4.3-4.4
Notes
Colonial Economy
The Great Awakening
American Culture
The Southern Economy
1. Relied on: agriculture and raw materials
2. Exported: timber (for building ships) and
deerskins
3. Industries: Naval Stores (pitch, turpentine and
tar)
4. Small farms and Large plantations sparked this
agricultural economy
5. Economy based on: Cash Crops; crops grown
mainly to be sold for profits (tobacco, rice and
indigo)
Southern Plantations and Slavery
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1. Plantations main work source: Slaves
2. Slaves worked for life (unless they were
able to earn enough money- very hard with
harsh laws0
Slave Codes
1. Laws to control slaves
2. Most common on the biggest plantations
(South Carolina)
3. Laws prevented slaves from running away
(would be killed if found)
The New England Economy
• Relied on: Cash Crops (poor growing
conditions)
** no need to have large farms therefore slavery
not as big here (they still had them though)
• Most families farmed their own areas
• Industries: Fishing and shipbuilding (shipyards)high quality ships- made them lots of $$$$$$
• Export: Dried Fish, pickled beef and pork, furs
• Economy: demanded lots of skilled craftspeople
The Middle Colonies
• ** Kind of a combo of Southern and New
England Colonies
• Relied On: commerce and agriculture
• Economy based on: Staple Crops ( crops that
are continuously in demand (wheat, barley and
oats)
• Export: Staple Crops, livestock
• Slaves: had more of role here then The New
England
• Indentured Servants: biggest fill of their labor
needs
Women and the Economy
• Contributed by:
– running farms and businesses
– Practiced medicine (more likely then men)
• A married women could not work outside the
home without her husband’s permission!!!
• A husband also had the right to keep the
women’s wages!!!!
4.3 The Great Awakening
What: An unorganized but widespread
movement of
evangelical Christian sermons and church meetings
Why: Fear that many colonist and their dedication to their
religion was declining
Jonathan Edwards: one of the most important leaders of
the Great Awakening
George Whitefield- came to American to begin a series of
Revivals (sermons)- drew thousands and thousands of
supporters
Result: Several thousands and colonist renewed their faith
in Christianity
Old Lights vs. New lights
• Old lights- traditionalists
• New lights- followers of the great
awakening
• Spread all through the Frontier
• Attracted many people of different classes
and races
People were seeking spiritual renewal
(acceptance and equality)
4.3 American Culture
• Enlightenment- When the Scientific Revolution had
greatly changed people’s understanding not only of the
natural sciences but also of human activity.
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Ben Franklin:
known as one of the most significant thinkers of all time
ran one of the most successful papers in the colonies
Founded the first circulating library and academy
Identified positive and negative charges in electricity.
Invented: lighting rod, Franklin Stove, bifocals
**** Had a huge impact on Early American Culture