Regions of the U.S. Series:
Northeast, Part 1
–Regions of U.S.
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Northeast, Part 1: 2’ 24” (58’ lecture)
How is capitalism combined with religion a dominant factor in the northeast colonies from the very beginning period of this country? play sampler
Native Americans.
Climate and lay of the land determine life style of agriculture, hunting, and fur trapping. The Iroquois Nation is a confederation of tribes governed by the concept of separation of powers with checks and balances.
The Puritans.
The Puritans are the first Europeans to arrive, form the Massachusetts Bay Colony, aim to create a perfect colony, but they become more secularized and evolve a strong work ethic.
The Quakers settle in
Pennsylvania, are cordial to the
Indians, but are replaced by non-
Quakers who drive out the Indians in quest for land.
Agriculture is the economics of the Northeast . The dominant family farm has no need for slave labor. Southern raw materials go to England's industry and not to the North.
Urban life. Boston, NY,
Philadelphia. Lower class urbanized workers are called mechanics. Upper class composed of merchants, traders.

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Regions of the U.S. Series:
Northeast, Part 1
A period of neglect of the
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American colony by England while fighting wars on the continent.
England looks to the colonies to help pay its large war debt. The
Boston merchant class resist the taxes
Talk of independence starts after the Boston Massacre, the Stamp
Act, and the Battle of Lexington in
1775.
The Declaration of
Independence in 1776. An attempt to abolish slavery is defeated by delegates.
Economic motivation. The
Merchant Class wants freer hand like the period of neglect by
England, and also wants to rule the country. Selfish economic motives are combined by belief in freedom and independence.
The Revolution.
Only a minority favors revolution. Harsh conditions and a brutal guerilla war. Tensions between the upper class officers and the lower class farmers. Victory against all odds.
Articles of Confederation.
The lower classes have more say with states' rights and a weak federal government, but there is the problem of fragmentation.
The Constitution of 1787.
Strong federal government, states lose some power.
Economics. The dominance of agriculture. The merchant class

Regions of the U.S. Series:
Northeast, Part 1
gains power. The increased use of water power to run mills modeled after England. Alexander
Hamilton is prime mover, opposed by Thomas Jefferson who champions rural life..
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Transportation revolution.
The canal system, especially the Erie
Canal, and later the railroads are mainly financed by the state and federal government counter to laissez faire. This is a boon to
Northeast manufacturing, and New
York City becomes the commercial capital of the country.
Slavery is less feasible in the 15
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North and fades with dependence on wage labor, but there is often slave trading. There is also moral revulsion to slavery, leading to the abolitionist movement.
Religion.
The North moves away from religion and becomes more materialistic, but there are revival movements emphasizing the oneon-one relation with God.
Banking. Hamilton establishes the National Bank in the 1790s which is conservative, has strict rules and serves the old business class. President Andrew Jackson kills the bank, leading to a short term economic depression, but new banking policies are more open to small business land lead to the long term expansion of the
U.S. economy.