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U.S. History I - Eighteenth Century Colonial America

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    Study Guide U.S. History I – Eighteenth Century Colonial America 1. Colonial Society and Economy Life in the American colonies was shaped by politics, population growth, farming, trade, and a clearly defined social structure. While colonists enjoyed some independence, they were still closely tied to England. Let’s break this down into easy - to - follow s ections. 1.1 Political Freedom — With Limits The colonists had a fair amount of self - government. Many colonies had elected assemblies, such as the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Maryland House of Delegates , which allowed colonists to make local laws. However, the colonies were still part of the English empire . Parliament controlled colonial trade through a series of laws called the Navigation Acts , first passed in 1660. These laws required: • Goods to be shipped on English ships • Crews to be mostly English • Certain valuable goods (called enumerated articles ) to be shipped only to England or its colonies These laws were based on mercantilism , the belief that colonies existed to benefit the mother country by providing raw materials and buying finished goods. At the same time, the colonies were affected by European conflicts. When England and France went to war , those wars often spread to North America as well. 1.2 Rapid Population Growth By 1750 , more than one million people lived in the thirteen colonies. Several factors helped population growth: • Disease was less deadly than in earlier years • Infant mortality rates were lower than in England • People lived longer • Women married younger and had larger families

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    Study Guide Natural population growth — more births than deaths — was the main reason for this increase. However, immigration also played an important role. Many newcomers came from Europe: • Germans fleeing war • Irish and Scotch - Irish escaping poverty or persecution Together, these groups added to the colonies’ cultural and religious diversity. The largest group of newcomers, however, were Africans brought as slaves , who arrived against their will. 1.3 The Expansion of Slavery By the mid - 1700s, nearly 250,000 Black people lived in the colonies — almost twenty times more than in 1700. Slavery expanded for two main reasons: • Continued importation of enslaved Africans • Natural population growth among enslaved people As fewer indentured servants came from England (because job opportunities improved there), colonists turned more heavily to enslaved labor. Many enslaved people entered through Charleston, South Carolina , and Newport, Rhode Island . Because competition from Caribbean and Brazilian plantations kept prices high, American planters began buying more women and encouraging enslaved families to grow naturally. 1.4 Where Slavery Was Most Common Most enslaved people lived in the southern colonies , but their distribution varied: • In the Chesapeake region , many planters owned fewer than twenty slaves • In South Carolina , large rice plantations often used fifty or more slaves • In some areas of South Carolina, Black people outnumbered whites by as much as eight to one Because of this concentration, enslaved Africans in South Carolina were able to keep more of their African culture. Slavery also existed in the North . For example, in New York , enslaved people made up 20 percent of the population in 1746. They often worked as: • Domestic servants • Skilled labor assistants • Dockworkers in port cities

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    Study Guide 1.5 Resistance and Rebellion Enslaved people resisted slavery in many ways. Most resistance was quiet and nonviolent , such as: • Pretending to be sick • Breaking tools • Slowing down work Sometimes, resistance turned violent. The largest slave uprising in the colonies was the Stono Rebellion in 1739 in South Carolina. About 100 enslaved people fled toward Florida, killing 20 whites along the way. The rebellion was eventually crushed, and many rebels were killed. This event led to increased fear and stricter slave laws. 1.6 Farming in the Colonies Most colonists were farmers , but farming differed by region. New England • Rocky soil and short growing seasons made farming difficult • Farms were small and often divided among children • Crops like barley, wheat, and oats had little export value • Many people turned to fishing, lumber, tar, and pitch to trade for English goods Middle Colonies • Rich soil and better climate • Produced surplus crops such as corn, wheat, and livestock • Goods were shipped mainly to the West Indies from cities like Philadelphia and New York Southern Colonies • Tobacco dominated the Chesapeake economy • Price changes pushed farmers to grow grains, flax, and cattle • Rice became important in South Carolina and Georgia • Around 1740 , indigo was introduced; it was used to make blue dye for English textiles

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    Study Guide 1.7 Moving to the Frontier As populations grew, land became scarce along the coast. Many German and Scotch - Irish immigrants moved inland to the backcountry of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Carolinas. There, they farmed small plots and grew just enough food to survive. 1.8 Trade and Industry The colonies were part of a large Atlantic trading system that connected: • England • Africa • The West Indies This system — often called the Triangular Trade — involved exchanging: • Colonial farm and forest products • English manufactured goods • Slaves, sugar, and molasses from the West Indies In New England, molasses and sugar were turned into rum , which was traded for African slaves. Southern Europe was also an important market for colonial food. 1.9 Colonial Industry and Restrictions Trade supported colonial industries: • Many ships were built in the colonies • Shipbuilding created jobs for sailmakers, lumber workers, and suppliers of naval stores Under mercantilism , the colonies were encouraged to export raw materials like pig iron and coal. At the same time, England limited colonial manufacturing. For example: • Hatmakers could not export hats between colonies • The number of apprentices per shop was restricted

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