Colonies Emerge
Between 1607 and 1732 the English established 13 colonies along the eastern coast of
North America. English law and customs strongly influenced life in these new colonies.
But as time passed, the experience of living in a new world caused colonists to alter some
of their English traditions. By the mid-1700s, life in the colonies was no longer purely
English. A different lifestyle had emerged. Increasingly, people called this new way of
life "American."
When the English first immigrated to America, they brought with them certain English
political traditions. Among these were the Magna Carta (1215), based on beliefs that the
accused have a right to a trial by jury and that taxpayers have the right to give their
consent to tax increases. Englishmen also carried to the colonies the English tradition of
representative (parliamentarian) government. In 1619, Virginians established the New
World's first elected legislature, the House of Burgesses. Later, other colonies
established locally elected legislatures.
Life in the New World led colonists to make their political institutions more
democratic. Though men in the colonies were required to own land to be eligible to vote
(as were men in England), it was relatively easy to meet property qualifications for voting
in the colonies. By the mid-1750s, a greater percentage of men in the colonies could vote
than could those in England. Another step toward democratic government took place in
New England where eligible citizens were given the right to vote in town meetings.
Meanwhile, for reasons of both moral conviction and practical necessity, most colonies
became more tolerant toward different religious groups. There was far more religious
freedom in the colonies than in England.
The geographic conditions in America also produced new economic patterns in the
colonies. Originally, Englishmen hoped to find gold in America, as had the Spanish. But
gold was not to be found in the English colonies. The absence of this and other precious
metals probably benefitted the colonies in the long run. Colonists were forced to find or
develop other sources of wealth or means of livelihood. In southern and middle colonies
people discovered that the geography of the region was well suited for farming. Soon
cash-crops of cotton, tobacco, and wheat were produced and traded with England. New
England's forests and nearby ocean waters provided the basis for profitable ship-building
and fishing industries. Meanwhile, the scarcity of labor encouraged two other institutions
-- indentured servitude and slavery.
The American experience also caused changes in social customs. A class system
similar to that in Europe was present when the colonies (especially proprietary colonies)
were first founded. But the abundance of economic opportunity in America made it
possible for many people to improve their social standing. Even the poorest immigrants
to America could, through hard work, achieve success and the respect of others. In fact,
individuals were often valued more for their work ethic and economic success than for
their "blood line." This attitude led to a weakening of the class system.
And so, by the mid-1700s, the American experience had strengthened democratic
institutions, fostered religious tolerance, encouraged economic initiative, and promoted
greater social equality (at least among whites). In short, the experience was changing
English colonists into something new. They were becoming Americans.