American Pageant Chapter 4-5 APUSH Review (APUSH Period 2)

Summary

This video from Jos Productions dives into the complexities of English colonial society, highlighting regional differences across the New England, middle, Chesapeake, and Lower South colonies. It discusses the influence of settlers' motives and environmental factors on societal development. Key topics include the rise of a homogeneous society in New England, the plantation economies and social hierarchies in the South, the transition to African slavery, and the cultural blend that emerged. The script also touches on the impact of the Great Awakening on religious diversity and the development of democratic institutions, setting the stage for resistance to British authority.

Takeaways

• 🏰 Colonial society in British North America was diverse, with regional differences influenced by settlers' motives, environmental factors, and geographic variations.
• 📚 The New England colonies were primarily settled for religious reasons, leading to a homogeneous society with a focus on family, education, and town meetings.
• 🌡️ The Chesapeake and Lower South colonies had harsher conditions, with a male-dominated society and a focus on cash crops like tobacco and rice, leading to a plantation economy and the rise of the southern gentry.
• 🌱 The New England colonies had a mixed economy with agriculture, trade, and shipbuilding, while the southern colonies were more agriculturally focused due to their climate and soil.
• 🌍 The triangular trade route was pivotal in the transatlantic slave trade, with the Middle Passage being a horrific journey for enslaved Africans.
• 🔗 Slavery in colonial America was race-based, leading to the development of a unique African American culture that blended African and American traditions.
• 🗳️ The Salem witch trials of 1692 reflected social tensions and the changing nature of the New England colonies from religious motives to profit-driven commercialism.
• 📉 The Great Awakening was a religious revival that led to greater religious diversity, the establishment of new universities, and calls for the separation of church and state.
• 🛑 The mercantile system aimed to make England self-sufficient, but it also led to resentment among colonists due to restrictions on colonial manufacturing and higher prices for British goods.
• 🏛️ The development of democratic institutions in the colonies, such as town hall meetings and elected representative assemblies, laid the groundwork for self-governance and resistance to British rule.
• 🌐 The ethnic diversity of the colonies included not only English settlers but also a growing African population due to slavery and an influx of Scots-Irish and other immigrants.

Q & A

What were the main differences between the New England and Chesapeake colonies?

The New England colonies were largely settled for religious reasons, with Puritans establishing a more stable, homogeneous society focused on family, religion, and education. The Chesapeake colonies, on the other hand, were primarily male-dominated, with settlers seeking wealth through agriculture, especially tobacco farming, leading to a more hierarchical society with a greater gap between the rich and poor.

Why did the New England colonies have longer life expectancy compared to the Chesapeake colonies?

The New England colonies had longer life expectancy due to their cooler climate, which reduced the spread of diseases that were more prevalent in the warmer, more humid Chesapeake region. Additionally, the more stable and family-oriented society in New England contributed to better overall health and longevity.

How did the economy of the New England colonies differ from that of the southern colonies?

The New England colonies had a mixed economy that included agriculture, trade, and shipbuilding, but lacked large-scale farming due to long winters and a short growing season. In contrast, the southern colonies relied heavily on plantation agriculture, with cash crops like tobacco, rice, and sugarcane driving their economies, supported by a large slave labor force.

What factors contributed to the transition from indentured servitude to slavery in the southern colonies?

Several factors led to the transition from indentured servitude to slavery: the abundance of land, a shortage of indentured servants, the difficulty in enslaving the native population, and the increasing European demand for colonial goods. These factors made African slavery more appealing and economically viable for southern planters.

What was the significance of the Great Awakening in the colonies?

The Great Awakening was a religious revival that spread throughout the colonies in the 1730s and 1740s. It led to greater religious independence, the formation of new religious denominations, and strengthened calls for the separation of church and state. It also marked the first mass movement shared across the colonies, fostering a sense of shared identity and challenging established authority.

What were the key characteristics of the triangular trade route, and what was the Middle Passage?

The triangular trade route was a three-part system involving the movement of slaves and goods between Africa, the Caribbean, and the American colonies. The Middle Passage refers to the horrific and dehumanizing journey slaves endured from West Africa to the New World, where they were transported under brutal conditions to maximize profit.

How did the Salem witch trials reflect the tensions within the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

The Salem witch trials in 1692 reflected growing tensions in the Massachusetts Bay Colony as the colony shifted from religious motives to a profit-driven economy. The trials highlighted conflicts between the wealthy, commercial class and the poorer farming class, exacerbating the colony's internal divisions.

What role did the Stono Uprising play in the history of slavery in the southern colonies?

The Stono Uprising in 1739 was one of the few major slave rebellions in the southern colonies. Although it was ultimately defeated, the uprising led to stricter slave codes that further restricted the freedoms and movements of slaves, reflecting the fear of rebellion among the white population and the entrenchment of the slave system.

What impact did the Glorious Revolution in England have on the American colonies?

The Glorious Revolution of 1688 in England led to the overthrow of James II and the ascension of William and Mary to the throne. In the American colonies, this event inspired resistance against the Dominion of New England and efforts to limit the power of the monarchy, contributing to the development of colonial self-governance.

How did the concept of mercantilism influence colonial trade and relations with England?

Mercantilism was the economic theory that colonies existed to enrich the mother country, leading to various trade laws like the Navigation Acts that regulated colonial commerce. While mercantilism benefited some aspects of the colonial economy, such as shipbuilding, it also restricted economic diversification and caused resentment among colonists, contributing to tensions with England.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Colonial Society Overview

This section provides an introduction to the English colonial society, discussing aspects such as politics, religion, slavery, and the impact of regional differences among the British colonies. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the reasons for colonization, the environmental and geographic variations of the regions, and the development of each colony. The New England colonies, characterized by Puritan religious motives and a closed, homogeneous society, are contrasted with the Chesapeake and southern colonies, which were male-dominated and had a harsher climate with diseases like malaria. The section also touches on the economic differences, with the New England colonies having a mixed economy and the southern colonies focusing on cash crop plantations, leading to a rise in slavery.

05:02

🌱 Agricultural and Slavery Dynamics

This paragraph delves into the agricultural and slavery dynamics of the southern colonies, highlighting the importance of cash crops like tobacco, rice, and sugarcane. It discusses the transition from indentured servitude to slavery, influenced by factors such as land abundance, labor shortage, and European demand for colonial goods. The paragraph also explains the triangular trade route and the horrendous conditions of the Middle Passage that slaves experienced. It further explores the development of a unique African American culture, blending African and American traditions, and the various forms of resistance to slavery, such as work slowdowns and running away.

10:03

⛪️ Religious Struggles and the Great Awakening

This section discusses the religious struggles within the colonies, including the fading religious passion in New England and the introduction of the halfway covenant to increase church membership. It also covers the lack of religious freedom in some colonies and the existence of religious tolerance in others, setting the stage for the Great Awakening. The Great Awakening, a religious revival in the 1730s and 1740s, is described as a movement that led to the formation of new universities and churches, and it played a significant role in shaping the colonial society's view on authority and religion.

15:03

🏛️ Colonial Politics and Mercantilism

The final paragraph covers the development of democratic institutions in the colonies, such as the Mayflower Compact, town hall meetings, and elected representative assemblies. It also discusses the impact of mercantilism on colonial trade, with laws like the Navigation Acts and the Molasses Act aiming to make England self-sufficient at the expense of the colonies. The resentment towards these laws and distant governance is highlighted, leading to resistance and events like the Glorious Revolution. The paragraph concludes with the evolution of colonial politics, including the Zenger case, which advanced the freedom of the press and the right to criticize elected officials.

Keywords

💡Colonial Society

Colonial society refers to the communities and social structures that existed in the British colonies in America. It is central to the video's theme as it sets the stage for discussing various aspects of life in the colonies, including politics, religion, and slavery. The script mentions regional differences between colonies, which shaped their distinct colonial societies.

💡Puritans

Puritans were a group of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to purify the Church of England from its Roman Catholic practices. In the context of the video, Puritans are highlighted for their significant role in the colonization of New England, where they established a society based on religious motives, though not tolerant of other religions.

💡Chesapeake

The Chesapeake region, comprising Virginia and Maryland, is a key geographical and cultural area discussed in the video. It is distinguished from New England by its warmer climate, longer growing season, and a plantation economy based on cash crops like tobacco. The script uses the Chesapeake as a comparative region to New England, highlighting differences in life expectancy, society structure, and economic activities.

💡Slavery

Slavery is a critical concept in the video, detailing the institution of human bondage in the colonies. It discusses the transition from indentured servitude to racial slavery, especially after events like Bacon's Rebellion. The script explains how slavery was integral to the southern economy and how it influenced the demographic and social structure of the colonies.

💡Triangular Trade

The Triangular Trade refers to the three-legged trade route that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas. In the video, it is used to describe the flow of goods and slaves that facilitated the slave trade. The script mentions the Middle Passage, illustrating the dehumanizing conditions experienced by enslaved Africans during their transportation to the New World.

💡Mercantilism

Mercantilism is the economic theory and practice that nations should become self-sufficient and enrich themselves by establishing colonies. The video explains how mercantilist policies, such as the Navigation Acts, were used to regulate colonial trade for the benefit of England, which sometimes led to resentment among colonists due to restrictions on their economic freedom.

💡Great Awakening

The Great Awakening was a religious revival that swept through the American colonies in the 18th century. The video describes it as a significant event that led to a renewed interest in religion and a shift away from traditional religious practices. Key figures like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield are mentioned, and their influence on the religious landscape of the colonies is discussed.

💡Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions in 1692 in colonial Massachusetts. The video uses this event to illustrate the social tensions and the changing nature of the colony, reflecting the shift from religious motives to profit-driven commercialism. The trials resulted in the execution of 19 people, highlighting a dark chapter in colonial history.

💡Halfway Covenant

The Halfway Covenant was a religious policy passed in 1662 in the New England colonies. The video explains that it allowed individuals to become partial church members even without a conversion experience. This was an attempt to address the waning religious fervor and to increase church membership by relaxing the strict requirements for full membership.

💡Zenger Case

The Zenger Case of 1735 was a pivotal moment for freedom of the press in the colonies. The video describes how John Peter Zenger was charged with libel for printing a newspaper critical of the royal governor. His acquittal established the principle that truth could be a defense against libel charges, setting a precedent for the right to criticize those in power.

💡Ethnic Diversity

Ethnic diversity in the colonies is highlighted in the video as a significant aspect of colonial society. It discusses the various groups that settled in the thirteen colonies, including English Puritans, African slaves, and Scots-Irish immigrants. This diversity contributed to the cultural richness of colonial America and influenced the development of its social and political institutions.

Highlights

The video breaks down English colonial society, covering aspects such as politics, religion, and slavery.

Regional differences between the British colonies are emphasized, including the New England, middle colonies, Chesapeake, and Lower South.

Factors influencing regional development, such as climate and natural resources, are discussed.

New England colonies were primarily settled for Puritan religious motives, leading to a homogeneous society.

The importance of religion, family life, and education in New England colonies is highlighted.

Town hall meetings and direct democracy were unique characteristics of New England society.

The Chesapeake and southern colonies had a male-dominated society and a harsher life due to diseases and climate.

The rise of the southern gentry and a wider gap between the wealthy and poor is discussed.

Cash crop plantation economies, such as tobacco, rice, and sugarcane, shaped the southern colonies' economy.

The transition from indentured servants to slavery is explained, with reasons including land abundance and European demand.

The triangular trade route and the horrors of the Middle Passage for African slaves are described.

Slave culture in colonial America is portrayed as a blend of African and American traditions.

The Salem witch trials of 1692 reflect growing tensions over the colony's changing nature.

The Great Awakening in the 1730s and 1740s was a religious revival that spread throughout the colonies.

The impact of the Great Awakening included the formation of new universities and calls for separation of church and state.

Mercantilism and its effects on colonial trade and economy are explained, including resentment over British laws.

The development of democratic institutions in the colonies and the evolution of colonial political life are discussed.

The Zenger case in 1733 advanced the freedom of the press and the right to criticize elected officials.

Ethnic diversity in the colonies is highlighted, with people from various backgrounds settling in the thirteen colonies.

Transcripts

welcome back to Jos productions today

we're going to break down English

colonial society what was life like in

the colonies politics religion slavery

all that stuff we're going to cover in

this video

key point to keep in mind regional

differences existed between the British

colonies remember we have the New

England region the middle colonies the

Chesapeake and the Lower South and there

were reasons for these differences who

came to these colonies why they came and

really important you understand the

environmental and geographic variations

of these different regions such as

climate Natural Resources and how this

influenced their development and as you

can see on the map right there some of

the different variations between these

regions and real quick review make sure

you know the differences in similarities

between the Chesapeake versus the New

England colonies they love asking about

this topic so quick review of the New

England region remember there were

largely Puritan religious motives for

colonization and although these

individuals whether it be the Pilgrims

or the Puritans

are coming over for religious motives

keep in mind they are not tolerant of

other religions they're going to develop

a closed-end homogeneous society

settlements are settled around towns the

life expectancy is longer than the

Chesapeake it's also longer than what it

was in England it's a much more stable

society compared to the Chesapeake

region there is going to be the

importance of religion in the colonies

obviously family life is going to be key

to the colonies and education in fact

they're going to require schools to be

built and as you can see on that town

map schools churches you got it all

right there town hall meetings are going

to be a unique characteristic of the New

England society all adult male church

members could participate in this direct

democracy large number of immigrants are

going to come to the New England

colonies and they're also going to have

a very high birthrate because you're

going to have more of an equal

distribution of men and women there's

not going to be big farming no cash

crops because of the long winters and

short growing season so this area is

going to have a mixed economy you're

going to have some agriculture

trade shipbuilding and like I said

Boston's going to play a key role in the

economic health of this region like we

mentioned make sure you can compare the

New England colonies especially to the

Chesapeake which is Virginia and

Maryland but the southern colonies

shared some characteristics with one

another they are largely especially in

the beginning a male-dominated society

remember the first people to come to

Jamestown were men looking to get

wealthy this region has a much warmer

climate longer growing season life was

harsh you have all sorts of diseases

like malaria hot and humid and you have

a lower birth rate because there's less

women in this region whereas the New

England colonies are a tight knit

society the southern colonies the

southern plantation colonies are going

to have a defined hierarchy of wealth

and status you're going to get the rise

of the southern gentry so much wider gap

between the wealthy and the poor in the

Chesapeake and the southern colonies in

fact a big reason for that is the rise

of the cash crop plantation economies

you know the southern planters are going

to be the top dogs in the colony they're

going to dominate not only the economics

but also the politics of the region so

in the Chesapeake you get the importance

of tobacco remember in South Carolina

you get rice and even down in the

British West Indies you have sugarcane

there are fewer cities that develop in

the south obviously because of the

agricultural nature of the economy but

it's important to keep in mind the labor

system slavery existed everywhere in the

13 British colonies but you're going to

have this transition from indentured

servants to slavery

especially after Bacon's Rebellion and

there's a lot of different reasons for

this transition to slavery make sure you

know them one there's an abundance of

land - there's a shortage of indentured

servants that are coming over to the new

world 3

there's no way to enslave the native

population they would just run away or

attack or die of disease and 4 there's

European demand for colonial Goods so

the transition gets made to African

slavery in fact in South Carolina the

majority of the population is going to

be made up of African slaves and

throughout the South slavery is going to

play a

much larger role in the southern economy

so a little bit more explanation about

slavery in colonial America one is the

triangular trade route this is a

three-part trade route forming a

triangle slaves and goods are moving

from Africa to the Caribbean and to the

colonies and you could see some of those

goods that are brought between the

regions also very often goods would be

going to Europe as well slaves brought

over largely from West Africa are going

to experience something horrendous

dehumanizing called the Middle Passage

you could see the conditions that these

individuals were brought over in it was

all about maximizing profit and bringing

large numbers of people to the New World

keep in mind slavery in North America

was race-based it was based upon ideas

and perceptions of superiority and

slaves were considered property slave

culture is going to develop as a blend

of African and American traditions

blending these two kind of cultures

together to create a truly unique

African American culture you'll see this

in African American religion song and so

on it's important to note that there is

a variety of tribes being brought over

from different parts of Africa and

they're not just going to the 13

colonies as you can see on this graphic

right there the vast majority of slaves

are going to be going to the Caribbean

islands and also to Brazil but slavery

in British North America although much

smaller is going to play a huge role in

colonial society there are going to be

some attempts at rebellion the most

famous and one of the few was the Stono

uprising in 1739 South Carolina slaves

along the Stono River tried to get to

Spanish Florida where they were promised

freedom but unfortunately the rebellion

was defeated and it contributed to

stricter laws black code slave codes

that regulated the movement and the

freedoms of slaves in the colonies in

spite of the fact that there were few

rebellions it's important to note that

there was different forms of resistance

resistance to slavery was common and it

took the form of work slowdowns running

away faking illness and other things to

kind of disrupt the slave system aside

from the issue

slavery religion created kind of

problems in the colonies and one of the

big things was the religious passion was

fading in the New England colonies fewer

and fewer people were having a

conversion so less Puritans practicing

means the colony is losing its original

mission to deal with this the halfway

covenant was passed in 1660 to in the

New England colonies and it said

individuals could become partial church

members even if they did not have a

conversion and the idea behind this was

to lessen the Puritan practices they're

going to be less strict in order to

increase church membership and it was

successful at doing so and as we talk

about religion in this issue of

religious practice it's important to

note that religious freedom the

Massachusetts Bay Colony did not allow

freedom of religion but some religious

toleration existed in a few British

colonies for example you saw

Pennsylvania with the Quakers Rhode

Island separation of church and state

with Roger Williams in Maryland with its

Catholic population extended religious

toleration but only to Christians and

religious freedom is going to be a key

cornerstone of the new nation so there

are traditions established during the

colonial period a real wacky event

happens in 1692 in Salem Massachusetts

it's the Salem witch trials during the

trials 19 people are hung and one person

was even pressed to death that's a scene

in one of the museums in Salem gruesome

stuff most of the accused were from the

money-making class and the people who

were accusing them were farmers and

really what you see in Salem is it

reflects a growing tension over the

changing nature of the colony from a

religious kind of motives to a

profit-driven commercialism so you see

the tension between the rich and the

poor in colonial New England speaking of

religion a really important event that

all colonies experienced was the Great

Awakening many people were tired of the

boring sermons that were traditionally

practiced throughout the colonies and

the Great Awakening was a religious

revival in the 1730's 240s that spread

throughout the colonies this is the

spread of religious feeling throughout

the colonies many people convert it to

different religions and some key figures

you should know about one Jonathan

Edwards he sparks the Great Awakening

with his sermons he basically said God

was angry at human sinfulness and his

most famous sermon sinners in the hands

of an angry god some scary stuff another

figure is George Whitefield he

introduced a new energized style of

evangelical preaching George Whitefield

led many revival meetings were sinners

professed being saved and conversions

took place out on the frontier a key

part of the Great Awakening was this

idea that ordinary people with faith and

belief in God could understand the

Gospels without the Church ministers

telling them what to believe this

divided people new lights were

supporters of the Great Awakening old

lights were against this new style of

preaching and the impact of the Great

Awakening was huge you have new

universities forming such as Dartmouth

Princeton Brown some of the Ivy League

universities today they start off as

religious based institutions this leads

to greater religious independence and

diversity you have all sorts of new

churches forming you can see on the map

the different colors with the different

types of churches throughout the

colonies and as a result the

strengthened calls for separation of

church and state if you have lots of

different religions you can't have any

one church supported by the state and

finally this is the first mass movement

shared amongst all of the colonists this

great awakening spread throughout the

colonies it did not matter your social

status your region and it happened

throughout and so this was a shared

experience and key to this is people are

changing the way they view Authority

common people are making their own

decisions with regard to religion and

later on this resistance to established

Authority will be extended towards the

British so keep in mind all of the

impacts of the

rate awakening we've already mentioned

the idea of mercantilism remember that

were various mercantile laws that were

passed to regulate colonial trade and to

benefit England you have the navigation

acts the molasses Act and the basic

principle behind mercantilism was that

nations such as England should become

self-sufficient and the colonies should

enrich the mother country however the

goals and interests of European leaders

for example in England at times diverge

from those of colonial citizens in other

words many colonists did not like these

laws such as the Navigation Acts luckily

there was this period of solitary

neglect throughout the early 17th

century where the British had relative

indifference to colonial governance they

kind of just let them do their thing

there were some things that made the

colonists smile over the mercantile

policies for example colonial

shipbuilding developed especially in the

New England colonies as a result of

these requirements that Goods must

travel in either British or colonial

ships as a result of England being their

mama the colonists were provided

protection of the British military and

mercantile policies provided Chesapeake

tobacco farmers a monopoly in England

remember certain enumerated Goods could

only be sold to England tobacco was one

of them however there were some reasons

to be mad some bad things about

mercantilism it restricted development

of colonial manufacturing they had to

buy the goods from British manufacturing

so therefore the economy of the colonies

did not diversify very often they had to

buy higher priced manufactured goods

from England and farmers had to accept

lower prices for their enumerated crops

so although they had a guaranteed market

they could not sell them to the highest

buyer and this was no bueno in the minds

of many colonists resentment over laws

and posed from a distant government in

London did lead to times of resistance

recall England attempted to integrate

the colonies into a coherent

hierarchical Imperial structure with the

dominion of New England Sir Edmund and

came over started enforcing the

navigation act trying to bring more

money over to London and eventually that

falls apart in 1688 with the Glorious

Revolution basically under the Glorious

Revolution there is an overthrow of

James ii and William and Mary take the

throne and this is important in the

colonies for a couple of reasons one

over in England they put limits on the

power of the monarchy and the colonists

once the Glorious Revolution takes place

they rebelled against the dominion of

New England colonists successfully

resisted some English policies however

it's important to note that the big

turning point will happen in 1763 at the

end of the Seven Years War check out the

next video and finally colonial politics

there was the gradual development of

democratic institutions in the colonies

and colonial experiences with

self-government and you're going to see

this in various examples we covered in

previous videos such as the Mayflower

Compact the town hall meetings the House

of Burgesses the elected representative

assemblies in places like Pennsylvania

keep in mind many people were still

excluded for example there were property

requirements or religious qualifications

and England ultimately was still in

charge so in the colonies there wasn't

widespread democratization taking place

there was a ruling colonial elite that

was usually made up of the wealthy or

people in the powerful in the church but

the colonies are beginning to develop

different political institutions an

example of colonial political life

evolving during this time could be seen

in the Sanger case in 1733 which

advanced the freedom of the press and

basically what happened that newspaper

that you see right there was printed by

John Peter Zenger and he printed a

newspaper that was critical of the royal

governor in New York and that led some

people to get that face you see right

there as a result of this newspaper he

is charged with libel but the jury ruled

that Zanger was not guilty and what

happens is in the Saenger case you see

that the

it's rule that you could be critical of

elected officials if the statements were

true and although this case does not

allow full freedom of the press it does

establish principles that allow people

to be critical of those in power

something that's going to be very key to

a healthy democracy and the last thing

to keep in mind is there was ethnically

of the colonies as well most of the

people who came over for from England

but you get a growing group of people

coming from other parts of the world

we've already mentioned the large

African population in South Carolina

forcibly brought here because of slavery

we also have the huge amount of people

from England many of them Puritans up in

this region but you also get a growing

scots-irish population in places like

Pennsylvania and as you can see on this

map the people that settled the thirteen

colonies came from all sorts of

different ethnic groups that's going to

do it for this video thank you for

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night peace