Chapter 3 Sectional differences among the colonies 1

Chapter 3 Sectional differences among the colonies 1

How were the colonial regions different? How were they similar? Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 2

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 3

4

5

Colonial America v Impacts of Mercantilism (15 -1600 s) § Extracting wealth from foreign lands crucial § Goal was to maximize exports, minimize imports § A nation’s colonies could become both a source of goods and a market for that nation’s finished products § Navigation Acts (1651) laws designed to restrict England’s carrying trade to English ships in the 17 th and 18 th centuries. Originally framed to encourage the development of English shipping so that adequate auxiliary vessels would be available in wartime, became a form of trade protectionism during an era of mercantilism 6

Colonial America v New England Colonies § Climate ü Hills, mountains, and rocky terrain § Economy ü The geography and climate impacted the trade and economic activities ü Timber ü Shipbuilding ü Fishing § Society ü ü Royal or Charter Public education important Towns and cities center of government Church was central to colonial life. All settlers had to attend. NO religious freedom -- banishment 7

Colonial America v Middle Colonies § Climate ü Rich farmland § Economy ü Farming, mining, textiles ü Port cities created demand for sailors, shipbuilders and dock workers ü Some had servants, few owned slaves § Society ü Ethnically diverse populations ü German, Scot-Irish, Catholic Immigrants ü Private schools, apprenticeships ü Counties were centers of government ü Religious freedom (PA) ü Most free Africans lived here 8

Colonial America v Southern Colonies § Climate ü Mountains, piedmont, coastal plains § Economy ü Founded for economic, not religious reasons ü Small farms, plantations ü Cash crops ü Headright system § Society ü Large land-owners (slavocracy) ü Wealthy hired teachers or sent to Europe ü State legislatures, House of Burgesses ü Anglican (rich) Baptist, Methodist ü Slaves gradually replace white servants Wanted to help poor and create buffer between Spanish Florida and South Carolina 9

Gentry (5%) • • • Slavocracy Owned many slaves Held large acreages Acted as merchants Sold tobacco and imported manufactured goods Small landholders Non-landholding whites (40%-50%) African and country-born slaves 10