Government: How did
they govern themselves locally and as colonies? Was there an infrastructure Note: Voting at this time was not by secret ballot,
but by stating aloud the name of the person that you favored. |
Issue |
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI) |
Middle Colonies (DE, NY, NJ, PA) |
South (GA, MD, NC, SC, VA) |
What were some examples of local government and
town organization? What about ownership of property and involvement of the
population in the well-being of the local community? |
New Englanders had meetinghouse and centralized
community. Annual “town meetings,” where they selected governing group.
Widespread ownership of land, plus 1630s voting granted based on church
membership; 40% colony’s males could vote. |
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Dispersed population. Land ownership more
difficult, plus stable incomes required owning slaves. With economic
limitations and dependency, came political dependency. Bacon’s Rebellion was
partly the landless indentured servants being disenfranchised. |
What happened in the English colonies with both
local and colonial government? |
Colonial assembles with most governors royally
appointed. Council declined in power in 1700s and assemblies increased,
primarily because of “power of purse” as the governors needed money for
colonial wars. Size of franchise was large because most owned land –
therefore hard to control the electorate, who could throw out those who did
not listen. |
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What was different about the colonies and criticism
of government compared to the British tradition? |
1730s – John Peter Zenger, newspaper editor,
criticized the royal governor of NY. Attorney Andrew Hamilton argued
successfully that criticism of government, if true, isn’t libelous. Result: “Last colonial printer prosecuted by the
royal authorities” (p. 859 of Boyer’s Oxford Companion to
United States History). The royal government in New York took the position
held by the British traditions. The colonial jury did not. This is a sign of the developing American
recognition that a free and attentive press is essential for small-r
republicanism and small-d democracy. |
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What was different about the colonial and British
governmental systems? |
Colonies – 50-75% white males – qualified voters
(compared to England with 15-30%). Colonies – direct representation (compared to
England’s “virtual representation”) |
Economy: How did they
make a living? What was the infrastructure for their economy? |
Issue |
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI) |
Middle Colonies (DE, NY, NJ, PA) |
South (GA, MD, NC, SC, VA) |
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In which colonial regions were the cities/ports? |
Boston = 16,000 (Data in this row from the 1770s) |
Philadelphia = 28,000 New York = 25,000 Newport (RI) = 11,000 |
Charles Town = 12,000 with trade actually
controlled by merchants from Britain/New England |
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Where were tobacco, rice, and wheat grown and where
were they sold? |
Wheat grown = Connecticut Valley Wheat sold = New England, South, West Indies. (Also shipped meat to
South.) |
NY, PA − Same as Connecticut Valley. Tobacco grown = Chesapeake (includes MD) |
Tobacco grown = Chesapeake (VA) Rice grown = Carolina (South) and GA. Post-1754,
South Carolinians migrated into GA; 1773 GA = 33K – with 45% slaves. Rice and tobacco sold = Northern colonies and
Europe Trading managed by London, later northern colonies.
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Where were there
industries, such as metals manufacturing, lumbering, mining, and fishing? |
Lumbering, mining, and fishing – on the coast. 1640s – Iron works established MA. |
1760s, NJ iron plant; other small ones in NJ, PA –
this in spite of the Iron Act (1750). |
Some iron plants in South. Not major industry. Some
lumbering, naval stores. |
|
What was the difference both in the type of trades
and crafts industries in the North and in the South and who was involved in
those occupations? |
In general, workers = white laborers or
entrepreneurs in colonial towns. Types of trades and crafts: ·
Blacksmiths, cabinet makers,
cobblers, rifle makers, silversmiths ·
Owners of mills for processing
grain, cloth, or lumber |
In general, workers = slaves on or from large plantations
earning money for their owners and possibly their own freedom Types of trades and crafts: ·
Blacksmithing, carpentry,
cobbling ·
Small shopkeepers selling
services |
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What was the difference in the infrastructure for
trade (merchants, the ports) in the North and South and in the effect of
English rules (Navigation Acts, Iron Act, woolens control) in the North and
in the South? |
In Massachusetts, later in New Jersey and
Pennsylvania. 1750 – Iron Act and other acts restricted processing of metals,
woolens, and hats, but Navigation Acts protected merchants from foreign
competition. 27% colonial exports (from Boston, Newport,
Philadelphia) to West Indies. Colonies importing from Britain heavily after
1740. Also some hauling overland (Great Wagon Road) in 1600s, but limitations
on hauling grain because of weight. |
South imports/exports directly to merchants (first
English, later Northern). |
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Had an infrastructure—that is, had commercial or merchant
class with ships, contacts, and expertise required for global trade. Ship builders – 40% of British merchant vessels. |
Trade was handled by London merchants and later by
Northern merchants. |
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New England ·
CT – Connecticut ·
ME – Maine ·
MA – Massachusetts ·
NH – New Hampshire
|
Middle Colonies ·
DE – Delaware ·
NY – New York ·
NJ – New Jersey ·
PA – Pennsylvania |
South ·
GA – Georgia ·
MD – Maryland ·
NC – North Carolina ·
SC – South Carolina
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