An American is a new man who practices new ideas and lives with new principles

the colonies of the 18th century had grown and matured

and the inhabitants had evolved into a culture distinct from the British

What were the characteristics of an American this new society and what forces shaped its new people?

Population Growth:

start of new century 1701 colonies- 250,000 & then in 1775- 2,500,000- new population

this population jump resulted from: immigration of almost 1 million people and increase caused by high birth rate in colonial families

lots of fertile lands and dependable food supply attracted Europeans/ supported growing families

European Immigrants:

Europeans from all over came to America for different reasons

some came for religious freedom, economic opportunity (farming or merchant)

Protestants from France/Germany

most immigrants settled in mid-colonies/western frontier of S. colonies

few went to New England- where land was few

English:

settlers continued to come, numbers relatively small

Germans:

settled on farmlands of W Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)

maintained German culture

1775- germans were 6% of the colonial population

Scotish-Irish:

came from N Ireland

little respect for British gov. which made them leave Ireland

settled on frontier in W Penn, Virginia, Carolinas, Georgia

1775- 7% of population

Other Europeans:

other immigrants- French Protestants, Dutch and Swedes

1775- these groups were 5% of population

Africans:

largest non-English group in Americas, unwillingly brought

1775- made up 20% of population

90% lived in lifelong bondage in the S.

The Structure of Colonial Society:

General Characteristics

most of population was English, but both Africans and non-English immigrants brought diverse influences

would modify culture in many ways

Self- Government

each colony gov had representative assembly- was elected by eligible voters

in R Island and Connecticut -governor was also elected by people

the governors of other colonies appointed by crown/proprietor

Religious Toleration

all colonies permitted practice of different religions

w/ varying degrees:

Massachusetts (most conservative)- accepted several Protestant types and excluded non- Christians/ Catholics

Rhode Island/ Pennsylvnia- most liberal

No Hereditary Aristocracy:

no nobility w privilages

no masses of poor people

narrower class system based on economics: landowners- minority, caft workers/ small farmers- majority

Social Mobility:

w exeption to Africans, settlers had oppurtunity to improve their standard of living

The Family

social/econmic center of colonial life

90% people on farms

colonists had higher standard of living than in England

Men

men worked

land owning/ dominated politics rights

almost had unlimited power in the home

Women

on avg- 8 kids

household work, educated kids, ed alongside husband

The Economy

	Created by Jamila Mastny about 6 years ago

Topics 1607-1754 Early English Colonies 4. Colonial North America, 1690-1754

Period 2