Colonial 1700s

Unit 1.5

Mercantilism• Mercantilism – goal is for country (Britain) to be

self-sufficient using its colonies for raw products and consumers.o Mother Country – makes finished products using raw materials from

colonies• Balance of Trade – value of products the mother country

exports should be higher than value of imports• In 1750 who was Florida’s mother country? Georgia’s? Canada’s?

Enforcement of Mercantilism• Salutary Neglect

o Navigation Acts were not enforced.• What do you do when a law is

not enforced? Like speed limits.o Most colonial traders basically

followed the rules, but became more independent.

o Side effect – more shipbuilding and use of secondary ports.

o What happened when the Crown starting enforcing the laws after years of salutary neglect?

• Navigation Actso Starting in the mid-1600s,

Britain passed these laws that said the British Colonies could only trade with Britain.

Never Empty• One way to get around the

Navigation Acts was to say you were sailing to another British possession.

• Many Triangular Trade routes formed (remember World History!).

• Most famous:o From New England (to Britain first) –

Rumo From Africa – Slaveso From Caribbean – Molasses

• Middle Passage – transport of slaves from Africa to New World

Rise of Consumerism• Caused by the early stages of the Industrial Revolution• More affluent Americans showed off wealth• Average colonists more wealthy than British counterparts• Advertising in Journals and Newspapers began• An emerging merchant class develops• How does this fit within the idea of an “American?”

Slavery• In the beginning, all of the colonies had slavery.• What happened after Bacon’s Rebellion?• Why would it die out in the Northern colonies, but

continue to exist in the Southern colonies?• How are the Northern colonies not blameless

when it comes to the growth of slavery?

Slave Culture• Slave society in south tied in with white society• Some developed their own cultures

o Gullah – hybrid languageo Religion – mix Christianity and African folklore

• Wide range of how treated• Stono Rebellion 1739 showed not all good• Some slaves able to purchase their own manumission

Science and Education• The Enlightenment caused more scientific and

intellectual exploration• Education higher in the colonies due in part to religion• Increase of Newspapers and Almanacs

o Poor Richard’s Almanac by Ben Franklin• Franklin also made postal system one of the best (night

riders)• Medicine overall improving

o Cotton Mather with inoculation of smallpox (later used by Washington)

Self-government• Many areas were largely self-governing• Colonial Assemblies were able to make many

laws• Crown appointed many positions, but usually not

too powerful and usually in largest cities• How would this play into the future of the

colonies?

Colonial Women• Fewer women in Chesapeake colonies. What

would that mean for “power?”• Patriarchal Society• Midwives helping with multiple childbirths (every

other year average)• Lower life expectancy. Why?• Notable women of period:

o Anne Hutchinsono Phyllis Wheatley – African American poet

Another American Ideal Born• Zenger Trial (1734) – John Peter Zenger had

criticized the gov’t in his paper. He was tried, but found innocent as it was factually true.

• The ideas of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press are taking hold in the colonies. (as well as due process when accused of a crime)

Differences between Colonists and their cousins back in

Britain• More mobility (socially and economically)• Wealthier• More Literate• Healthier• Taller• More independent/free (gov’t)

French and Indian War• France, Spain, and Britain had several conflicts in the 1600s

and early 1700s in which Colonist were involved.• In 1754, conflict began over claims in the Ohio River valley

(Middle grounds).• Started the Seven Years War (which lasted 9 years), but was

known in the Americas as the French and Indian War.• It was a world war. Why?

Our Father emerges• Ft. Necessity – 1754 – Col. George Washington

leads a group of colonial militia in unsuccessful battle.o What reason (personally) did Washington have to lead the troops?

• It is called the French and Indian War, but what are the real sides?

• For the actual fighting, William Pitt takes over British troops in 1757 and later the British won at Quebec.

French and Indian War Importance

• Treaty of Paris 1763 ends war. Britain wins.o Britain gets Canada (from France)o Britain gets Florida (from Spain)o Britain gets Ohio River Valley

• Passes the Proclamation of 1763o Colonists were not allowed to settle past the Appalachian Mts.

• Why would that upset the Colonists?• What were some of the other effects of the war?

Reflection Questions

• How was the “American” developing during the 1700s?

• What role did the north play in the expansion of slavery in the colonies?

• How did the French and Indian War begin and what were the effects of the war?

• Even through legally they did not have much power, in what ways did women hold unofficial power?

Links• http://

www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/colonization-and-settlement-1585-1763 - timeline

• http://mappinghistory.uoregon.edu/english/US/US03-00.html - mapping history

• http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/ -early America

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yer7OfHyynU – F&I war review video