SOCIETY & CULTURE in the 13 Colonies [APUSH Review]

Understanding American Identity in the Colonial Period

The Character of Colonial Society and Culture

• The discussion begins with an exploration of American identity during the colonial period, emphasizing its complexity and significance.

• The speaker identifies diversity as a core element of what it meant to be an American, highlighting the varied backgrounds present in the 13 British colonies.

Demographics and Diversity

• German immigrants constituted about 6% of the population, often fleeing religious persecution and economic hardship; they settled primarily in Pennsylvania.

• Scots-Irish made up approximately 7% of the population, bringing their Presbyterian beliefs to the Appalachian frontier; they had a historical animosity towards England.

• Enslaved Africans represented around 20% of the population, forcibly brought to America, while free blacks (5%) faced significant social inequalities despite their status.

Evolving American Identity

• The speaker notes that despite this diversity, colonists did not identify as Americans but rather as British subjects living in America.

• Over time, colonial society began to mirror British society more closely—a process referred to as Anglicization—especially among wealthy merchants and planters who adopted English customs.

Social Structure and Government

• A growing merchant class emerged in New England and Middle colonies resembling English nobility; Southern elite planters dominated local politics through wealth derived from slavery.

• Increased wealth led to a consumer revolution where social status became linked more to financial success than birthright; land scarcity resulted in rising poverty among lower classes.

Movements Influencing Identity

• By this period's end, all colonies shared similar government structures with governors and legislative bodies akin to those in Britain, though local governance was more representative.

• Two key movements contributed significantly to a unified colonial identity: Enlightenment ideas began shaping thoughts on governance and individual rights.

The Enlightenment and the Great Awakening: Foundations of American Identity

The Enlightenment's Influence on American Thought

• The Enlightenment was a European intellectual movement emphasizing scientific reasoning and philosophical thought applied to society and politics. It rejected external authority, particularly religious authority.

• Key figures like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau introduced concepts such as natural rights and the social contract, which significantly influenced American political philosophy. These ideas will be explored further in subsequent discussions.

The Decline of Religious Authority Pre-Great Awakening

• By the 1730s, many churches in the colonies experienced a decline in attendance and interest, exemplified by the "halfway covenant," allowing unconverted individuals to be baptized but restricting their participation in church ordinances.

• This decline was partly due to political changes following the Glorious Revolution, which enforced religious tolerance that conflicted with Puritan beliefs, leading to diminished church membership.

The Great Awakening: A Religious Revival

• Starting in Massachusetts under Jonathan Edwards' preaching around the 1730s, the Great Awakening marked a significant revival of religion across all colonies, characterized by emotional responses to sermons rather than strict adherence to doctrine. Edwards is known for his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."

• George Whitefield later contributed to this revival with his powerful oratory skills, igniting widespread religious fervor throughout America as churches began prioritizing personal emotional experiences over traditional practices.

Debates Within Christianity During the Great Awakening

• The rise of emotionalism led to debates between "new light" clergy who embraced personal experience with God as central to faith versus "old light" preachers who favored more rational approaches to religion. This division highlighted differing views on what constituted authentic Christian experience.

• Despite these tensions, both movements—the Enlightenment and Great Awakening—contributed significantly to forming a unique American identity among colonists who began viewing themselves as distinct from British subjects while still grappling with their colonial status.

Irony of British Influence on Colonial Identity

• Interestingly, while both movements were rooted in British traditions (the Enlightenment's ideas emerged from Britain), they simultaneously fostered a sense of independence among colonists who felt increasingly alienated from British authority due to their evolving understanding of rights and personal belief systems. This growing sentiment set the stage for future conflicts between America and Britain.

Disagreements Between Colonists and Great Britain

Territorial Disputes in the Ohio River Valley

• Colonists sought to expand westward into the Ohio River Valley due to population growth, leading to land scarcity within original colonial boundaries.

• Great Britain opposed this expansion for two main reasons: to maintain peace with indigenous peoples and avoid conflict with French territorial claims.

• The British government's refusal to allow westward migration resulted in growing discontent among colonists.

Colonial Self-Rule and Governance Issues

• The Atlantic Ocean's distance allowed colonists to develop their own governance methods during periods of salutary neglect, fostering a sense of independence.

• British attempts to reassert control often met resistance, exemplified by the practice of impressment, where colonial men were forced into naval service.

• The impressment led to significant unrest, including riots in Boston in 1747, highlighting colonists' awareness of their natural rights against imperial infringement.

The Zenger Trial and Freedom of Press

• John Peter Zenger's trial in 1735 illustrated growing resentment towards British authority; he was charged with sedition for criticizing a corrupt governor but was acquitted by a colonial jury.

• This case underscored the emergence of print culture influenced by Enlightenment ideas, contributing to a collective consciousness regarding rights among colonists.

Trade Restrictions and Economic Tensions

• Rapid population growth increased demand for British goods while American production capabilities expanded; however, trade restrictions limited colonial commerce through the Navigation Act.

• Colonists resorted to smuggling goods as a response to these restrictions, which further fueled resentment towards British economic policies that stifled their trade opportunities. []