Chapter 3 The Commercial North

1. Chapter 3The Commercial North Section 3(A) Notes

2. Commerce Grows • Under mercantilism, the colonies existed to help the home country • But, from 1650 to 1750, the colonies economy grew twice as fast as England’s did.

3. A Diversified Economy • Northern farms grew several crops and raised livestock. • The Southern farms usually relied on one cash crop. • The North also developed industry including lumber, iron and ship building.

4. Urban Life • Trade caused port cities to grow, especially in the north. • Philadelphia became the second largest city in the British Empire. • Its street plan, including parks, police patrols, sidewalks and street lights, made it a very sophisticated city.

5. A Diverse Society • The north was composed of many immigrant groups including German, Scots-Irish, Dutch, Scandinavian, Mennonites and Jewish people. • Despite their sometimes conflicting interests, the colonists got along with their new neighbors to create a truly diverse American society.

6. Slavery • Because raising wheat and corn didn’t require as many workers as raising tobacco and cotton, the north did not rely on slavery. • But, enslaved persons were considered property and were harshly treated in both regions

7. The Role of Women • As in the south, women had extensive work responsibilities but few legal rights. • They could not vote, buy or sell property or keep their own wages. • In New England, the law said that women must be kept under their husbands’ control.

8. Salem Witch Trials • Limitations on the roles of women, social tension, relations with the Native Americans and religious fanatics led to women being accused of witchcraft. • Hysteria gripped New England as more and more women were falsely accused. • The trials ended when the governor’s wife was accused, but not before 19 were hanged and many others died in prison.