American Society in the 18th
Century
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Influence of Geography
Isolated by 3000 miles
Isolated by wilderness
Largely self-governing
Violence
Land cheap and labor scarce
Abundance of food
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I. New England’s Freehold
Society
A. Farm Families: Women in the Household
Economy
1. Husband the Head of the Household
2. Wife as the “Helpmate”
3. Motherhood
4. Restrictions
5. Marriage
I. New England’s Freehold
Society
C. Freehold Society in Crisis
1. Population Increase
2. Changes in Family Life
3. “Household Mode of Production”
D. Importance of Education
1. 1647 Massachusetts School Law
2. 1636 Harvard
E. Halfway Covenant
II. Toward a New Society: The
Middle Colonies, 1720-1765
A. Economic Growth and Social Inequality
1. Tenancy in New York
2. Conflict in Quaker Pennsylvania
3. Landlessness and Crime
II. Toward a New Society: The
Middle Colonies, 1720-1765
B. Cultural Diversity
1. Middle Colonies Not a “Melting Pot”
2. The German Influx
3. Scots-Irish Settlers
III. Imperial Slave Economy
III. The Imperial Slave Economy
C. Slavery in the Chesapeake and South
Carolina
1. Chesapeake
2. South Carolina
D. An African American Community Emerges
1. Building Community
III. The Imperial Slave Economy
E. Resistance and Accommodation
1. White Violence
2. The Stono Rebellion
3. NYC Slave Revolt 1712
F. William Byrd and the Rise of the Southern
Gentry
1. White Identity and Inequality
Theory of Mercantilism
• Chief Features
• Value of Colonies
– England wants a market...
– Colonies want...
• Distractions
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IV. The Politics of Empire, 1660-1713
A. From Mercantilism to Imperial Dominion
1. The Navigation Acts
– numerous acts
– 1696
Trade
Enumerated Goods
•Lumber
•Tobacco
•Rice
•Indigo
•Furs
To England
from Colonies
Manufactured Goods
•Furniture
•Clothing
•Colonials had
not factories.
From
England to
Colonies
Effects of Mercantilism
1. England: colony’s chief trading partner
2. non-enumerated goods flowed directly to
foreign ports
3. Some industries flourish
4. British inefficiency
5. Colonial prosperity
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IV. The Politics of Empire, 1660-1713
2. The Dominion of New England
IV. The Politics of Empire,
1660-1713
C. The Glorious Revolution in England and
America
1. In England
2. Rebellions in America
Rebellions in America (cont)
1. Maryland: economic and religious
causes
2. New York: Leisler’s Rebellion
– ethnic and class overtones
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III. The Imperial Slave Economy
G. The Northern Maritime Economy
1. The Urban Economy
2. Urban Society
flour, lumber, fish,
molasses, sugar,
manufactures, bills
of exchange
V. The New Politics of Empire,
1713-1750
B. Salutary Neglect
1. Sir Robert Walpole
V. The New Politics of Empire,
1713-1750
A. Similarities in government
1. Governors
2. Bicameral legislatures
3. Voters
VI. The Enlightenment and the
Great Awakening, 1720-1765
A. The Enlightenment in America
1. The European Enlightenment
2. John Locke
3. Franklin’s Contributions
VI. Religion in the 18th
Century
1. Anglican Church
- State-supported
2. Congregational Church
3. Decline of Puritan religion in 18th century
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VI. The Enlightenment and the
Great Awakening, 1720-1765
B. American Pietism and the Great Awakening
1. Pietism
2. Jonathan Edwards’s Calvinism
3. Whitefield’s Great Awakening (1730s-40s)
VI. The Enlightenment and the
Great Awakening, 1720-1765
C. Religious Upheaval in the North
1. Old Lights and New Lights
VI. The Enlightenment and the
Great Awakening, 1720-1765
D. Social and Religious Conflict in the South
1. The Presbyterian Revival
2. The Baptist Insurgency
Effects of the GA
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Challenges older clergy
new Christian denominations
Increase missionary work to NA and slaves
New schools
1st spontaneous movement of American ppl
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Religion and Science as Partners
• The Enlightenment and Great Awakening combine to
EMPOWER citizens. If people can control their
salvation, and can control their lives through
education, then they can, and should, control their
politics. Following the arbitrary rules of a king does
not follow reason. People should be able to control
their government. All people, not just an aristocracy
should have a say in the government- this is a natural
right.
• All of these issues, created by the ENLIGHTENMENT
and GREAT AWAKENING, helped create the
foundation for the American Revolution.