Colonial Society on the Eve of
Revolution
AP U.S. History
Chapter 5
Conquest by Cradle
• Population doubled every 25 years – increase
in birthrate, immigration
• Shift in power to colonies
Mingling in the Races
• Germans – 6% - settled in PA
• Scot-Irish – 7% - settled on PA frontier
• Paxton Boys – march on Philadelphia
protesting lenient policy toward Indians.
• Regulator Movement – NC – protesting
eastern control of colonial policy.
• New England – least ethnically diverse
• Middle Colonies – bulk of later immigration
The Structure of Colonial Society
• Most farmers could climb up ladder
• New England/Middle – merchants top
• South – plantation owners top
Workaday America
• Agriculture – leading economy, esp. in South and
Middle
• New England – fish, ship, trade
• Triangular Trade – page 92
• ***Page 93 – Americans buying British goods, Br
not buying as much (no profit). Start to sell to
other countries!
• Molasses Act – passed to stop trade with FR West
Indies. Taxed all foreign molasses entering North
America. Colonists smuggled it in!
Dominant Denominations
• Anglican – not as strict as Puritan
• Congregational – grew out of Puritan Church
The Great Awakening
• People moving away from religion
• Great Awakening – revivals
– 1730’s – 1740’s
– MA
• Jonathan Edwards – “Sinners in the Hands of
an Angry God”
• George Whitefield
• “Old Lights” vs “New Lights”
• New denominations – Baptist, Methodists
• Results:
– Older clergy undermined
– Missionary work increased
– New colleges for new denominations
• FIRST MASS MOVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE!!!
Pioneer Presses
• Peter Zenger – newsprinter
• Negative about the government – seditious
libel
• Went to court, not guilty
• FREEDOM OF THE PRESS!! Page 100
Colonial Jeopardy
Places
Famous People
Countries
Colonies
Miscellaneous
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