Chapter 5 Questions

Conquest by the Cradle

Know:             Thirteen Original Colonies

1.         What was the significance of the tremendous growth of population in Britain's North American colonies?

Colonists were doubling their numbers every 25 years, and many were youthful. By 1775 there were three English for everyone colonist (this was drastically changed from 20 to 1 in 1700) This made it so that the colonists had a larger voice against Britain. They also have to go somewhere (WESTWARD) which will bring them into conflict with the Natives and with the French. 

A Mingling of Races

Know: Pennsylvania Dutch, Scots-Irish, Paxton Boys, Regulator Movement

2.         What was the significance of large numbers of immigrants from places other than England?

America became the "melting pot". The immigrants had no deep rooted loyalty to the British crown.  The Scot Irish have no love for the British. The Scot Irish come from extreme poverty and push westward no matter what the British say. The Scottish brought over Whiskey distillery, which becomes an American product. The population of the colonies were the most mixed in all the world. 

The Structure of Colonial Society

Know:             Social Mobility

3.         Assess the degree of social mobility in the colonies.

America was a land of equality besides slaves, women, and people who didn't own land. The American Dream allowed poor people to rise in the ranks, something that could never be done in England. An example is indentured servants who later paid off their debts. At the beginning of the Revolutionary war, class stratification, especially on the Eastern coast, began. 

Makers of America: The Scots-Irish

Know:             The Session

4.         How had the history of the Scots-Irish affected their characteristics?

The Scots-Irish were people who preferred to be independent because of their disagreement with the church. (They were presbyterian) There was much corruption and soil depletion in Scotland and Ireland so they moved to America. They moved westward in the colonies.

Clerics, Physicians, and Jurists

Know:             Smallpox, Diphtheria

5.         Why has the relative prestige of the professions changed from colonial times to today?

The church was the highest ranking job in the colonies other jobs were doctors and lawyers (much like today). Physicians were poorly trained and not as highly valued as the clergy. Lawyers were also frowned upon as they were only seen as those who made unnecessary comments. Many Americans were farmers, and they were vital as they created either cash crops or vital food for the colonies. Being a sea man was also valued because of the fishing he brought as well as the goods he would be required to import and export.

Workaday America

Know:             Triangular Trade, Naval Stores, Molasses Act

6.         Describe some of the more important occupations in the colonies.

Horsepower and Sailpower

Know:             Taverns

7.         What was it like to travel in early America?

There weren't roads connecting major cites until 1700s. The roads that were available were either dusty, or muddy and had very bad conditions. People relied on natural waterways and sailing to go places.

Dominant Denominations

Know:             Established Church, Anglicans, Congregationalists, Presbyterians

8.         How did the denominations in America affect relations with Great Britain?

The congregational church was established in all New England colonies. But Presbyterianism wasn't approved even though it was close to congregationalism.

The Great Awakening

Know:             Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Old Lights, New Lights, Baptists

 9.        How was the religion encompassed in the Great Awakening different from traditional religion?  What was important about the difference?

The sermons were more theatrical and emotional. Also, the idea that good works determine where you go after death was greatly rejected.  It led to a fresh wave of missionary work among the Indians and Africans; it also led to the creation of new colleges.

Schools and Colleges

Know:             Latin and Greek

10.       What kind of education could a young person expect in colonial times?

Education was for boys and most of the emphasis was placed on religion and on classical languages like Latin and Greek. The focus want on experiment and reason, but on doctrine and dogma. Independence of thinking was discouraged. In the south many rich plantation owners sent their sons to England to study or brought tudors . Many of the colleges created by the Great Awakening were created in the North. 

A Provincial Culture

Know:             John Trumbull, Charles Wilson Peale, Benjamin West, John Singleton Copley, Benjamin Franklin

11.       Did Americans distinguish themselves in the arts during the colonial period? Explain.

No, their tastes were still the same as the Europeans, especially the British. Artists in the colonies went to London to pursue their ambitions. Examples are John Trumbull, Willson Peale, Benjamin West, and John Singleton Copley and Benjamin Franklin.

Pioneer Presses

Know:             John Peter Zenger

12.       Why was the jury verdict in the Zenger case important?

It led to the freedom of press. The judge, being corrupt, told the jury to call him guilty, but they didn't. 

The Great Game of Politics

Know:             Royal Colonies, Proprietary Colonies, Self-governing Colonies, Colonial Assemblies, Power of the Purse, Town Meetings, Property Qualifications 

13.       How democratic was colonial America?

It was democratic. It established a 2 house legislative body. The public voted for the first house and the first house voted for the second house. But there was qualifications for voting, you had to own land. It wasn't a true democracy-socially, economically, or politically but it was a lot more democratic than England.

Colonial Folkways

14.       What were the advantages and disadvantages of living in America during the colonial period?

Advantages: Democracy, easy to receive land, on average most people had a higher standard of living than the average person in the rest of the world, you could rise int he ranks

Disadvantages: Death, Disease, short life span

 Colonial America: Communities of Conflict or Consensus?

Know:             Nash's Urban Crucible Theory

15.       Were the colonies marked more by internal consensus or internal conflict?  Explain

Every colony shared an ethnic and religious tolerance, social mobility, and self government. They were also separated from England by the Atlantic Ocean. 

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