American Colonial Period

American Colonial Developments

• Success in the Colonies led to significant economic growth, increased population, and expansion of territories
• This success also resulted in the emergence of a distinct American identity, separate from England

Tensions with England and the Emergence of New Ideas

• Tensions with England led to the development of republican ideals and the rejection of monarchic rule
• New ideas in America, such as democracy and individual rights, began to take shape

The Great Awakening

• The Great Awakening was a religious revival movement that originated in the 1730s and 1740s
• It emphasized personal conversion, evangelism, and social reform, and was characterized by emotional preaching and collective enthusiasm

The Salem Witch Trials

• The Salem Witch Trials began with accusations of witchcraft against three women in Salem Village (present-day Danvers, Massachusetts)
• The accusations were fueled by fear, superstition, and hysteria, leading to the execution of twenty people and the imprisonment of many others

The American Enlightenment

• The American Enlightenment was characterized by an emphasis on reason, individualism, and democracy
• It was influenced by European Enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke and Isaac Newton, and led to the development of American intellectual and cultural identity