The Birth of the American Identity 1689-1763
Colonial Life In England, less than 5% of the population owned land As a result, more Americans could vote than British Land ownership Cheap farmland Natural resources Democracy (a form of government where the people make decisions) Any white male who owned land could vote Large middle class Cheap land offered opportunities to the poor No aristocracy (the highest class in society, holding titles such as lord or lady )
Colonial Life Men Planted, raised, and harvested crops Took surplus to the market Cared for the livestock and butcher the meat Cut trees and chopped wood Women Cooked Churned butter Made soap, candles, clothes Tended the garden and looked after animals Ran inns Couldn t vote Couldn t preach (unless a Quaker) Couldn t own property
The Young More children more workers more money Most families consisted of 6-8 children At 13, boys left home to become apprentices (a person learning a trade from an experienced craftsman) High rate of male literacy compared to England New England: 85% Middle Colonies: 65% Southern Colonies: 50% New England offered free public education
Activity: Colonial Life Step 1: In groups of 3, research the culture (daily life social, economic, political) of those living in colonial America. - Men - Women - Boys - Girls - African Americans - Native Americans - Wealthy - Poor Step 2: Create a double-bubble thinking map comparing colonial culture to modern American culture. Step 3: Create a short 5-minute skit that displays at least 10 different aspects of colonial culture.
Two movements that shaped America The Great Awakening A Christian religious revival Based on faith and emotions Ministers would travel from town to town preaching Spiritual equality (even African Americans) Desire to help others Encouraged people to challenge authority and question tradition Enlightenment Focused on human reason and science Based on reason and scientific observation Believed people should use rational thought to improve themselves and society Condemned tyranny (cruel and oppressive government rule) Believed people had natural rights: life, liberty, and property If a government violated those rights, the people could change the government
The Great Awakening
Enlightenment
Enlightenment
The Rights of Englishmen The Magna Carta (1215) Limited the king s power Offered rights to all citizens Couldn t be taxed without agreement by a council Couldn t be put on trial without witnesses Could only be punished by a jury of their peers Decisions were made by representatives elected by the people
Did Americans have the same rights? Colonists created their own selfgovernments, styled after England s England still had ultimate authority and could overrule any decision Colonists had no say in England s decisions Example: England began appointing royal governors in the colonies Example: In 1685, England ended New England s self-government King James II stripped many rights from the colonies
Colonial Government The King Council (appointed by governor) Royal Governor (appointed by king) Colonial Assembly (elected by colonists)
New Ideas: Freedom of the Press The New York Weekly Journal criticized New York s royal governor (which was illegal!) The publisher was arrested and put on trial He claimed he had the right to speak the truth The jury agreed Freedom of the press (printing/writing) became a valued new right in America
Rivals: France and England
The French and Indian War How it began: British trading posts were being built near New France The French responded by sending troops Upset, the English sent a force led by George Washington
Native American Perspective It is important for us, my brothers, that we exterminate from our lands this nation which seeks only to destroy us Therefore, my brothers, we must all swear their destruction and wait no longer. Chief Pontiac, leader of the Ottawa, after the British took over French forts in the Great Lakes area Native American tribes picked sides based on trading partners France: Shawnee, Abenaki, Huron, Lenni Lenape, Sandusky, Seneca, Wea, Kickapoo England: Cherokee, Mohawk, Montauk, Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga, Creek, Chickasaw, Tuscarora
Native American Perspective Chief Pontiac Huron warrior holds up the heart of a British soldier In some cases, Natives fought other Natives
French and Indian War How it ended: The British captured New France s capital Quebec and Montreal The French and English signed The Treaty of Paris France: lost all territory in North America English: gained territory up to the Mississippi River Spain: took over France s territory west of the Mississippi River United English colonists against a common enemy for the first time
Before the war
After the war
Aftermath Unlike the French, the English Refused to give gifts to Native Americans Moved onto Native American land The Native Americans revolted (Pontiac s Rebellion) The English responded with violence, even against non-violent tribes Gave war leaders smallpox-infected blankets as gifts Disease spread throughout Native American tribes The war created massive debt for England They expected American colonists to help pay for this debt Could it not be contrived to send the Small Pox among those disaffected tribes of Indians? We must on this occasion use every stratagem in our power to reduce them.