Growth of the English Colonies
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the remarkable growth of English colonies in North America during the 1700s, highlighting a 900% population increase to 2.5 million by the mid-century. It discusses the 'salutary neglect' period, where England's minimal interference allowed colonies to flourish, fostering a sense of independence and self-government. The video also covers the economic boom driven by agriculture and trade, the development of industries in New England, and the establishment of the triangular trade system, which contributed to the colonies' rapid expansion and set the stage for future conflicts.
Takeaways
- 🌱 The English colonies in North America flourished due to abundant resources and agricultural production.
- 🌐 The southern colonies became a hub for religious freedom and economic opportunities, leading to a significant population increase.
- 📈 The population of the colonies grew from an estimated 250,000 in 1700 to about 2.5 million by the mid-1770s, a 900% increase.
- 🏡 A majority of white males in the colonies owned land, fostering a sense of independence and self-government.
- 🏛️ The term 'salutary neglect' refers to the period when England paid little attention to the colonies, allowing them autonomy.
- 🌾 The colonies were primarily agricultural, with the New England region focused on subsistence farming and the southern colonies on commercial farming.
- 🚢 New England developed industries like shipbuilding and whaling due to poor soil conditions for large-scale farming.
- 🔄 The triangular trade system involved the colonies in a trade network that included raw materials, finished goods, and enslaved people.
- 🌟 Colonists were generally taller and healthier than those in England, with better access to food and higher literacy rates.
- 🚀 The growth and economic development of the colonies laid the groundwork for the eventual American Revolution and the Civil War.
Q & A
What factors contributed to the growth of the English colonies in North America?
-The growth of the English colonies in North America was due to an abundance of resources, enormous agricultural production, and the availability of land for property ownership.
How did the population of the English colonies change from 1700 to the mid-1770s?
-The population of the colonies increased from an estimated 250,000 in 1700 to approximately 2.5 million by the mid-1770s, marking a 900 percent increase in barely 50 years.
What percentage of white males owned land in the colonies by the time of the American Revolution?
-It is estimated that 67 percent of white males owned land in the colonies by the time of the American Revolution.
What was the term historians use to describe the period from 1621 to 1750 in the American colonies?
-Historians refer to the period from 1621 to 1750 as the 'salutary neglect,' a time when England paid little attention to the American colonies and allowed them to operate with minimal interference.
How did the British attitude towards the colonies during the 'salutary neglect' period set the stage for the American Revolution?
-The 'salutary neglect' period set the stage for the American Revolution as the British eventually decided to pay more attention and interfere in the colonies' affairs, which upset the colonists.
Why were colonists on average taller and more likely to live to adulthood compared to people in England?
-Colonists were on average taller and more likely to live to adulthood due to better access to food and resources, and the availability of quality food in the colonies.
What was the literacy rate among males in the colonies by the 1750s?
-The literacy rate among males in the colonies by the 1750s was about 85 percent.
How did the agricultural practices differ between the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies?
-New England colonies were primarily dominated by subsistence farming, the Middle colonies had a mix of subsistence and commercial farming, while the Southern colonies had large plantations focused on commercial farming.
What industries began to develop in New England due to poor soil and the inability to do large-scale farming?
-New England developed industries such as shipbuilding, fishing, and especially whaling, as they could not grow crops year-round and had poor, rocky soil.
What was the triangular trade system and how was it related to the growth of the colonies?
-The triangular trade system involved sending raw materials from America to Europe for processing, then trading the finished products in Western Africa for enslaved Africans, who were forced to work on American plantations. This system contributed to the rapid growth of the colonies.
How did the colonists' push to move westward affect the development of the colonies?
-The colonists' push to move westward led to the establishment of small farms and communities in the Piedmont region, which expanded the colonies' boundaries and contributed to their growth.
Outlines
🌱 Colonial Growth and Economic Prosperity
This paragraph discusses the rapid growth of English colonies in North America during the 1700s, highlighting the increase in population from approximately 250,000 in 1700 to about 2.5 million by the mid-1770s. The growth was fueled by abundant resources and agricultural production, especially in the southern colonies. The text also notes the high rate of land ownership among white males in the colonies, which fostered a sense of independence and self-governance. The concept of 'salutary neglect' is introduced, describing a period where England paid little attention to the colonies, allowing them considerable autonomy. This period laid the groundwork for the eventual American Revolution. The paragraph also touches on the physical and educational advantages of colonists over their English counterparts, with higher literacy rates and better access to quality food.
🛠️ Economic Diversification and Expansion
The second paragraph delves into the economic activities of the colonies, emphasizing the dominance of agriculture and the development of industries in New England. It outlines the differences in farming practices from subsistence farming in New England to commercial farming in the middle and southern colonies, with the latter focusing on cash crops like cotton, rice, sugar, tobacco, and indigo. The reliance on enslaved labor for the profitability of southern plantations is also mentioned. The paragraph further discusses the emergence of industries in New England due to less favorable conditions for large-scale farming, including shipbuilding, fishing, and whaling. The importance of trade to the colonies' growth is highlighted, particularly the triangular trade system involving raw materials from America, processed goods from Europe, and the exchange of these goods for enslaved Africans in Western Africa. Lastly, the paragraph touches on the westward expansion of colonists into the Piedmont region, marking the beginning of a push beyond the established 13 colonies.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Colonies
💡Salutary Neglect
💡Population Growth
💡Religious Freedom
💡Economic Opportunity
💡Land Ownership
💡Triangular Trade
💡Enslaved People
💡Industries
💡Literacy Rate
💡Commercial Farming
Highlights
The English colonies in North America flourished due to abundant resources and agricultural production.
The southern colonies became a hub for religious freedom and better economic opportunities.
The population of the colonies saw a 900 percent increase from 1700 to the mid-1770s.
The population doubled every 25 years, reflecting rapid growth.
67 percent of white males owned land in the colonies by the time of the revolution.
In England, only 20 percent of white males owned land, highlighting the difference in opportunity.
Colonists' land ownership fostered a sense of independence and self-government.
The term 'salutary neglect' refers to England's lack of attention to the colonies from 1621 to 1750.
The colonies' growth set the stage for revolution as Britain began to interfere more.
Colonists were on average taller and had a higher likelihood of reaching adulthood compared to English citizens.
Access to food and resources contributed to the better health and literacy of colonists.
The literacy rate among males in the colonies was about 85 percent by the 1750s.
The colonies were economically dominated by farming, with different farming practices across regions.
New England colonies practiced subsistence farming, while the middle colonies had a mix of subsistence and commercial farming.
Southern colonies developed large plantations focused on commercial farming of cash crops.
The labor of enslaved people was crucial for the profitability of southern plantations.
New England developed industries such as shipbuilding, fishing, and whaling due to poor soil conditions.
The triangular trade system involved the colonies, Europe, and Africa, impacting the growth and economy.
Colonists began pushing westward, establishing new communities and contributing to the colonies' expansion.
Transcripts
today we're looking at the growth of the colonies
hello welcome to the daily bell ringer please don't forget to subscribe and take a look at
the questions down in the description after the establishment of the english colonies in north
america along the east coast the colonies began to flourish due to an abundance of resources
available and enormous agricultural production in the south the english colonies became a place
where people from all walks of life wanted to flock to for religious freedom but also
better economic opportunity the population of the colonies absolutely exploded throughout the
first half of the 1700s in 1700 the population of the colonies was estimated to be around 250
000 but by the mid 1770s at about the same same time as the american revolution was about to begin
the population was approximately 2.5 million that is a 900 percent increase in population in barely
50 years and in fact if you look at population data the population doubled every 25 years
coupled with this growth was the opportunity to own property or land in the colonies
it is estimated that 67 percent of white males own land in the colonies by the time of the revolution
compare that to england where there was not much land available and only 20 of white males own
land since so many colonists own land and did not have to answer to or be accountable to a landlord
there was a much greater sense of independence and ideas of self-government in the colonies
now this sense of independence brings me to a very important term or concept to understand
about this time period of growth in the colonies historians have come to call this time from 1621
approximately the time when the pilgrims arrive to 1750 which was approximately the time when the
french and indian war gets underway they call this time period the time period of salutary neglect
this term salutary neglect basically refers to a time period in history in which england paid
little attention to the american colonies and allowed them to do as they wished with little
interference as long as the colonies were making money for britain they really didn't care what
was going on in the colonies this time period very much sets the stage for revolution as eventually
the british decide they have to pay more attention and interfere in the colonies business and of
course that ends up making the colonists very upset but beyond this sense of independence was
the fact that the colonists were literally bigger stronger and smarter than those back in europe
colonists on average were two inches taller than people back in england and also were twice as
likely to live to adulthood after birth you might be asking yourself why this is and it basically
comes down to access to food and resources in the colonies quality food was more readily available
than back in england furthermore the puritans began organizing public schools to ensure that
everyone would be able to primarily be able to read the bible and by the 1750s the literacy rate
or percentage of people who could read and write was about 85 percent among males compare that to
barely 60 percent literacy rate back in england at the same time economically the colonies were still
dominated by farming from new england through the southern colonies most people still worked
in agriculture and this would be the case for many years in american history the new england colonies
were primarily dominated by subsistence farming which is farming to grow just enough for you and
your family and possibly a little bit to trade as you move south into the middle colonies there
was a mix of subsistence and commercial farming which commercial farming was growing crops to sell
for profit and in the middle colonies the primary crops were wheat barley and oats and so the region
becomes known as the bread basket in the southern colonies where year-round agriculture was possible
huge plantations developed that were heavily involved in commercial farming growing cotton
rice sugar tobacco and indigo but again these plantations depended on the labor of enslaved
people in order to make a profit since new england could not grow crops year-round and had poor
rocky soil and couldn't really do large-scale farming they began to develop industries
some of these industries included ship building fishing and especially whaling whales were very
valuable for their oil which was used to light lamps it is important to note that it is during
this time that you could argue two americas begin to develop an industrial base north and an
agriculturally based south of course this division will heavily contribute to years later the civil
war also contributing to this rapid growth in the colonies was the fact that the colonists were very
heavily involved in trade during this time they developed the triangular trade system in which raw
materials were loaded in america and then sent to england or europe where they were processed into
finished products such as rum cloth and guns these items were then taken to western africa where
they were traded for enslaved africans that were forced to come to america and work on plantations
along what was known as the middle passage which i'll cover that in another bell ringer
at the same time some colonists began to push the boundary of the 13 colonies trying to move
west as they began to establish small farms and communities in the piedmont or the base of the
appalachian mountains so with that hopefully you learned something and thanks for watching
you
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