Colonial Society Developments

Developments in Colonial Society

• In 1716, Blackbeard's prospects as a pirate looked promising due to the riches in British America.
• However, pirates faced capture and death, while German migrants found long-term prosperity through farming.
• Africans, forced into slavery, played a key role in the economy but faced mistreatment and revolts.
• Colonial society leaders exercised power and enjoyed luxury, but faced risks from slave rebellion and troublesome populations.
• Expansion, immigration, economic developments, and piracy all impacted colonial society.
• The slave trade and slavery held significance for the economy and society of British America.
• Rebellions, conspiracies, and smuggling influenced British America.

British America in 1713

• Over a century after the first English colony, Britain controlled a strip of land along the eastern coast of North America in 1713.
• The settlers consisted of wealthy landowners, poor servants, and slaves.
• Some settlers were attracted by the availability of land, while others were compelled by circumstance.
• Many were forcibly taken from their homelands to work as slaves in the American colonies.
• British settlers were not alone; they faced threats from the French, Spanish, and Native Americans.
• Competition for land led to conflicts, and colonists lived in constant fear of Native American raids.

Pattern of Settlement: The British Colonies in 1713

• Settlers in British America in 1713 would find varied experiences, depending on which colonies they arrived in
• Middle-class families with farmers, woodcutters, fishermen, shipbuilders, and skilled workers lived in New England colonies.
• Farmers, traders, poor servants, and some slaves, small-scale farmers growing food, and some traded furs, lived in the Middle Colonies.
• Rich landowners, poor servants, and slaves, all worked on big plantations, run by rich planters, growing tobacco and rice, in the Southern colonies.

Government of the Colonies

• The colonies were part of the British Empire and governed by representatives of the British government and a locally elected assembly.
• The British king governed the colonies through the Board of Trade, and Parliament controlled trade.
• A governor, appointed by the king, commanded the colony's armed forces.
• Councils, appointed by the governor, helped pass laws.
• Assemblies, elected by property holders, passed laws and raised taxes.
• Town meetings or county courts, with elected members, handled local government and enforced law and order.

Impact of Expansion of the Colonies and Immigration

• The colonies experienced a high rate of natural increase, leading to rapid population growth.
• Between 1701 and 1750, the borders of British America expanded, leading to the establishment of Georgia and the founding of 49 new counties.
• The colonies attracted German, Scots-Irish, and English immigrants.
• Some English immigrants were convicted criminals sent to America through a transportation law after 1718.
• Indentured servants signed contracts to work for a set number of years in exchange for passage to the colonies.
• Transportation was a form of punishment where criminals were sent overseas to work as indentured servants, with a 14-year term.

Consequences of Expansion and Immigration

• Immigrants improved the economy by providing a cheap workforce and manufacturing skills.
• They helped defend the frontier but also increased competition for land and stirred up tensions.
• Colonists who had lived in British America for generations reacted negatively to new immigrants, leading to conflicts.
• Scots-Irish Presbyterians upset the Congregationalists in New England, resulting in an anti-immigration law.
• Tension arose between descendants of English settlers and new settlers from mainland Europe.
• New immigrants tended to live together on the frontier.
• Social groups competed for power, land, and money.

Economic Developments

• About 10% of the goods produced by the colonists was sold to other countries.
• One of the biggest markets was Britain, which controlled trade and provided various economic supports.
• Britain provided a market for colonial goods such as wheat, fish, fur, tobacco, and rice.
• Colonists could buy British goods like tea, spices, and manufactured clothing.
• Cheap manufactured British goods, like tools, supported crop growth.
• British companies provided insurance and loans to the colonists.
• The British subsidized certain raw materials, such as indigo.

Trade with the West Indies

• The North American colonies traded with other British colonies, including the West Indies, parts of Canada, and Newfoundland.
• The Molasses Act of 1733 strengthened trade with the West Indies.
• North American colonists sold food supplies to the West Indies and bought molasses in return, which they turned into rum.

The Importance of Tobacco

• Tobacco was grown in the southern colonies and contributed about 45% of British America's exports.
• High demand in Britain allowed colonists to charge high prices.
• Relying on tobacco sales was risky due to potential drops in demand or overproduction.

The Introduction of Tea

• In the 1700s, tea replaced coffee as the most fashionable drink.
• Tea helped spread social habits from Britain to its colonies.
• Tea became important in female society but eventually popular with everyone, strengthening the bond with Britain.

The Impact of Piracy

• The years 1715 to 1725 are known as the golden age of piracy.
• Pirate fleets roamed the Bahamas and the coves of the Carolinas.
• At the beginning of this period, approximately 2,000 pirates attacked merchant ships.
• Pirate presence resulted in lost trade goods, increased trading costs, and fear.
• Over 2,400 ships were captured or destroyed by pirates, leading to increased insurance prices.

The Impact of "Black Sam" Bellamy's Activities

• Sam Bellamy began his career in piracy in 1716.
• Bellamy built up a crew of 170 pirates and captured the Whydah, a galley ship with enough cannon to attack a warship.
• In May 1717, a heavy storm destroyed the Whydah and killed Bellamy, cut short his voyage, but during his time at sea Bellamy created fear and caused the loss of over 50 ships in trade.

The Impact of Blackbeard's Activities

• Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard, joined Hornigold's crew in 1713, and three years later gained his first ship.
• In November, Teach captured a French slave ship named Queen Anne's Revenge.
• By July 1718, Teach continued to operate as a pirate until his death in November.
• By April 1717, Teach and Hornigold had captured £100,000 worth of treasure.
• During his time with Hornigold in 1717, the Royal Navy ship HMS Shoreham was too scared to leave the coastline of Virginia and Maryland.
• Pirates attacked merchant shipping affecting traders from the Carolinas to New York.
• Teach helped defend Nassau in 1717-18, and also gained protection from the governor of North Carolina through bribery.

The Suppression of Piracy in American Waters

• The British government tried to end piracy by offering pardons, strengthening the law, and sending Royal Navy warships to attack pirates.
• Some colonial governors supported these efforts by carrying out raids against pirates.
• King George I's Proclamation in 1717 offered pardons and rewards for capturing pirates.
• The Piracy Act of 1717 reinforced earlier laws, allowing pirates to be put to death.
• By 1726, around 600 pirates had been executed

Case Study: the Work of Governor Spotswood

• Alexander Spotswood worked to reduce the number of pirates.
• He sought help from the British Board of Trade and took legal action, such as ensuring trials without juries for captured officers.
• Spotswood offered a prize for Blackbeard's capture.
• In 1718, Spotswood planned an attack on Teach's hideouts, leading to his death in November.

End of the Golden Age

• Due to efforts to capture pirates, the number of active pirates dropped rapidly.
• By 1725, only 200 pirates remained in American waters.

Slavery in North America

• British America relied upon enslaved Africans .
• 30,000 slaves between 1701 and 1720
• 70,000 more slaves were transported in the next 20 years
• Slave trade occurred utilizing the 'Atlantic triangle'.
• Slaves were transported mostly to southern colonies: Virginia, Maryland and the Carolinas.
• Cheap workforce - tobacco and rice industries required many workers
• Variety of skills - Many Africans had experience working with the crops the colonists grew
• The majority of the local population - South Carolina, slave majority
• Journey from West Africa to America, known as the middle passage, which took six weeks.
• Conditions were awful, as slaves were kept manacled in tightly packed groups below deck.
• They lived in a state of constant fear because the crew often beat and abused them to prevent rebellion.
• 18% of slaves died on the journey due to mistreatment, poor hygiene, and disease.

British Monopoly on Supplying Slaves to Spanish Colonies

• In 1713, Britain paid 7.5 million pounds to buy the "asiento' from the Spanish king
• Britain had to carry 4,800 slaves each year for 30 years to the Spanish colonies.
• Royal payments would continue for each traded slave
• New South Sea Company given monopoly to supply slaves to Spanish colonies
• 75,000 slaves shipped to Spanish America during the asiento.
• Investors purchased shares in the company totaling 9 million pounds
• Spain went to war ending agreement before the 30 year term had completed

Significance of the Asiento

• Smugglers sold sales and reduced profits
• In 1720, the amount a share was worth fell from £1,000 - £180

The Development of Tobacco Plantations

• Slavery became important to tobacco plantatitions, which produced labour force .
• In Chesapeake, 55,000 Africans enslaved between 1700-1740
• Slaves influenced systems
• Slaves split into groups of around 12 wforeman
• Slaves had prior knowledge due to being grown in parts of West Africa.
• In 1700, 28 million pounds and by 1760 to 80 million pounds in production increase
• Landowner earned 479 more wealth than tobacco
• Enslaaved work force made up 35% of the total population.

Development of Rice Plantations

• The impact or slavery on rice plantations led to enslaved knowledge given
• Slaves provided knowledge- they came from the Rice Coast of West Africa.
• Slaves worked hard in plantations due to labour providing without having to live next to the rice
• The impact led to hard work for tough tasks that could be checked less frequently. In 1700, around 400,000 pounds was sold abroad, and by 1740 this rose to 43 million pounds and slaves became significant to Carolina's economic success.
• by 1720, became so ingrained in society, enslaved population was more than non-enslaved.

Impact of Slavery on Colonial Society

• Colonial society had impact when larger gap of income was made
• Large profits and push of land, made it less easy for workers to purchase, therefore a small opportunity for workers. Slaves therefore became cheaper, which had a low impact on free workforce This impact led to lower numbers on enslaved- as slaves provided workforce there was more enslaved the northern colonies- had less need due to amount This led to Slaves at the lowest society without being known in court.

The Position of Slaves Within Society

• Slaves had limited freedom
• Cannot travel w/o permission
• Cannot sell goods for profit etc
• Slave owners therefore had complete control to commit what was legal
• Basic freedoms provided- allowed limited opportunities
• South Carolina, were unable to provide much freedoms Skilled enslaved, had the opportunity to learn and had some benefits of being urbanized This led to impact of Colonial Society. Created fear due to enslaved numbers and that with little rights, caused fear Upper ranks also relived in enslaved due to their need

The impact on fugitives

These were therefore punished at law

• If enslaved- they were known to be death penalized Militia, an armed group tried to find and cause conflict

Significance of Spain's decision to protect runway

• Offered for protection enslaved
• Slaves offered for the new life offered In 1738- runaway slaves risen to 100 and formed town Called Mose Mose were still taken down without law. 1739- Mose caused high tension with Britsh
• new law caused to 1740s This meant in 1739m military action took place 1740s to destroy and failed

The Stono Rebellion (1739)

• Biggest rebellion taken down known to America- Slave Revilts South Carolina had rebellion Slaves caused to be majority and able to receive a chance of success 1739 Slaves met to gain access from Hutchinsons store and cause violence Slaves met to try and murder.

Consequences

The rebels were highly penalized due to rebels 1740- the Negro act led by the event

The New York Conspiracy 1741

• 1741 New- YOrk had plot to burn The Stono Rebellion led to 20% slaves A tough winter

Timeline Consequence

1739, slaves met to gain access from Hutchinsons store and cause violence Slaves met to try and to try and create an equal atmosphere to try and murder those in power

1.3 Problems Within the Colonies

The Stono Rebellion (1739) caused problems within the Carolina.

• Key Consequence: fear of future revolt*
• Aftermath of the Stono Rebellion- caused high tension within enslaved population Caused High tension within government led Negro act- restrictive in freedom

The trials were set on action All black community had limited acts

• The New York trials occurred due to events spiraling and causing high harm throughout black communities. As a consequence:__*
• Restrictions- actions that would prevent safety that would prevent harm
• Attempts to collect custom*

Complex system for collection - collection wasn't easy

Complex System of Collections

Absent Officials OverWork Difficulties of Control

• The collection of custom revenues-*

OverWork due to time

Difficulties- government sympathetic to the action

_

• Smuggled- traders- with high value products*
• molasses and East IDnies

__Smuggling had multiple attempts so they had action __

Landed on sections quiet

Tricks on communication issues

Tricks within customs collection

• The problem to traders or problems for trade or economic reasons created action
• *The Fur Trade- parliament 2 measures created **
• 1721 New York
• Hats 1730

Most cases the trade continued without the laws following the trade. The British offered and paid prices.