Northern Agricultural SocietyNorthern Agricultural Society New England gradually saw a New England gradually saw a

predominance of independent farming predominance of independent farming villages that utilized their unique villages that utilized their unique collection of resources to produce a collection of resources to produce a mixed economy of fishing, craft mixed economy of fishing, craft production based on timber, and production based on timber, and traditional staple crops.traditional staple crops.

The middle colonies enjoyed better soil The middle colonies enjoyed better soil conditions than the north and usually conditions than the north and usually produced a surplus of goods.produced a surplus of goods.

Unfree Labor/Changing ValuesUnfree Labor/Changing Values Northern colonies had less need for labor Northern colonies had less need for labor

due to shorter growing seasons; there was due to shorter growing seasons; there was a heavier reliance on indentured servants a heavier reliance on indentured servants versus the South.versus the South.

Colonists began to see life as not just Colonists began to see life as not just preparation for the afterlife; religion did preparation for the afterlife; religion did not vanish, but its intensity began to not vanish, but its intensity began to wane.wane.

The American ethics of hard work and The American ethics of hard work and materialism were highlighted in Ben materialism were highlighted in Ben Franklin’s Franklin’s Poor Richard’sPoor Richard’s Almanac.Almanac.

Women and the Family in Women and the Family in the Northern Coloniesthe Northern Colonies

A universal opinion of the time held A universal opinion of the time held women in a position of social submission.women in a position of social submission.

Marriage was a means of transferring Marriage was a means of transferring property, not a vehicle for romance.property, not a vehicle for romance.

Unmarried women in the colonies were Unmarried women in the colonies were almost unheard of.almost unheard of.

Families were patriarchal, with the father Families were patriarchal, with the father issuing stern discipline to his children.issuing stern discipline to his children.

Ecological TransformationEcological Transformation The rabid demand for wood quickly The rabid demand for wood quickly

depleted the coastal forests of the depleted the coastal forests of the colonies.colonies.

Livestock animals brought over Livestock animals brought over from Europe devastated the from Europe devastated the ecosystems of America.ecosystems of America.

Native animals became extinct as Native animals became extinct as fur was over harvested.fur was over harvested.

The Plantation SouthThe Plantation South

The areas of agricultural The areas of agricultural production in the colonies of production in the colonies of Virginia and Carolina emerged with Virginia and Carolina emerged with similar reliance on slave labor for similar reliance on slave labor for production.production.

Both areas developed a planter Both areas developed a planter hierarchy of society based on race hierarchy of society based on race and wealth.and wealth.

Enslaved Africans in the Enslaved Africans in the Southern ColoniesSouthern Colonies

A continued growth in the slave A continued growth in the slave trade and natural reproduction trade and natural reproduction during the seventeenth century saw during the seventeenth century saw the population ratio of Africans in the population ratio of Africans in America grow to one-fifth.America grow to one-fifth.

More than 350,000 Africans More than 350,000 Africans entered the colonies between 1700 entered the colonies between 1700 to 1775. to 1775.

The Urban World of Commerce The Urban World of Commerce and Ideasand Ideas

American economic muscle centered American economic muscle centered around the Atlantic seaports that around the Atlantic seaports that afforded easy trade with the European afforded easy trade with the European powers.powers.

Merchants and artisans were the most Merchants and artisans were the most wealthy and powerful groups in these wealthy and powerful groups in these thriving towns.thriving towns.

A guild system similar to Europe’s A guild system similar to Europe’s emerged in order to protect certain emerged in order to protect certain trades and crafts from unqualified trades and crafts from unqualified practice.practice.

Urban Social Structure/ The Urban Social Structure/ The Entrepreneurial EthosEntrepreneurial Ethos

Growth in population and economic Growth in population and economic sophistication brought about changes in sophistication brought about changes in the social structure of emerging cities.the social structure of emerging cities.

Wealth, as well as poverty, began to Wealth, as well as poverty, began to appear.appear.

As the cities grew, common views of As the cities grew, common views of self-denial and community fell by the self-denial and community fell by the wayside in favor of materialism and wayside in favor of materialism and individualism.individualism.

The Great AwakeningThe Great Awakening An overwhelming religious apathy swept An overwhelming religious apathy swept

the mainly protestant populace of the the mainly protestant populace of the British colonies.British colonies.

The Great Awakening emerged as a series The Great Awakening emerged as a series of revivals within different religious sects.of revivals within different religious sects.

Revivalists such as Jonathan Edwards and Revivalists such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitfield delivered a message of George Whitfield delivered a message of religious redemption and encouraged religious redemption and encouraged rejection of over-educated and heartless rejection of over-educated and heartless clergy.clergy.

Revivalism in the North and Revivalism in the North and SouthSouth

Religious zeal in the North became Religious zeal in the North became worrisome to the wealthy elite as worrisome to the wealthy elite as their position in society was their position in society was questioned by the Awakeners.questioned by the Awakeners.

The South also saw a rejection of The South also saw a rejection of the assumed authority of the landed the assumed authority of the landed gentry as a ruling class; in both gentry as a ruling class; in both regions, religion became a mode for regions, religion became a mode for social reflection and change.social reflection and change.

Legacy of the AwakeningLegacy of the Awakening A wide-spread framework of A wide-spread framework of

varying denominations that could varying denominations that could exist harmoniouslyexist harmoniously

An emerging tradition of separation An emerging tradition of separation of church and stateof church and state

Legitimized religious and social Legitimized religious and social diversity within local communitiesdiversity within local communities

Fostered changes in political and Fostered changes in political and moral viewsmoral views

Political Life in the ColoniesPolitical Life in the Colonies

Contrary to the monarchial structure of Contrary to the monarchial structure of England, the colonies developed a system England, the colonies developed a system of government based on the authority of a of government based on the authority of a governor or agent of the king governor or agent of the king supplemented by a legislature of locally supplemented by a legislature of locally elected representatives.elected representatives.

A general lack of police power gave A general lack of police power gave import to public demonstrations against import to public demonstrations against unpopular laws and set an American unpopular laws and set an American precedent of popular dissent.precedent of popular dissent.

Local PoliticsLocal Politics Colonial Assemblies gradually gained Colonial Assemblies gradually gained

more authority over the royal more authority over the royal governors.governors.

This growth reflected the wishes of This growth reflected the wishes of the people and could not be the people and could not be effectively repressed.effectively repressed.

Tying elected official's success in Tying elected official's success in office to the satisfaction of their office to the satisfaction of their constituents became a central feature constituents became a central feature of colonial politics and Whig ideology.of colonial politics and Whig ideology.