SECTION

4 Life in the
TEKS 1A, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 10A, 10B,
11A, 12A, 12B, 12D, 20A, 20C, 21B
English Colonies
What You Will Learn…
If YOU were there...
Main Ideas Your family migrated to America in the 1700s and started a small
1. Colonial governments
were influenced by political
farm in western Pennsylvania. Now, more and more people are
changes in England. moving in. You would like to move farther west, into the Ohio River
2. English trade laws limited
free trade in the colonies.
valley. But a new law says you cannot move west of the mountains
3. The Great Awakening and because it is too dangerous. Still, you are restless and want more
the Enlightenment led to
ideas of political equality
land and more freedom.
among many colonists.
4. The French and Indian War
Why might you decide to break the
gave England control of more law and move west?
land in North America.

The Big Idea BUILDING BACKGROUND When they moved to America, the Eng-
The English colonies continued lish colonists brought their ideas about government. They expected to
to grow despite many challenges.
have the same rights as citizens in England. However, many officials
in England wanted tight control over the colonies. As a result, some
Key Terms and People colonists, like this family, were unhappy with the policies of colonial
town meeting, p. 91 governments.
English Bill of Rights, p. 91
triangular trade, p. 93
Great Awakening, p. 94
Jonathan Edwards, p. 94
Colonial Governments
Enlightenment, p. 95 The English colonies in North America all had their own govern-
John Locke, p. 95 ments. Each government was given power by a charter. The English
Pontiac, p. 97 monarch had ultimate authority over all of the colonies. A group of
royal advisers called the Privy Council set English colonial policies.

Colonial Governors and Legislatures

Use the graphic organizer online to Each colony had a governor who served as head of the govern-
take notes on developments that ment. Most governors were assisted by an advisory council. In
affected the growing colonies. royal colonies the English king or queen selected the governor
and the council members. In proprietary colonies, the proprietors
chose all of these officials. In a few colonies, such as Connecticut,
the people elected the governor.
In some colonies the people also elected representatives to help
make laws and set policy. These officials served on assemblies. Each
colonial assembly passed laws that had to be approved first by the
advisory council and then by the governor.

90 Chapter 3
 Established in 1619, Virginia’s assembly
The Thirteen Colonies
was the first colonial legislature in North
America. At first it met as a single body, but
it was later split into two houses. The first
house was known as the Council of State.
The governor’s advisory council and the Thirteen
Colonies
London Company selected its members.
The House of Burgesses was the assembly’s ATLANTIC
OCEAN

second house. The members were elected

by colonists. It was the first democratically
elected body in the English colonies. NEW MAINE
In New England the center of politics was FRANCE (PART OF MASS. COLONY)
HRW American History
the town meeting. In town meetings people 13 Colonies Locator
ah06se_c02loc007aa
talked about and decided on issues of local F1 proof (new layout) 10/28/04
Approved:11/11/04 Land claimed
interest, such as paying for schools. by New York and NEW
In the southern colonies, people typi- New Hampshire HAMPSHIRE

cally lived farther away from one another.

MASSACHUSETTS
Therefore, many decisions were made at NEW YORK
the county level. The middle colonies used 40°
N
RHODE
both county meetings and town meetings ISLAND
to make laws. CONNECTICUT
PENNSYLVANIA
NEW
Political Change in England JERSEY

S
AIN
In 1685 James II became king of England. He MARYLAND
DELAWARE
was determined to take more control over the U NT
English government, both in England and in N
MO

the colonies. Because the colonies were so W

E

VIRGINIA
distant from the seats of government, they S
N

70°W
had developed many of their own systems of
IA
CH

governing and felt a sense of separation from

LA

NORTH
the British government. CAROLINA
A
PP

James believed that the colonies were A

too independent. In 1686 he united the ATLANTIC
SOUTH OCEAN
northern colonies under one government
CAROLINA
called the Dominion of New England.
New England colonies
James named Sir Edmund Andros royal
Middle colonies
governor of the Dominion. The colonists GEORGIA Southern colonies N
30°
disliked Andros because he used his author- 0 100 200 Miles

ity to limit the powers of town meetings. 0 100 200 Kilometers

English Bill of Rights

geography
Parliament replaced the unpopular King skills INTERPRETING MAPS
SPANISH
James and passed the English Bill of Rights TERRITORY
1. Location Where were the New England colonies
70°W
in 1689. This act reduced the powers of the located in relation to the other colonies?
English monarch. At the same time, Parlia- 2. Human-Environment Interaction What natural
ment gained power. As time went on, the feature marked the western boundary of the
colonists valued their own right to elect southern colonies?

The english colonies 91

 representatives to decide local issues. Fol- Reading Check Analyzing Information
lowing these changes, the colonies in the Why were colonial assemblies and colonial
Dominion quickly formed new assemblies courts created, and what did they do?
and charters.

Colonial Courts English Trade Laws

Colonial courts made up another impor-
One of England’s main reasons for found-
tant part of colonial governments. When-
ing and controlling its American colonies
ever possible, colonists used the courts to
was to earn money from trade. In the late
control local affairs. In general, the courts
1600s England, like most western European
reflected the beliefs of their local commu-
nations, practiced mercantilism, a system of
nities. For example, many laws in Massa-
creating and maintaining wealth through
chusetts enforced the Puritans’ religious
carefully controlled trade. A country gained
beliefs. Laws based on the Bible set the
wealth if it had fewer imports—goods bought
standard for the community’s conduct.
from other countries—than exports—goods
Sometimes colonial courts also pro-
sold to other countries.
tected individual freedoms. For example,
To support this system of mercantilism,
in 1733 officials arrested John Peter Zenger
between 1650 and 1696 Parliament passed
for printing a statement that damaged the
a series of Navigation Acts limiting colo-
reputation of the governor of New York.
nial trade. For example, the Navigation Act
Andrew Hamilton, Zenger’s attorney, argued
of 1660 forbade colonists from trading spe-
that Zenger could publish whatever he
cific items such as sugar and cotton with
wished as long as it was true. Jury members
any country other than England. The act
believed that colonists had a right to voice
also required colonists to use English ships
their ideas openly and found him not guilty.
to transport goods. Parliament later passed

Triangular Trade
N
GREAT
BRITAIN
W E

S
EUROPE
manufactured goods
NORTH
40°N AMERICA Thirteen
Colonies
sugar

sugar, molasses ATLANTIC

Tropic of Cancer beef, flour OCEAN

WEST
Caribbean INDIES rum, iron
Trade between Britain and its Sea slaves
colonies took a triangular shape.
Different goods were transported
on the routes of the triangles and
AFRICA
40°W 20°W
geography
traded at ports for local goods.
skills INTERPRETING MAPS0°
Equator

PACIFIC 1. Movement Why is the movement of goods shown on the

SOUTH map called the triangular trade?
OCEAN AMERICA 2. Location A farmer who wanted to grow sugar cane
120°W 100°W 80°W would most likely live where?
20°S

92 Chapter 3
other acts that required all trade goods to Triangular Trade
pass through English ports, where duties, Trade between the American colonies and Great
or import taxes, were added to the items. Britain was not direct. Rather, it generally took
England claimed that the Navigation Acts the form of triangular trade —a system in
were good for the colonies. After all, the which goods and slaves were traded among
colonies had a steady market in England for the Americas, Britain, and Africa. There were
their goods. But not all colonists agreed. Many several routes of the triangular trade. In one
colonists wanted more freedom to buy or sell route colonists exchanged goods like beef
goods wherever they could get the best price. and flour with plantation owners in the West
Local demand for colonial goods was small Indies for sugar, some of which they shipped
compared to foreign demand. to Britain. The sugar was then exchanged
Despite colonial complaints, the trade for manufactured products to be sold in the
restrictions continued into the 1700s. colonies. Colonial merchants traveled great
Some traders turned to smuggling, or illegal distances to find the best markets.
trading. They often smuggled sugar, molas-
ses, and rum into the colonies from non-
English islands in the Caribbean. Parliament B i o g r a p hY
responded with the Molasses Act of 1733,
which placed duties on these items. British Olaudah Equiano
1745–1797
officials, however, rarely carried out this law.
By the early 1700s English merchants Olaudah Equiano claimed to have been
born in Africa in present-day Nigeria.
were trading around the world. Most Ameri-
His autobiography told the story of his
can merchants traded directly with Great
enslavement. According to his autobiogra-
Britain or the West Indies. By importing and phy, Equiano survived the Middle Passage,
exporting goods such as sugar and tobacco, traveling in a slave ship across the Atlantic.
some American merchants became wealthy. After arriving in the colonies, a Virginia
planter purchased him and again sold him
to a British naval officer. While working as a
sailor, Equiano eventually earned enough
money to purchase his own freedom in
1766. Equiano later settled in ­England and
devoted himself to ending slavery.
Analyzing Information How did
Equiano gain his freedom?

“I received such a salutation [smell] in

my nostrils, as I had never experienced
in my life; . . . I became so sick and low
that I was not able to eat . . .
The groans of the dying, rendered [made]
the whole a scene of horror almost incon-
ceivable [unbelievable].”
—Olaudah Equiano, from The Interesting Narrative of the
Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African

The english colonies 93

The Great Awakening
George Whitefield gives a powerful
sermon during the Great Awakening.
Ministers like Whitefield emphasized per-
sonal religious experiences over official
church rules. They also allowed ordinary
church members—whatever their race,
class, or gender—to play a role in services.
The value placed on individuals of all
types during the Great Awakening helped
shape American political ideas about who
should have a say in government.
How do you think religious freedom led to
political freedom?

Middle Passage the Western world. These European move-

One version of the triangular trade began ments affected life in the American colonies.
with traders exchanging rum for slaves on
the West African coast. The traders then sold Great Awakening
the enslaved Africans in the West Indies for Religious leaders wanted to spread religious
molasses or brought them to sell in the main- feeling throughout the growing colonial
land American colonies. population. In the late 1730s ministers began
The slave trade brought millions of Afri- holding revivals, emotional gatherings where
cans across the Atlantic Ocean in a voyage people came together to hear sermons.
called the Middle Passage. This was a terri- Many American colonists experienced
fying and deadly journey that could last as “a great awakening” in their religious lives.
long as three months. This Great Awakening —a religious move-
Enslaved Africans lived in a space not ment that swept through the colonies in the
even three feet high. Slave traders fit as 1730s and 1740s—changed colonial reli-
many slaves as possible on board so they gion. It also affected social and political life.
could earn greater profits. Thousands of Jonathan Edwards of Massachusetts was one
captives died on slave ships during the of the most important leaders of the Great
Middle Passage. In many cases, they died Awakening. His dramatic sermons told
from diseases such as smallpox. As farm- sinners to seek forgiveness for their sins or
ers began to use fewer indentured servants, face punishment in Hell forever.
slaves became even more valuable. The Great Awakening drew people of
different regions, classes, and races. Wom-
Reading Check Identifying Cause and Effect en, members of minority groups, and poor
What factors caused the slave trade to grow? How people often took part in services. Minis-
did this affect conditions on the Middle Passage? ters from different colonies met and shared
ideas with one another. This represented
one of the few exchanges between colonies.
Great Awakening and The Great Awakening promoted ideas
Enlightenment that may also have affected colonial poli-
In the early 1700s revolutions in both reli- tics. Sermons about the spiritual equality
gious and nonreligious thought transformed of all people led some colonists to begin

94 Chapter 3
demanding more political equality. Reviv- nists’ efforts to take his people’s lands. In
als became popular places to talk about 1675 these tensions finally erupted in a con-
political and social issues. People from flict known as King Philip’s War. The colo-
those colonies with less political freedom nial militia—civilians serving as soldiers—
were thus introduced to more democratic fought American Indian warriors. Both sides
systems used in other colonies. attacked each other’s settlements, killing
men, women, and children. The fighting
Enlightenment finally ended in 1676, but only after about
During the 1600s European scientists began 600 colonists and some 3,000 Indians had
to better understand the basic laws that gov- been killed, including Metacomet.
ern nature. Their new ideas about the uni-
verse began the Scientific Revolution. The Native American Allies
revolution changed how people thought of Some Native Americans allied with the col-
the world. In 1675, for example, Anton van onists to fight against Metacomet and his
Leeuwenhoek became the first to observe forces. These Indians had developed trade
microorganisms through a microscope. relations with colonists. They wanted tools,
Many colonists were also influenced weapons, and other goods that Europeans
by the Enlightenment. This movement, could provide. In exchange, the colonists
which took place during the 1700s, spread wanted furs, which they sold for large prof-
the idea that reason and logic could its in Europe. As a result, each side came to
improve society. Enlightenment thinkers depend upon the other.
also formed ideas about how government French colonists traded and allied
should work. They based many of their with the Algonquian and Huron. English
ideas on the concept of using reason to colonists traded and allied with the Iro-
best achieve virtue and social order. quois League. This powerful group unit-
Some Enlightenment thinkers believed ed American Indians from six different
that there was a social contract between groups. Many American Indians trusted
government and citizens. Philosophers such the French more than they did the Eng-
as John Locke thought that people had nat- lish. The smaller French settlements were
ural rights such as equality and liberty. One less threatening than the rapidly grow-
judge, William Blackstone, published a book ing English colonies. No matter who their
describing the system of English law. His allies were, many Indian leaders took care
ideas about natural laws and rights became to protect their people’s independence. As
influential in colonial legal education. Ideas one leader said:
of the Scientific Revolution and the Enlight-
enment eventually influenced colonial lead- “We are born free. We neither depend upon [the
ers’ desire for self-government. governor of New France] nor [the governor of
New York]. We may go where we please . . .
Reading Check Summarizing How did new and buy and sell what we please. ”
ideas influence colonial society? —Garangula, quoted in The World Turned Upside Down,
edited by Colin G. Calloway

French and Indian War War Erupts

By the 1670s tensions had arisen between Until the mid-1700s, France and Great Brit-
New England colonists and the Wampa- ain struggled for control of territory in North
noag. Metacomet, a Wampanoag leader also America. British colonists wanted to settle
known as King Philip, opposed the colo- in the Ohio River valley, where they could

The english colonies 95

 ARCTIC
OCEAN

North American Empires before take advantage of the fur trade. The French
believed this settlement would hurt their
and after the Treaty of Paris
profits. A standoff developed in the Ohio
Valley where the French had built three
1754 N forts. Fighting erupted in 1753 as the British
60˚
Unclaimed
Hudson military moved to take over the valley.
Bay
50
˚N When a young Virginian named George
PACIFIC Washington arrived with more soldiers, he
OCEAN found the area under French control. Wash-
Quebec
60˚W ington and his troops built a small, simple
N
Fort Detroit 40˚
N
fort that he named Fort Necessity. After
W
New Fort Necessity

S.
his troops suffered many casualties—cap-

N MT
E France io
Oh er
ippi R.

S Thirteen tured, injured, or killed soldiers—Washing-

H IA
v
Ri AC Colonies
ton finally surrendered. His defeat in 1754
L

30˚N
Rio

Mississ

PA
AP

ATLANTIC was the start of the French and Indian War.

Gr

de
an

Florida
Tropic OCEAN Leaders from the colonies met to discuss
o Gulf of
Canc f
er New Mexico
West Indies
defense. The convention produced a plan
130˚W Spain 90˚W
20˚N for uniting the colonies called the Albany
120˚W
110˚W
80˚W 70˚W Plan. Meanwhile, in 1756 fighting began
British Disputed by in Europe, starting what became known as
Britain and France
Spanish
Disputed by the Seven Years’ War.
French Britain and Spain
Russian Disputed by
ARCTIC Britain, Spain Treaty of Paris
Boundary of and Russia
OCEAN
the Iroquois League The turning point of the war came in 1759.
13 Colonies
boundary
0 500 1,000 Miles That year British general James Wolfe cap-
0 500 1,000 Kilometers tured Quebec, gaining the advantage in the
war. However, the war dragged on for four
more years. Finally, in 1763 Britain and
1763
60˚
N France signed the Treaty of Paris, officially
Unclaimed
Hudson ending the war.
Bay
50
˚N The terms of the treaty gave Canada to
PACIFIC Britain. Britain also gained all French lands
ah06se_c02leg013aa.ai Canada
OCEAN Disputed
French east of the Mississippi River except the city
North America French & Indian War Legend Quebec
Legend Area: 14p12 wide X 8p6 high 60˚W of New Orleans and two small islands in the
N
W
N
Fort Detroit 40˚ Gulf of St. Lawrence. From Spain, which had
Louisiana
TS.

F4- 10/28/04 Fort Necessity

allied with France in 1762, Britain received
NM

E
io
Approved: 11/11/04 Oh er
ippi R.

Thirteen
HIA

S
Ri
v Colonies
Florida. In an earlier treaty, Spain had received
AC
L

30˚N Louisiana, the land that France had claimed

PA
Mississ

AP

130˚W
Ri o

120˚W ATLANTIC west of the Mississippi River. The Treaty of

ra Florida
G

Tropic
nd
e Gulf of
OCEAN Paris changed the balance of power in North
o
Canc f
er
110˚W
New Mexico
West Indies
America. Soon British settlers began moving
Spain 90˚W
20˚N west to settle new lands.
geography 70˚W
skills INTERPRETING MAPS Western Frontier
1. Regions Which countries gained North American territory between Most colonial settlements were located
1754 and 1763? along the Atlantic coast. Colonial settlers,
2. Human-Environment Interaction What natural feature helped form
the boundary between British and Spanish territory in 1763?
or pioneers, slowly moved into the Virgin-

96 Chapter 3
ia and Carolina backcountry and the Ohio
River valley.
B i o g rap h Y
Indian leaders like Chief Pontiac Pontiac
opposed British settlement of this new land. 1720–1769
Pontiac’s Rebellion began in May 1763 when Pontiac, an Ottawa chief who had fought for France,
his forces attacked British forts on the fron- tried to resist British settlement west of the Appa-
tier. Within one month, they had destroyed lachians. Calling them “dogs dressed in red who
or captured seven forts. Pontiac then led an have come to rob us,” he attacked the British in
attack on Fort Detroit. The British held out the Ohio country in 1763. Pontiac’s rebellion
for months. was put down, and he surrendered in 1766.

British leaders feared that more fight-

Analyzing Information How did Pontiac try to
ing would take place on the frontier if colo-
stop the British?
nists kept moving onto American Indian
lands. To avoid more conflict, King George
III issued the Proclamation of 1763. This law
banned British settlement west of the Appa- Summary and preview In this section
lachian Mountains. The law also ordered you read about colonial governments, the
settlers to leave the upper Ohio River valley. slave trade, and the conflicts with foreign
These limitations angered many colonists countries and with Native Americans that
and some began to question British policies. the colonies faced as they grew. In the
next section you’ll learn about the increas-
Reading Check Summarizing Why did ing tension between the colonies and
George III issue the Proclamation of 1763? Great Britain that led to independence.

Section 4 Assessment ONLINE QUIZ

Reviewing Ideas, Terms, and People Critical Thinking

1. a. Describe How were colonial governments organized? 5. Summarizing Review your notes on the develop-
b. Analyze How did political change in England ments in the colonies during the late 1600s to mid-
affect colonial governments? 1700s. Then add a box to the bottom of your chart
c. Explain Why did self-government increase in the in which you briefly summarize how the colonies
colonies? grew and changed during the period, as well as the
2. a. Explain What is mercantilism? challenges they faced.
b. Analyze How did the Navigation Acts support the Development Effects
system of mercantilism? Establishment of local government
c. Evaluate Did the colonies benefit from mercantil- Political change in England
ism? Why or why not?
Trade laws
3. a. Identify What was the Great Awakening and how
Great Awakening/Enlightenment
did it reflect religious freedom? How did the ideas of vir-
French and Indian War
tue and the social contract affect colonial government?
b. Compare How was the Enlightenment similar to
the Great Awakening? How the colonies grew and changed and challenges faced
c. Identify How did John Locke and William Black-
stone contribute to the idea of self-government in the Focus on Writing
colonies?
4. a. Explain What caused the French and Indian War? 6. Reviewing the Information This section focused
b. Evaluate Where was the colonial western frontier? on what life was like in all the English colonies
Defend the British decision to ban colonists from set- discussed so far. Does this information give you
tling on the western frontier. any new ideas about the colony you’ll use in your
infomercial?

The english colonies 97