Restoration Colonies
New York
New York was originally a Dutch colony however the English seized control over it in
1664. Charles II gave his younger brother James, duke of York, control over the area. James
brings a small armada but Peter Stuyvesant gives up without a fight because the merchants
force him to. The merchants did not care who was in power as long as it did not interfere with
their trade. Initially the English are careful about their actions because they don’t want to
destroy the trade network because they trade with the Dutch. They establish a dual system of
law. The Dutch would continue to live and abide by Dutch laws. However if you are English then
you live under the English system of law. The Dutch were more inclusive with their freedom.
They had great religious tolerance; women had more rights, etc. However when the English
came although they allowed the Dutch to keep up its religious tolerance and the property
holdings the colony’s ethnic communities enjoyed they took away many rights from women
and blacks. Married women could no longer conduct business in their own name and inherit
the property they gained during their marriages. After the 17th century there were fewer
women traders. Dutch law allowed blacks to work in many different trades however English law
revoked this right. The Duke of York also followed the Dutch practice of give large land grants
to his favorite people. The English strengthened the Iroquois confederacy in upstate New York.
When Edmund Andros became governor he dissolved the dual law and banished Dutch
laws. Edmund Andros also established the Covenant Chain. This covenant reinforced the
ambitions the English and the Indians had. The Iroquois helped Andros remove rival Indian
tribes from the areas in New York. They also assisted the English in attacks against the French
and their Native American allies.
The colonists felt that they weren’t getting all their English liberties such as the right to
consent to taxation. Under the Dutch and at first the English rule New York did not have a
representative government. In 1683, James called an elected assembly. The assembly’s first job
was to write a Charter of Liberties and Privileges. The charter granted colonists trial by jury,
security of property, title to business and land, religious tolerance for all Catholics, etc. Also the
charter stated that elections must be held every three years among male landowners and
freemen.
Slavery in the north was different from plantation slavery in the south. Slaves in the
north did not work on plantations. Most worked on the docks, as sailors and members of ship
crews. Others worked with artisans. Slaves who worked with artisans worked alongside their
master. Some slaves worked as personal servants, farm hands, stevedores, etc. Slavery laws in
the north were less harsh. Slaves were also more dispersed. Slaves even enjoyed some rights;
they could bring suits in court, testify against Caucasians and own property that could later on
be inherited by their children. Marriages between slaves were recognized and seriously
harming a slave was prohibited. Some slaves even lived on their own and worked as oyster
sellers. Oyster sellers paid their rent and gave the rest of their profits to their master. If they
were lucky some masters allowed slaves to keep some money so that they could save up and
pay for their freedom.
New York vs. England
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Once the English took over, they brought some of their laws with them. Married
women could not conduct business in their own name nor could they inherit the
property obtained during marriage. This law broke the Dutch tradition that
allowed women these rights.
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In New York the Duke of York continued the Dutch tradition of giving friends
large land grants.
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Colonists enjoyed English rights such as trial by jury, religious toleration for
Protestants and the right to consent to taxation
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The Charter of Liberties protected colonists in New York’s property while English
law protected colonist’s property.
Carolina
Carolina was a colony established in 1670 by eight proprietors. It acted as a border against the
Spanish who were settled in Florida. Charles II granted this charter to them in order to protect
the English colonies from Spanish invasion in 1663. Carolina is known today as North Carolina
and South Carolina. Carolina eventually became a very wealthy colony based on its exportation
of indigo and rice. Its economy was originally based on cattle raising, trading with the Native
Americans and the exportation of pine. Former indentured servants from Barbados and
Virginia settled here because there was no available land in those places. Also planters from
Barbados migrated here. They were hoping to get large new land grants. The eight proprietors
issued the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina; in it they desired to establish a hierarchical
society in Carolina with a hereditary nobility, serfs and slaves. Slavery helped accomplish a
hierarchical society. The proprietors also gave an elective assembly and religious toleration to
attract settlers. In order to vote you had to be a church member and you had to own land.
Many colonists bought passages for others because of the Carolina head right system in which
each member of a family would get one hundred and fifty acres of land. Also male indentured
servants who completed their contracts would receive one hundred acres. The colonists
enslaved Native Americans and exported them to other mainland colonies and the West Indies.
Colonists would also receive land if they paid for a slave’s voyage. The proprietors also created
a legal code for slaves. Slave owners received complete property over their slaves who were
their property.
Slaves worked on rice plantations. Rice plantations were located on the coast and the area was
filled with malaria carrying mosquitoes which Africans had some resistance to because they had
a sickle cell. Plantation owners employed slave masters to oversee the slaves while they settled
in the city. Slaves rarely came into contact with whites so they were able to preserve their
culture. Also after slaves completed their tasks they were allowed to work for themselves.
Carolina became increasingly dependent on slavery.
Carolina vs. England
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In order to vote you had to own land. Voting is one of the marks of freedom. Voting
allows you to choose who you want to represent you or govern your colony.
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Both had hierarchical society however Carolina’s was based on slavery while England
was primarily based on social status.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was a proprietary colony established in 1681 by William Penn. Penn was
given a charter for the land by Charles II in order to pay off the money Charles owed Williams
father. William wanted to establish a colony for all those who were facing religious persecution
in Europe especially his fellow Quakers. He also wanted the colonists to live peacefully with the
natives. The charter granted William land south and west of New York and all of Delaware.
William Penn was a Quaker. Quakers were often persecuted in England because of their broad
religious views. They did not believe in a hierarchy and felt that all men and women were equal
before God. Quakers did not have ministers and met in meeting house where they sat until
someone felt the spirit. They felt anyone could communicate with God. William Penn helped a
group of Quakers purchase New Jersey. He even helped them create a frame of government.
The West Jersey Concessions was announced in 1677. It was based on Quaker beliefs. It granted
an elective assembly, religious freedom and divided the proprietors land into shares in hope of
creating a society of small farmers.
William Penn appointed a council and created an assembly where male taxpayers and
freemen elected the men on it. Freemen owned 100 acres and former indentured servants
received 50 acres. Most of the male population could vote in Pennsylvania. William Penn sold
land at low prices.
Quakers sense of freedom is very similar to today’s definition of freedom. They felt that
everyone was entitled to freedom not just a special group of people. William Penn
purchased the land from the Native Americans before selling it to colonists. He even offered
refuge to tribes that were forced out of other colonies. Pennsylvania did not have an
established church and attending church services were not required. However Jews could
not hold office because in order to be elected you had to affirm an oath that said you
believe in Jesus Christ’s divinity. However Penn was strict about moral behavior and in his
frame of government, swearing, adultery and drunkenness were not permitted. Also certain
forms of entertainment were prohibited such as cock fighting and bull baiting. However
Pennsylvania became popular because of its good climate, religious toleration, cheap land
and William’s aggressive advertising.
Pennsylvania vs. England
Pennsylvania was very different from England in its views on religious toleration. In
Pennsylvania people could practice religion while in England religious toleration only extended
to Protestants and some groups were still excluded. More men had the opportunity to vote in
Pennsylvania then in England. Also Pennsylvania did not believe in having a hierarchical society
while in England ones social status was everything. You enjoyed more liberties if you had a high
social standing while mostly everyone had the same rights in Pennsylvania (the Jews still could
not hold office). Freedom was seen as a universal right in the Quakers eyes while according to
England it was a privilege. Pennsylvania had a representative government while England had a
limited monarchy. Freedom in England was based on land ownership. In Pennsylvania you had
to have land to vote although it was easier to acquire land in Pennsylvania than in most
colonies and England. In both colonies having land was important it gave you the right to vote
and you had more control. In England Native Americans and Africans were inferior to the
English and that the English had the right to control them while Quaker felt that all men and
women were equal before God’s eyes. His views were more liberal than England and his idea of
freedom was more inclusive.