British North America Mr. McCain
SSUSH2 The student will trace the ways that the economy and society of British North America developed. a. Explain the development of mercantilism and the trans-atlantic trade. b. Describe the Middle Passage, growth of the African population, and African-American culture. c. Identify Benjamin Franklin as a symbol of social mobility and individualism. d. Explain the significance of the Great Awakening.
Mercantilism a. Explain the development of mercantilism and the trans- Atlantic trade.
Mercantilism Economic System England Colonies exist for the good of the mother country English colonies can only trade with England. America
Mercantilism Major goal: Acquisition of gold and silver through favorable balance of trade How? Colonies exist to provide raw materials & markets Import vs. Export
Trans-Atlantic Trade Controlled by British Navigation Acts (1660 & 1696): Required colonists to buy British goods only Raw materials were to be sold only to Britain Manufacturing items in colonies was banned
The Middle Passage b. Describe the Middle Passage, growth of the African population, and African-American culture.
Triangle Trade Trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas What was traded? Europe Africa Finished Goods Africa Americas Slaves Americas Europe Raw Materials
Middle Passage
Growth of African Population Grew quickly Why? Remember 1. English had taken over slave trade 2. No economic benefit to indentured servants 3. Easier to control
African-American Culture Different in each region Some Common Themes: Christianity Encouraged by the Great Awakening Music Gospel Unique languages: Gullah, Pidgin English Merging of African & European cultures
Benjamin Franklin c. Identify Benjamin Franklin as a symbol of social mobility and individualism.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Distinctly American Symbol of social mobility & individualism "In Franklin could be merged the virtues of Puritanism without its defects, the illumination of the Enlightenment without its heat. -Henry Steele Commager (American Historian, 1902-1998)
Benjamin Franklin Scientist Inventor Statesman Printer Philosopher Economist Hard Work wealth Electricity Charted the Gulf Stream Founding Father Signed: Declaration, Constitution Quotes Sayings Bifocals Lightning Rod Franklin Stove Pennsylvania Gazette Poor Richard's Almanack 1 st Public Library in America American Dream
Franklin as a symbol Born poor Hard work Of Social Mobility Born in Boston in 1706, 15 th of 17 children Age 12 apprentice to brother (James) a printer Ran away to Philadelphia Worked odd jobs as printer/clerk Founded a literary society Founded Pennsylvania Gazette in 1728 Founded Poor Richard s Almanack in 1733 Becomes successful!
Franklin as a symbol Of individualism WHY? How did Franklin become successful?
The Great Awakening d. Explain the significance of the Great Awakening.
The Great Awakening Series of religious revivals that swept through America in the mid-1700 s Major Figures: Jonathan Edwards George Whitefield
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) Preacher in Northampton, Massachusetts Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God One of the most famous sermons in American history
Excerpt from Sinners Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider's web would have to stop a falling rock
And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has flung the door of mercy wide open, and stands in the door calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners; a day wherein many are flocking to him, and pressing into the kingdom of God; many are daily coming from the east, west, north and south; many that were very lately in the same miserable condition that you are in, are in now an happy state, with their hearts filled with love to him that has loved them and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. How awful is it to be left behind at such a day! To see so many others feasting, while you are pining and perishing!
George Whitefield (1714-1770) The Great Itinerant Precursor to circuit riders Early Methodist "Father Abraham, whom have you in heaven? Any Episcopalians? No! Any Presbyterians? No! Any Independents or Methodists? No, No No! Whom have you there? We don't know those names here. All who are here are Christians...Oh, is this the case? Then God help us to forget your party names and to become Christians in deed and truth."
Whitefield Preaching. Woodcut.
The Great Awakening Major Emphasis: Free will > Predestination Democracy > Monarchy
Significance Growth of Baptist and Methodist churches in America -- Why? More emotional than Puritan/Anglican services Appealed to poor/slaves Expanded education by the founding of new colleges, Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, and Dartmouth. Destroyed religious theocracy