Birth of the American Republic VAGLIO The Colonists Become Defiant.
Shaping American Identity The Mosaic. Essential Questions What/who is an American ? How is identity...
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Transcript of Shaping American Identity The Mosaic. Essential Questions What/who is an American ? How is identity...
Shaping American Identity
The Mosaic
Essential Questions
What/who is an American ? How is identity shaped? What factors unify? Divide? Colonists are increasingly
different from England ----but also different from one another.
“American” “As they became more English
– they also became more American”
Political, commercial and military ties resulted in closer ties with England
Greater awareness of other colonists and colonial status/similarities.
America from 1700 – 1763
Demographics – great increase 250,000 – 2.5 million Constantly more dispersed and
heterogeneous Moving frontier line Mostly natural increase Also immigration
Ethnic Settlements
Backcountry Characteristics
Egalitarian and mobile Complex and fluid interactions Middle Ground – trade and
equality Isolated Heterogeneous -prejudices
push west Scot Irish – challenged authority Germans – more communal Religious pluralism and division
Areas of settlement
Bingham – Daniel Boone Escorting Settlers
Forts
Iroquois Lands & European Trade Iroquois Lands & European Trade CentersCenters
Iroquois Lands & European Trade Iroquois Lands & European Trade CentersCenters
Colonial Power Struggles Tidewater v. frontier needs
Paxton Boys Regulation Movement
Boundary disputes Green Mountain Boys
Tenant rent wars
Paxton Revolt
Cities and Seaports
Vibrant – cultural centers Arts, fashion, education, Negro
Election Day Much opportunity
Lower classes, women, Africans Exchange of ideas and information
Newspapers, journals Merchant economic and social
power Greater class awareness and
diversity
Trade Patterns
England – 50%, majority of imports Debt increased Lack of specie for Americans
“Anglicized” material culture West Indies – 27%
Critical to American credit & specie access
Intercoastal and overland trade increased
Impact = increased shared identity
Trade Patterns
Mercantilism:
Navigation Acts – control trade and profit Shipping on English ships –
English captain and crew Import through English ports Enumerated items – trade only w.
E.
Benefits and Disadvantages
BenefitsSystem of credit NE shipbuilding Market for staple
crops Protection –
navy/army Can evade
Disadvantageslack of hard specie Not “rationalized”
systemLower prices for
staple crops Higher prices for
manufactured items
Political Experience
Crown governs - limited oversight
Benign Neglect (salutary) Goal = profit Americans develop autonomous
and responsive governments Colonial governors – power in
theory, not much in reality
Colonial Structure
Governor = executive Legislature =
Council – 6-8 elite advisors Assembly – Protects Liberty
-“power of the purse” Taxation and Spending Representative, not democratic Dominated by the elite Journals and newspapers give
information
Contrast with England
Americans perceive selves as English -rights of Englishmen are critical
Some ambiguity – English system
America – more middle class, more political participation, less corrupt Zenger Case 1735 – role of press
America – far greater sense of opportunity and social mobility
Cultural and Social/Intellectual Events
Enlightenment appeals to intellectuals Rational ChristianityEmphasis on natural law DeismFranklin, Jefferson
Great Awakening
religious revival 1730-1760semotional appeal personal connection with God emphasis on laity Whitefield, Edwards
Franklin and Whitefield
Impact of Enlightenment and Great Awakening
Religious divisions “old” v “new” lights
New centers of higher education Challenges to authority – clergy and
institution – “rehearsal” for revolution
Emphasis on individualism and minority rights
Created a shared colonial experience Equality before God - appeals to
African Americans and Indians
Slave Cultures Culture emerged, but was
fragile – possible due to Population increase – 250,000 by
1760 Larger number American born Population density - allows
separateness Sexual balance – families are
created Shared language Emerging religious ties
Colonial Images of Slavery
Slave Quarters
Contrast - Chesapeake & Carolinas
Chesapeake – slower to develop, less density, less interaction
Task v Gang system French Louisiana – earned
freedom “internal enemy” – greater
density, greater fears
Slave Resistance
Negotiation – control over certain areas
Running and escape Swamps, North, West
Annoyance, subversion Revolts -consequences
Stono 1739; NY 1712 Creation of sustaining culture
and institution
Stono Rebellion 1739
American Identity by 1754 Forces of Division
economic and regional division ethnicity race social class religion geography and distance
Forces of Unity Anglicized material and
non material culture political institutions and experience frontier experience sense of opportunity religious/intellectual events trade among colonies postal system/newspapersimperial wars – common enemies ideas of rights
Competition for Empire Four Imperial wars 1689-1763 Issue = World Balance of
Power (BOP) Competition France v. Britain French and Indian War starts
in colonies Issue = control of Ohio River
Valley; all of North America Washington – Fort Necessity
French and Indian War 1754-1763
Albany Plan – Franklin League of the Iroquois Treaty of Paris 1763
Britain controls all of N. America Contrasting perceptions and post
war goals True losers = League of Iroquois
and Indian tribes – lost ability to control BOP on the frontier