Chapter 4 Eighteenth Century America 1689 1763 Houston

Chapter 4 Eighteenth Century America, 1689 -1763 Houston Community College History 1302 Professor Williams

Opportunity and Oppression in Colonial Society � Mercantilism � Navigation Acts � Enumerated goods � Indentured servants � Bacon’s Rebellion � Glorious Revolution � Salem witchcraft � Roots of Slavery

Indentured Servants � Tobacco farming required more workers. › 1 st white indentured servants from England. › 1619 -Duthc merchant ship arrives in Jamestown with 20 Africans. › Sold to tobacco farmers as indentured servants, not slaves. › By 1662, Africans will replace indentured slaves due to revolts such as Bacon’s Rebellion. � Headright System: › Plantation owners give 50 acres for every indentured servant they sponsored to come to America. › 3 to 7 years › Mostly England’s poor › Indentured servants will decrease

Bacon’s Rebellion Nathaniel Bacon, young Virginia planer who wanted to be an ‘elite planter’. � 1 st grassroot movement • Specifically, Bacon was angry at Virginia Governor William Berkeley • Berkeley ran a corrupt government for 30 years in an alliance with Virginia’s wealthiest tobacco planters (Bacon was not invited to the club) • He gave them the best land grants, leaving new planters little choice on the land they received • He also did not want to forcibly take Indian lands �

Bacon’s Rebellion • The conflict began with a minor confrontation between Indians and settlers on the western frontier • Bacon was furious and began to raid Indian and settlers’ villages • Declared a traitor by Berkeley • Indians were his primary target, but settlers became collateral damage • Bacon proceeded to march on Jamestown and burn it to the ground • Became the de facto ruler of Virginia for a short time after he ran the governor off • • Control was finally restored after British warship came Overall, he effectively pushed the Indians out of the Chesapeake Bay

Bacon’s Rebellion • Threats of Civil War • Bacon’s Rebellion served as a rude awakening for many of the colonial elite • The elite previously did not think the non-elite would attempt to revolt • This was essentially a struggle between economic classes • The elite slowly realized they had to improve their image and show some concern for the poor • Essentially, this was a perfect example of the danger of many land-less freemen in a society controlled by a few elite • Resembles Early Marxism

Salem Witch trials

Salem withcraft • During the 17 th century, over 350 New Englanders were accused of witchcraft • Over 200 accused in Salem, Massachusetts alone • Virtually no one was accused in the South; this was truly a Northern phenomenon • Who was accused? • In Salem, an Indian slave woman named Tituba was blame for the outbreak of witchcraft • Typically, older, outcast women were the primary targets • They usually were post-menopausal, did not have sons, had economic autonomy, and were single • Economic autonomy alone gave men a reason to envy this women to some degree • Led to hysteria • 14 women and 5 men were executed as a result • What ends the hysteria • The governor’s wife eventually gets accused of witchcraft • Thus, the governor believe the hysteria had gone too far and ended the numerous trials

Planter Society & Slavery � Primary reason for expansion of slavery in North America was the need for labor on the growing tobacco plantations. › Chesapeake Bay slave system �Primarily existed on tobacco plantations �Generally small-masters & slaves �Slavery transformed society into a hierarchy based on freedom � Large planters-most free � Yeoman farmers-middle class, some restrictions on freedom � Indentured servants & tenant farmers –lower class, many restrictions � Slaves-not recognized as citizens or people, very restricted. �Laws created for slave owners to ensure their legal power over slaves. �Race divisions begin � Blacks became synonymous with slave � White became synonymous with freedom

Colonial Slavery � � South Carolina & Georgia › › Need for slavery demand due to rice plantations Rice and indigo were large-scale cultivation For rice farms, they needed large plantations and labor force By 1770, over 100, 000 slaves populated South Carolina › › Economically based on small farms A large labor force not required Very few slaves, so little threat to colonists Laws not as harsh for slaves such as the South Northern colonies › Africans in America-PBS

Anthony Johnson � Documented black indentured servant (black Angolan) › Worked his term of service, 1635 › Married a free black woman › Owned 250 acres in Maryland �Had indentured servants and one African slave › Due to the rise of slavery, Johnson and his family will lose their land move to start a tobacco farm.

Royal African Company • After 1672, The Royal African Co. was chartered to meet the colonial planters’ demands for black laborers. • It was granted a monopoly in the slave trade. • 5, 000 slaves /year • 249 voyages to Africa, 1680 -88

Slave Trade

African Indigenous Slavery was widespread in African and had existed for thousands of years. Slaves were the only form of private, revenue-producing property recognized under African law; no private or personal ownership of land.

The Atlantic Slave Trade � Triangle Trade linked Europe, Africa and the Americas › “outward passage” – Africans exchanged war captives for manufactured goods (guns, jewelry, cloth, rum) › “middle passage” – horrific transport of slaves across the Atlantic, to the Caribbean › “return passage” – raw materials (sugar, tobacco, rice, cotton) from plantations in the Caribbean to Europe

Middle Passage Slaves’ transatlantic voyage � Most horrible inhumane conditions � Lasted weeks to months � Deaths, suicides, revolts �

Olaudah Equiano �A slave kidnapped from the Eboe province › Shipped to Bardados(not sold) �Then to Virginia (sold) �A Royal Navy officer-Lt. Michael Pascal, renamed him Gustavus Vassa �Travelled the oceans for 8 years with Pascal �Sold to a ship captain in London, then sold to a prominent merchant Robert King. �Within 3 years he purchases his freedom �Travels for 20 years, 1786 becomes abolitionist

Autobiography: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African

� When I looked round the ship too and saw a large furnace of copper boiling, and a multitude of black people of every description chained together, every one of their countenances expressing dejection and sorrow, I no longer doubted of my fate and quite overpowered with horror and anguish, I fell motionless on the deck and fainted. . I asked if we were not to be eaten by those white men with horrible looks, red faces and long hair? “ _Olaudah Equiano

"I had seen a black woman slave as I came through the house, who was cooking the dinner, and the poor creature was cruelly loaded with various kinds of iron machines; she had one particularly on her head, which locked her mouth so fast that she could scarcely speak, and could not eat or drink. I [was] much astonished and shocked at this contrivance, which I afterwards learned was called the iron muzzle. “ (Olaudah Equiano)

“The Door of No Return” – Goree Island, Senegal The first record of slave trading there dates back to 1536 and was conducted by Portuguese, the first Europeans to set foot on the Island in 1444. The house of slaves was built in 1776. Built by the Dutch, it is the last slave house still standing in Goree and now serves as a museum. The island is considered as a memorial to the Black Diaspora.

Slave Resistance, Revolts A sentiment for slaves in America was the desire to be free. � Many colonial slaves ran away to Spanish Florida/Northern cities � 1 st slave uprising-NY-1712 � � 1739 -Stono Rebellion › Led to more restrictive slave code � 1741 -New York City fires � Slave Codes › Laws

Reason & Religion in Colonial Society � Enlightenment Period › › Laws of nature Franklin’s influence Jefferson Education in the colonies Religious toleration � The Great Awakening � � Religion/Tradition-Social Roles › Women-subservient to husband › Slave-subservient to master › Father/husband-protector of women/children › Children-subservient to father › Family-large

The American Enlightenment � Origins › Scientific: early science was related to sun and stars › Mixed religion with science. , theology and science were self reinforcing for many years › Superstition played a role in belief of important social events � Belief › Thinkers argued that reason, or rational thinking, rather than divine revelation, tradition, intuition, or established authority, was the true path to reliable knowledge and to human progress.

• Part of the larger movement in Europe known as the “Age of Enlightenment” • Europeans were greatly influenced by the scientific revolution in the 17 th century and sought to apply scientific and investigative methods to political and social life • Research, logic, and experimentation were key components • The movement came in part as a reaction to the bloody religious wars of Europe of late 16 th and 17 th centuries • Concepts of “natural laws” came into vogue and began to encompass the spirit of the American Enlightenment • Religion was questioned by Deists • They believed that a supreme being created the universe and that reason and logic could determine religious “truth” • Hence, there was no need for faith or organized religion • This movement was particularly popular with founding fathers such as Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, and George Washington

Enlightenment Philosophers � Isaac Newton: Principia 1687 › Used mathematics to establish laws for governing the universe. › Rules/laws= order=Predictability � 3 laws of motion �Body at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by some force (inertia 0 �Change of body’s motion is proportional to force acting on it �For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

• Social Contracts Locke: The sole right for a man to defend himself in nature is not enough. Men must come together in a civil society (social contract). • Government is needed to help resolve the endless conflicts • He advocated for separation of powers • Believed that revolution against a tyrant government was a right and an obligation of a civil society • Believed in individual rights, consent of the government, etc. • Framework for the United States’ application of liberalism and democratic government • Overall: • Locke’s theories of liberalism and democratic government + Rousseau’s republican framework = the future United States’ political theory

Books of the time � � � Isaac Newton- Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy John Locke -Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Two Treatises of Civil Government Voltaire-Philosophical Letters Montesquieu-The Spirit of Laws Jean-Jacques Rousseau-The Social Contract, Emile or On Education Denis Diderot-Encyclopedia

What is “Enlightenment” � Reason & Logic › › › Rationalism Empiricism Tolerance Skepticism Deism � Traditions & Superstitions › › Nostalgia for the past Organized religions Irrationalism Emotionalism

The Great Awakening � � � George Whitefield Denominations Jonathan Edwards Piety and reason Stirrings

George Whitefield Jonathan Edwards

Great Awakening � • An attempt to regain Puritan ideals from founding. A period of heightened religious activity in the colonies between the late 1720 s and 1740 s • Brought on by the arrival of young Anglican pastor George Whitefield • Whitefield traveled through the colonies preaching enthusiastically • Other preachers such as Jonathan Edwards generated immense controversy through his sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” What was their goal? • • • Visited towns, villages, and the backcountry (known as circuit riding) • Known for attracting large, emotionally charged crowds and generating considerable controversy • Attempt to compel non-Christians to covert to Christianity and those who were lost to recommit to God • Controversial because they rejected Calvinism and segregation in church services Conservative church members particularly did not care for the circuit riders

• Factions The great awakening • “Old Lights” – conservative church members who rejected the controversial preaching of the circuit riders • “New Lights” – liberal church members who came under scrutiny for supporting the circuit riders and accepting blacks into white church services • What did the movement achieve? • Split Protestantism into more denominations; Presbyterians were especially affected • Became social criticism for colonial society • Rejected slavery in particular • Eventually, “New Lights” eclipsed “Old Lights” and ushered in a new era of religious influence in the colonies • Became a great influence of connecting God’s will with the Revolutionary War in the 1760 s and 1770 s

North America and the Struggle for Empire � Age of Imperial Warfare � Great War for Empire � Outcomes of the Great War for Empire

King William’s War, 1688 -1697 � England France struggled for the mastery of Europe › The colonists fought one another in America � The goal of the British colonies was to capture Canada � War ends with the Treaty of Ryswick � Results: › Port Royal in Acadia was returned to France › France maintained a presence in New World

Queen Anne’s War, 1702 -1713 � English unsuccessful to capture Quebec � Native Americans support by French burned British frontier settlements � British gained Nova Scotia from France and trade rights with Spanish America › Results: �France renounces plans to unite with Spain �England gains Caribbean islands �War takes financial toll on the colonies

King George’s War, 1740 -1748 Merged with the War of Jenkins’s Ear, 17391740 � France allied itself with Spain, England’s troops captured the fortress of Cape Breton Island. (access to St. Lawrence River) � › Later the British exchanged this for India gains (Madras, India) French head south from Canada to Pennsylvania to prevent British expansion � Sets the stage for the Ohio River Valley to become the future battleground for all conflicts between the French and English. � Results: Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle �

French & Indian Wars Seven Years War 1756 -1763 Began in 1754, with Washington’s battle with the French. � England Prussia vs. France, Spain, Austria, and Russia � › Indians initially with the French to keep the British from taking their land For the first two years, the British lose • After numerous battles, the British forces (regulars and colonial militias) force the French out of Canada • • Seen as a huge victory over the Catholics

Battles and Results Peace Treaty at Paris in 1793 France lost all territory in North America, but kept the Caribbean Islands • England’s King George III looks like a hero � • • A statue of him is erected in New York City • France’s loss severely damaged their relationship with the Native Americans • Britain took their revenge against the Indian betrayers in trading • They stopped buying items from the Indians at high prices • Indians were forced to begin hunting again

Proclamation of 1763 After numerous conflicts with Indians in the Ohio River Valley after the end of the Seven Years’ War, the British were forced to respond • King George III used this proclamation as an excuse to avoid further Indian conflicts • • He was too worried about paying back all the war debt The goal was to stabilize the volatile situation on the colonial frontier and avoid future border conflicts • All in all, the proclamation closed the frontier for future colonial expansion •

Sources � Kevin M. Schultz, HIST, Volume 1. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2011. � Edward L. Ayers, et. al. American Passages: A History of the United States, 4 th Edition. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2009. � Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty!: An American History, Seagull Third Edition. New York and London: W. W. Norton & Company, 2012. � PBS, Africans in America, 1998.