““America” 1700-1763America” 1700-1763

Settling a New Land –Becoming a New People

Addresses Indicators 4-2.3, 4-2.4, 4-2.7 Addresses USHC-1 and USHC-2.1

Explorers and Settlers came for Explorers and Settlers came for different reasons…different reasons…

• Spanish claimed southern region, rich in minerals. Their aim was to get in, get rich, and get out. The Spanish converted the local people to Catholicism.

• French explorers became fur traders when the water route to the East was not found. They lived in remote areas of Canada trapping and trading.

• English came looking for a better life. They wanted the right to own some land, a chance to advance their social position and be free, and the right to worship as they chose.

America in 1700 looked like this…America in 1700 looked like this…

• There were approximately 250,000 people living in the new land.

• People were scattered along the coast from Massachusetts down to the Carolinas, usually near the coast.

• The vast majority of the people lived in rural areas as farmers.

Gradually the picture changed…Gradually the picture changed…

• Settlements and towns were along rivers for travel, transport, food, safety, and water.

• In 1700, about 5% of the people lived in towns while 95% lived in rural areas.

• As more people began to arrive they had to move inland to claim land on which to build their homes. Sometimes they came into conflict with the local nations.

John Lawson, Explorer and AuthorJohn Lawson, Explorer and Author• John Lawson explored Carolina in 1700 and

wrote a book about his travels.• He praised the Indians and complained that

“We make way for a Christian colony through a Field of Blood.”

John Lawson – captured and killed by the Tuscarora

Becoming American…Becoming American…

• When the English settlers arrived in the new land they considered themselves as Englishmen but the longer they stayed, the more that changed.

• By about 1740, men who would become famous revolutionaries in American history were coming into their own.

Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)was a great American leader, printer, scientist, and writer.

In 1732, he began publishing a magazine called Poor Richard's Almanack. Poor Richard was a make-believe person who gave

advice about common sense and honesty.

Later in his career Franklin would emerge as a driving force to lead the movement for independence. He also served as ambassador to

France, gaining their help in winning the war.

George Washington 1732-1799

George Washington served his country during the

fighting in the French and Indian War. Here he is

pictured at that time. Washington would go on to

serve in the Virginia legislature, the Continental Congress, the Commander

of the Continental Army, and the first president of the

United States.

Thomas Jefferson

1743-1826

Thomas Jefferson was a farmer, an inventor, and a statesman, but he is most

famous as the author of the Declaration of Independence. He also served as the Third President of the new United

States and during his time he commissioned the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore the huge area gained in the

Louisiana Purchase.

But in the early 1700s, these men But in the early 1700s, these men knew nothing of what the new land knew nothing of what the new land would become. Something about would become. Something about living in the rich and inviting living in the rich and inviting country made it possible for people country made it possible for people to dream big dreams and aspire to to dream big dreams and aspire to amazing possibilities. The different amazing possibilities. The different regions began to develop differently.regions began to develop differently.

The New England Colonies – New The New England Colonies – New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts (including Maine)Massachusetts (including Maine)

• Soil was thin and rocky, not good for farming, also had a short growing season

• The thick woods provided timber for their own use as well as for products to sell

• Coastal waters were rich in fish and whales so many turned to the sea

New England Colonies - Social and New England Colonies - Social and Religious IssuesReligious Issues

• Settled by people seeking religious freedom, New England retained its religious heritage

• Puritan ways were strict and harsh - many left to find freedom of worship

• The government had less power in the beginning than the church. Towns were self-governing. All men participated in government

Governing in New England…Governing in New England…• New England was not governed by a royal

governor, judge, army, or parliament. In the beginning the Puritan church was the government

• This led to being very independent of England. • In 1644, the general court of New England was

divided into two houses, and became a modern state government - not quite a democracy, but getting close…

• The government wrote down a body of law and bill of rights, similar to the Bill of Rights.

• Each colony wrote their own constitution.

The Middle Colonies – New York, The Middle Colonies – New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, DelawarePennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware

• Warmer climate and more fertile soil made this area good for growing grains

• Long, wide rivers made the farm land fertile – “Bread Basket of the Colonies”

• Rivers helped with trade, transportation, and commerce

The Middle Colonies - Social and The Middle Colonies - Social and Religious IssuesReligious Issues

William Penn and others came to the Middle Colonies seeking religious freedom. Penn and his fellow Quakers tried to make peace with the Native Americans and other settlers. Social and religious tolerance were found in the Middle Colonies. Towns in the middle colonies governed themselves in the beginning.

Governing in the Middle Colonies…Governing in the Middle Colonies…

• For the most part, the Middle Colonies were not founded originally by the English but by Dutch, Swedes, and other groups who came seeking a better life and religious freedom.

• All these groups had some form of limited self-government with white, land-owning males taking part in the government.

• There was more toleration here than in Puritan New England.

The Southern Colonies – Maryland, The Southern Colonies – Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and GeorgiaCarolina, and Georgia

• Long growing season, warm climate, rich soil - made land in the South productive

• Small independent farmers could produce food for families and for sale

• Large wealthy plantations produced cash crops but required massive amounts of slave labor to grow the crops

The Southern Colonies – Social and The Southern Colonies – Social and Religious IssuesReligious Issues

Circuit riders like Francis Asbury and John Wesley spread Methodism in the South. Presbyterians from Scotland and Ireland came South.

Revivals and Camp Meetings made religion a very important part of the social life in the South.

The wealthy in the South were like an American aristocracy. They were the social and political leaders controlling how society operated in the South.

Governing in the Southern Colonies…Governing in the Southern Colonies…

• Taking their cue from the House of Burgesses, the Southern Colonies had limited self-government through the offices of elected legislatures.

• The planter class usually prevailed in holding office and carrying out limited government affairs but in most cases there was a royal governor to oversee the legislatures and keep them under British control.

Depending on each other…Depending on each other…• People in the colonies were usually

friendly and neighborly to each other.• They learned this necessity from trying to

survive the first attempts at settlement. • People depended on each other for their

very lives.• Some settlements failed completely and

in Jamestown there was an 80% casualty rate among the first 10,000 who came to settle.

Labor was shared by all...Labor was shared by all...• Women shared quilting, making syrup,

and preserving foods for the winter.• Men helped each other clear fields of

rocks and trees and build buildings.• One stockman looked after everyone’s

cows and other animals.• Teaching and caring for the children

was shared by the women.• Settlers looked after each other if

someone was sick or injured.

Religion and Social Behavior…Religion and Social Behavior…

• Church was the center of life for settlers.• In Puritan areas the religious ideas were very

strict and harsh – “Blue Laws” were offenses that would be punishable – especially on the Sabbath. Laws were bound in a blue book.

• Other areas were more tolerant but religion played an important role in the settlers’ lives.

• In the South where people lived far apart, circuit riders carried religion to the people.

The Rich New Land Invited Settlers…The Rich New Land Invited Settlers…

• French, Spanish, English, Dutch, Germans, Swedes, and others from Europe all came to settle in the new land.

• Rivalries developed between different groups.• Disputes arose from time to time, especially if

the rulers supported their colonies.• The most notable of the disputes arose when

the French tried to intrude into interior areas claimed and protected by the English.

French and English settlers fought French and English settlers fought alongside their Native American alongside their Native American allies in a bloody conflict over landallies in a bloody conflict over land

The French and Indian War…The French and Indian War…• The French and English were almost

always at war and the mid 1750s were no different. There was a Seven Years War going on in Europe, and wherever the British and French came into contact.

• In America this conflict was known as the French and Indian War because the English and their Indian allies were fighting the French and their Indian allies over land in the West.

The French and Indian War helped The French and Indian War helped settlers to become “Americans”…settlers to become “Americans”…

• Still in 1754 there were many people who felt themselves to be loyal British subjects.

• They depended on the British to help defend themselves, but they also became something new and special – Americans!

New Leaders began to develop on New Leaders began to develop on the fields of battle…the fields of battle…

Daniel Boone fought in the French and Indian War along with a man named John Finley who told Boone about a pass that would take travelers through the mountains to the West. Boone did not forget John Finley. Note the wide hat to protect from the sun – not a coonskin cap as legend tells it.

Horatio Gates, a young officer in the French and Indian War would make a name later.

George Washington, a captain in the French and Indian War learned from the mistakes and became a great leader later.

Daniel Morgan, a young wagoner from Virginia, was at the battle where General Braddock was killed. He urged the British to bury Bradford in the road and run wagons and troops over it so the Indians would not find the body and desecrate it. Morgan and a British officer fought over the comment and Morgan was punished by 500 lashes – he nearly died of his wounds but he lived to repay the British.

General Braddock expected the French and Indians to fight a pitched battle as the English did. They would not! Here Braddock lies wounded near the Monongahela River on the way to Fort Duquesne.

Braddock’s troops were ambushed trying to drive the French from Fort Duquesne. Braddock was mortally wounded. George Washington, a Braddock aide, supervised as Braddock was buried in the road so men and horses could cover the grave.

In one battle on one day during the In one battle on one day during the French and Indian War, colonial French and Indian War, colonial leaders learned not to fight in the leaders learned not to fight in the traditional European style – they traditional European style – they would fight as the Indians did.would fight as the Indians did.

Proclamation Act of 1763Proclamation Act of 1763

The Proclamation Act was designed to cut down on expenses for the British by keeping settlers from moving into the mountains – to keep peace in the Indian Territory. The Act slowed westward expansion but only for a short time.

Results of the French and Indian WarResults of the French and Indian War• British territorial claims expanded in America.• British debt grew in an expanding war.• Resentment grew as Parliament saw Americans as

unwilling to help pay for their own defense.• Colonists unified against a common enemy.• Colonial militias saw themselves as a "people's

army" in contrast to the authoritarian British army.• French influence in North America dwindled greatly.• TAXATION!

.

Britain’s Parliament felt that the French Britain’s Parliament felt that the French and Indian War had been fought to and Indian War had been fought to protect the American colonists…protect the American colonists…

so the so the Colonists Colonists should help should help pay for the pay for the war debts.war debts.

After peace was declared in 1763, After peace was declared in 1763, the taxation began…the taxation began…

• It seemed only fair that the colonists should share in the expenses for their protection.

• They objected not so much to the taxation as to the fact that they were not directly represented in the British Parliament.

• One new tax after another arose until the colonists finally revolted. And there begins another story…

““America” – 1700-1763America” – 1700-1763Created by Carol PooleCreated by Carol Poole

November 2006November 2006