Topic Four: British America to 1700
A. Society in early British America
1. British Colonies are divided into three geographical areas
a. New England colonies
* Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island
b. Middle Colonies
* Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware
c. Southern Colonies
* Virginia, Maryland, North/South Caroline, Georgia
2. Puritan New England
a. migrated in family units
b. healthy climate, hard working
c. very orderly townships created
d. education stressed, Harvard established 1636
e. successful colonies, grandparents
f. cooperative marriages
g. towards the end of the century, Puritan values faded
3. Middle Colonies
a. economy based on small family farms, trade/mercantilism
b. majority of port cities located here
4. Southern Colonies
a. hazardous, many die of disease, poverty
b. uneven gender ratio, short life expectancy
c. marriages last on average 10 years
d. status depended on land and laborers
e. society dominated by plantation owners
f. most are indentured servants/laborers
g. very few institutions built
5. The African-American Experience in British America
a. Most Africans ended up in South America/Caribbean
b. estimated 12 million Africans brought to the Americas
* also have economic impact on Africa
c. classical slavery vs. New World slavery
d. two main factors in American slavery
* idea of hierarchy
* economic need
e. very few slaves before 1660
f. gradual enslavement of blacks
g. culture remained more intact in the South
h. slave trade negligible in North America, instead self-perpetuating
B. British mercantile system in North America
1. After the Restoration, mercantile system in America
2. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Navigation Acts
3. ensures that culture will be English
4. adds to economic distress, will lead to unrest
a. Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia
* started by Nathaniel Bacon
* war with the natives and revolt against Gov. Berkeley
* spurs slavery in the South
b. Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts
* King Phillip’s War
* political upheaval (James II and the Glorious Revolution)
* economic turmoil
* religious turmoil
* last gasp of puritanism