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
- š± The English colonies in North America flourished due to abundant resources and agricultural production.
- š The southern colonies became a hub for religious freedom and economic opportunities, leading to a significant population increase.
- š 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.
- š” A majority of white males in the colonies owned land, fostering a sense of independence and self-government.
- šļø The term 'salutary neglect' refers to the period when England paid little attention to the colonies, allowing them autonomy.
- š¾ The colonies were primarily agricultural, with the New England region focused on subsistence farming and the southern colonies on commercial farming.
- š¢ New England developed industries like shipbuilding and whaling due to poor soil conditions for large-scale farming.
- š The triangular trade system involved the colonies in a trade network that included raw materials, finished goods, and enslaved people.
- š Colonists were generally taller and healthier than those in England, with better access to food and higher literacy rates.
- š 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
š± 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.
š ļø 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
š”Colonies
š”Salutary Neglect
š”Population Growth
š”Religious Freedom
š”Economic Opportunity
š”Land Ownership
š”Triangular Trade
š”Enslaved People
š”Industries
š”Literacy Rate
š”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 pleaseĀ don't forget to subscribe and take a look atĀ Ā
the questions down in the description after theĀ establishment of the english colonies in northĀ Ā
america along the east coast the colonies beganĀ to flourish due to an abundance of resourcesĀ Ā
available and enormous agricultural productionĀ in the south the english colonies became a placeĀ Ā
where people from all walks of life wantedĀ to flock to for religious freedom but alsoĀ Ā
better economic opportunity the population ofĀ the colonies absolutely exploded throughout theĀ Ā
first half of the 1700s in 1700 the populationĀ of the colonies was estimated to be around 250Ā Ā
000 but by the mid 1770s at about the same sameĀ time as the american revolution was about to beginĀ Ā
the population was approximately 2.5 million thatĀ is a 900 percent increase in population in barelyĀ Ā
50 years and in fact if you look at populationĀ data the population doubled every 25 yearsĀ Ā
coupled with this growth was the opportunityĀ to own property or land in the coloniesĀ Ā
it is estimated that 67 percent of white males ownĀ land in the colonies by the time of the revolutionĀ Ā
compare that to england where there was not muchĀ land available and only 20 of white males ownĀ Ā
land since so many colonists own land and did notĀ have to answer to or be accountable to a landlordĀ Ā
there was a much greater sense of independenceĀ and ideas of self-government in the coloniesĀ Ā
now this sense of independence brings me to aĀ very important term or concept to understandĀ Ā
about this time period of growth in the coloniesĀ historians have come to call this time from 1621Ā Ā
approximately the time when the pilgrims arriveĀ to 1750 which was approximately the time when theĀ Ā
french and indian war gets underway they call thisĀ time period the time period of salutary neglectĀ Ā
this term salutary neglect basically refers toĀ a time period in history in which england paidĀ Ā
little attention to the american colonies andĀ allowed them to do as they wished with littleĀ Ā
interference as long as the colonies were makingĀ money for britain they really didn't care whatĀ Ā
was going on in the colonies this time period veryĀ much sets the stage for revolution as eventuallyĀ Ā
the british decide they have to pay more attentionĀ and interfere in the colonies business and ofĀ Ā
course that ends up making the colonists veryĀ upset but beyond this sense of independence wasĀ Ā
the fact that the colonists were literally biggerĀ stronger and smarter than those back in europeĀ Ā
colonists on average were two inches taller thanĀ people back in england and also were twice asĀ Ā
likely to live to adulthood after birth you mightĀ be asking yourself why this is and it basicallyĀ Ā
comes down to access to food and resources in theĀ colonies quality food was more readily availableĀ Ā
than back in england furthermore the puritansĀ began organizing public schools to ensure thatĀ Ā
everyone would be able to primarily be able toĀ read the bible and by the 1750s the literacy rateĀ Ā
or percentage of people who could read and writeĀ was about 85 percent among males compare that toĀ Ā
barely 60 percent literacy rate back in england atĀ the same time economically the colonies were stillĀ Ā
dominated by farming from new england throughĀ the southern colonies most people still workedĀ Ā
in agriculture and this would be the case for manyĀ years in american history the new england coloniesĀ Ā
were primarily dominated by subsistence farmingĀ which is farming to grow just enough for you andĀ Ā
your family and possibly a little bit to tradeĀ as you move south into the middle colonies thereĀ Ā
was a mix of subsistence and commercial farmingĀ which commercial farming was growing crops to sellĀ Ā
for profit and in the middle colonies the primaryĀ crops were wheat barley and oats and so the regionĀ Ā
becomes known as the bread basket in the southernĀ colonies where year-round agriculture was possibleĀ Ā
huge plantations developed that were heavilyĀ involved in commercial farming growing cottonĀ Ā
rice sugar tobacco and indigo but again theseĀ plantations depended on the labor of enslavedĀ Ā
people in order to make a profit since new englandĀ could not grow crops year-round and had poorĀ Ā
rocky soil and couldn't really do large-scaleĀ farming they began to develop industriesĀ Ā
some of these industries included ship buildingĀ fishing and especially whaling whales were veryĀ Ā
valuable for their oil which was used to lightĀ lamps it is important to note that it is duringĀ Ā
this time that you could argue two americasĀ begin to develop an industrial base north and anĀ Ā
agriculturally based south of course this divisionĀ will heavily contribute to years later the civilĀ Ā
war also contributing to this rapid growth in theĀ colonies was the fact that the colonists were veryĀ Ā
heavily involved in trade during this time theyĀ developed the triangular trade system in which rawĀ Ā
materials were loaded in america and then sent toĀ england or europe where they were processed intoĀ Ā
finished products such as rum cloth and guns theseĀ items were then taken to western africa whereĀ Ā
they were traded for enslaved africans that wereĀ forced to come to america and work on plantationsĀ Ā
along what was known as the middle passageĀ which i'll cover that in another bell ringerĀ Ā
at the same time some colonists began to pushĀ the boundary of the 13 colonies trying to moveĀ Ā
west as they began to establish small farms andĀ communities in the piedmont or the base of theĀ Ā
appalachian mountains so with that hopefullyĀ you learned something and thanks for watching
you
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