate and rocky soil • Little demand for large numbers of farm laborers • Slavery not as important • Trade was vital to New England’s economy • Entrepreneurs traded locally and overseas • Fishing and shipbuilding were the two leading industries • Shipbuilding prospered because region had plenty of forests and local fishing industry needed ships • Diverse economy needed skilled craftspeople • Apprentices learned blacksmithing, weaving, shipbuilding, and printing

12. The Middle Colonies • Good growing season and rich land • Middle colonies grew staple crops (crops that are needed) – wheat, barley and oats; raised and sold livestock • Slaves more important here than in New England • Worked in cities as skilled laborers (blacksmiths, carpenters) • Worked on farms, dockyards, on ships, shipbuilding industry • Indentured servants largely filled labor needs • Trade and free enterprise important • By the mid-1700s Philadelphia had become one of the largest British colonial cities

13. Women and the Economy • Ran farms and businesses (clothing and grocery stores, bakeries, drug stores) • Some women practiced medicine, often as nurses or midwives • Colonial laws and customs limited women’s economic activities • Married women could not work outside the home without her husband’s permission • Husband had the right to keep money she earned • Most worked in the home, managed households and raised children

14. The Great Awakening Section 4

15. Words of the Great Awakening • Church leaders worried colonists were losing religious faith • Want to bring back sense of religious duty • Believed revivals would revive interest in religion (emotional gatherings where people came together to hear sermons and declare their faith) • Many colonists experienced “a great awakening” in their religious lives • Great Awakening reached its height in the 1730s and 1740s – widespread Christian movement involving sermons and revivals

16. Words of the Great Awakening (continued) • Jonathan Edwards was one of the most important leaders of the Great Awakening • Pastor in Massachusetts • Urged sinners to seek forgiveness for sins or face punishment in hell forever • George Whitefield was one of the most popular ministers of the G.A. – held revivals from Georgia to New England • Because of Whitefield thousands of colonists found new faith in Christianity • Ministers preached all people were born sinners who could only be saved by the will of God

17. “Old Lights” – traditionalists • Did not believe that enthusiasm of Great Awakening could truly awaken spirituality • “over-heated imagination” • “New Lights” – followers of the Great Awakening • Presbyterian Church in middle colonies changed • Gilbert Tennent led new movement attacking traditionalists • Church split into two groups – “Old Side” and “New Side” • Church attendance greatly increased in middle and southern colonies (particularly in Virginia) • Much of this growth took place among Baptists and Methodists • Great Awakening influential on frontier • Traveling preachers held revivals • Important because there were few churches

18. The Great Awakening and Society • Women welcomed the message • Sought spiritual renewal around the time of childbirth • Free and enslaved Africans were drawn to message of acceptance and spiritual equality • Despite equality message, revivals separated by race • Before the Great Awakening, there was little communication between people living in different colonies • Changed as ministers moved about, exchanging ideas • Educational opportunities improved • Colleges founded to provide religious instruction • Led some colonists to begin demanding political equality • Revivals were popular places to talk about political and social issues

19. American Culture Section 5