Sec3

The Commercial North

Natural Environment Built Environment
 * cold weather, rocky soil
 * colonists limited to small farms.
 * several crops; a variety (esp. Middle Colonies)
 * what and corn; less work than producing tobacco or rice.
 * cattle and hogs
 * high production; enough to sell to West Indies
 * diverse commercial economy
 * flourishing industries-- wheat grinding, fish harvest, lumber sawing
 * ships manufacture-- colonists 1/3 of British ships (1760)
 * iron manufacture-- colonists>England (1760)
 * merchants were most powerful
 * lots of trade; harbor growth (Boston, NYC, Philadelphia)
 * Philadelphia: second largest British city after London.
 * gridded street plan; sophisticated
 * Sit Christopher Wren's designs
 * religious freedom (William Penn's Policy)
 * diverse groups such as...
 * immigrants (from Germany, Scotland, Ireland, Dutch--NY, Scandinavia-- DE, Jew--Newport, Philadelphia)
 * got along with each other eventually; American Society (& its diversity) further evolved.
 * __African American__
 * not as much slavery, and not as much. (were given more rights)
 * racism (extreme)
 * hard life
 * not allowed to carry weapons, no laws protecting them.
 * led rebellions at times (1712 in NY)
 * __Women__
 * work responsibility
 * not much rights
 * no voting rights
 * had to be single/widowed to own businesses
 * ruled by husband.
 * Witchcraft hysteria in Salem.
 * New Ideas
 * enlightenment: 18th century; intellectual movement-- use of reason, sceientific methods
 * effected political thoughts, too
 * Thomas Jefferson (& his ideas)
 * questioned British monarchy's authority
 * Great Awakening; revival of religious feelings in American colonies (1730s and 1750s)
 * church membership declined (early 1700s)
 * Jonathan Edwards
 * for Puritan
 * preachers went to villages; people's dedication to God.
 * more education : Princeton, Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth...
 * Other environmental issues.
 * lots of garbage
 * lots of people lacking public services became problematic.
 * firewood and clean water- not so accessible.
 * importance of individualism
 * questioned British's authority.