2.7 - Colonial Society and Culture

Economy

• Agricultural Focus: By the mid-18th century, the colonial economy was heavily based on agriculture, forestry, and fishing, with regulations limiting manufacturing to protect British mercantilist interests.

• Regional Economic Activities:

  • New England: Dominated by subsistence farming due to rocky soil and harsh winters. Economic diversification included logging, shipbuilding, fishing, trading, and rum-distilling.

  • Middle Colonies: Known for fertile lands producing wheat and corn, with a burgeoning iron industry and development of cities like Philadelphia and New York as trading centers.

  • Southern Colonies: Featured a mix of subsistence farms and large plantations using enslaved labor, with major exports including tobacco, timber, naval stores, rice, and indigo.

Monetary and Transportation Systems

• Monetary Restrictions: British control over currency to manage trade deficits led to the colonial issuance of paper money, which occasionally resulted in inflation.

• Transportation Infrastructure: Waterways were the primary mode for transporting goods, with gradual improvements in overland travel by horse and stagecoach enhancing connectivity among colonies.

Religious and Cultural Dynamics

• Religious Diversity and Tolerance: Varied significantly across regions, from strict Puritanical norms in New England to more inclusive policies in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania.

• Social Structure: Lacked a hereditary aristocracy, featured more social mobility than Europe, with a burgeoning middle class of artisans and farmers.

• Family Life: Centered around large, self-sufficient farm families with roles distinctly divided by gender.

The Great Awakening

• Religious Revival: Marked by intense religious fervor and evangelical zeal, it reshaped Protestantism in the colonies, making religion more personal and emotional.

• Leaders: Key figures like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield galvanized the masses with sermons that emphasized personal salvation and divine justice.

• Cultural Impact: Led to the fragmentation of traditional denominations, the rise of new ones, and a move towards religious self-determination that mirrored growing political feelings.

Elementary Education:

• Regional Variations:

  • New England: Heavily influenced by the Puritan emphasis on literacy for reading the Bible. This religious motivation led to the 1647 Massachusetts law requiring every town to have a tax-supported school for boys, setting a precedent for public education in America.

  • Middle Colonies: Offered a mix of church-sponsored and private schools. These schools reflected the diverse religious and cultural backgrounds of the settlers in areas like New York and Pennsylvania.

  • Southern Colonies: Lacked formal educational structures; children were primarily educated at home or by tutors on larger estates, reflecting the region’s dispersed, plantation-based society.

Higher Education:

• Sectarian Institutions: Established to promote the doctrines of specific religious groups, which influenced the curriculum and administration:

  • Harvard College (1636): Founded by the Puritans in Massachusetts to train ministers.

  • College of William and Mary (1694): Established by the Anglicans in Virginia, reflecting the Anglican Church’s influence in the southern colonies.

  • Yale College (1701): Initiated by Congregationalists in Connecticut to counterbalance the perceived liberal shift in Harvard’s education.

• Nonsectarian Education:

  • The College of Philadelphia (1765): Now the University of Pennsylvania, founded by Benjamin Franklin and others. It was groundbreaking as the first major nonsectarian college, intended to prepare leaders in civic life, government, and commerce, not just the clergy.

Role of Educators:

• Educators, especially in rural or frontier areas, often served dual roles as ministers, the only well-educated members of these communities, showing the intersection of education and religious leadership.

The Press and Freedom of Expression

Growth of the Press:

• By 1776, the American colonies had over 40 weekly newspapers. These papers were crucial in shaping public opinion and were a significant forum for debate on political and social issues.

The Zenger Case (1735):

• Background: John Peter Zenger, a New York printer, was arrested for libel after publishing articles critical of New York’s royal governor.

• Legal Defense: Andrew Hamilton, Zenger’s lawyer, argued that truth should be a defense against charges of libel. This was a radical argument at the time, as English common law held that criticizing the government could be libelous, regardless of the truthfulness of the statements.

• Outcome and Impact: The jury acquitted Zenger, rejecting the traditional English law in favor of a new standard that prioritized truth and fact in journalism. This case did not change the legal statutes immediately but was a significant precedent for freedom of the press. It encouraged journalists to scrutinize government actions and supported a culture of free expression, which played a crucial role in the colonies' growing dissent against British rule.

The Enlightenment in Colonial America

Key Influence:

• The Enlightenment, emphasizing reason over tradition, significantly influenced American thought, particularly through John Locke. His philosophy advocated for governance based on inherent human rights and the idea that sovereignty resides with the people, which fueled revolutionary ideas and the U.S. Constitution.

Colonial Relationship with Britain

Governance and Identity:

• Colonies resembled England in language and political structures but developed a distinct identity, mixing diverse peoples and ideas. This blend contributed to a unique culture and growing independence, especially in governance practices which included elected legislative bodies

Salutary Neglect:

• Definition: A British policy of loosely enforcing parliamentary laws regarding the American colonies. This allowed the colonies considerable freedom to manage their own affairs without much interference.

• Impact: Colonists became accustomed to a significant degree of autonomy, developing their own political and economic systems relatively independently of British control.

Colonial Discontent:

• When Britain began to enforce stricter regulations and taxes following periods of leniency, colonists were upset because they felt their longstanding autonomy was being threatened. This shift contributed to growing tensions that eventually led to the American Revolution.