Overview
This lecture examines the formation of English colonial societies in North America, focusing on the cultural and economic differences between the Southern and New England regions and their long-term impacts.
Colonial Regions Overview
- The English colonies are divided into three main regions: the South, New England (North), and the Middle Colonies.
- The South consists of the Chesapeake Bay (Virginia, Maryland) and the Lower South (Carolinas, Georgia).
- New England is made up of Massachusetts (Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay), Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
- The Middle Colonies (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware) will be discussed in the next chapter.
Southern Colonies: Economy and Society
- The Southern economy relied on cash crops like tobacco (Chesapeake) and indigo (Lower South), due to a warmer climate.
- Initial labor came from indentured servitude (Europeans working for passage), but transitioned to enslaved African labor.
- Society was characterized by scattered rural settlements with little urban development.
- The "rule of man" prevailed, where plantation owners held local authority.
- Religion was present but lacked strong institutional influence.
- There was extreme wealth inequality, with a few wealthy landowners and many poor or enslaved people.
New England Colonies: Economy and Society
- The New England economy lacked cash crops and focused on subsistence farming, timber, shipbuilding, and maritime trades.
- Some slavery existed but was less central than in the South.
- Colonization was driven by Puritan communities seeking religious freedom and social order.
- Settlements were organized in towns, fostering strong community ties.
- The "rule of law" was emphasized, with collective governance and respect for legal structures.
- Religion (Puritanism) played a major role in social order and hierarchy.
- Wealth was more evenly distributed compared to the South.
Puritan Intolerance and Native Relations
- Puritans were intolerant of non-Puritans, including Quakers, sometimes resulting in persecution and violence.
- Conflicts with Native Americans included the Pequot War and King Philip's War, marked by massacres and brutality.
- Native responses to colonization included violent resistance, alliances with Europeans, religious assimilation, and migration to form buffer zones.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Cash Crop — Agricultural product grown for export and profit (e.g., tobacco, indigo).
- Indentured Servitude — Labor system where individuals work for a period to pay off debt or passage.
- Rule of Man — Local authority held by landowners rather than formal law.
- Rule of Law — Governance by established legal codes above individual authority.
- Puritans — English religious reformers focused on purifying the Church of England, central to New England society.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Read Chapter 4 for details on the Middle Colonies.
- Review the differences in economic and social structures between regions for comparison in future discussions.