HW for Feb 20 - Divisions and convergence of the 13 colonies
Study the map of colonial America, as well as
a division of the colonies (New England Colonies, Middle Colonies, Southern Colonies) here , and comment on the following sentence of "From Settlement to Independence" by Colin Bonwick (anthology, p. 83):
"It is tempting to insist that the 13 colonies were becoming distinctively American as they moved, at first unknowingly, towards independence. In some respects this was, of course, true. But . . . they were converging and becoming more, not less anglicised as the eighteenth century wore on."
P.S. Make sure to read as well the short excerpt from Jonathan Edward's famous sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" (anthology, pp. 72-73)
According to Colin Bonwick, the thirteen colonies were becoming more part of the British Empire than not as time passed. This is, they resembled more the UK than what would become the United States of America. This can be verified through aspects such as: “The colonists thought of themselves as being primarily British, albeit Britons living overseas. Colonial patriotism was British patriotism.” (p.83). It is also mentioned that the victories of Great Britain were also the colonies’. “They also applauded British victories in wars against France and Spain,…” (83). Not only that, but also, the government respected British sovereignty. “…, each colony possessed a representative body as well as a governor representing imperial authority in London”(p.81). Furthermore, although different in many aspects, “The franchise for elections to the lower house of assembly, while much broader than in Britain (and with no counterpart in the other European empires), was nevertheless restricted” (p.81).
ReplyDeleteWhen it came to the distribution of property things were also changing. “The relative social equality that had distinguished the seventeenth-century colonies from Britain diminished over time. In its place the unequal distribution of property generated powerful and self-conscious élites”(p.80).
Plus, the economic aspect differed from colony to colony. “Variations in economic activity […] influenced the distribution of wealth and structure of society in each region. They also interfered with broader cultural and ideological imperatives…”(p. 78). The colonies were different in many aspects, from religion to wealth. Their exports were also different from one another. “To move into the Middle colonies [New York; New Jersey; Pennsylvania and Delaware] was to enter another country”(p.78). Plus, “The inhabitants of the Middle colonies were richer than those in New England [,] and their wealth was more evenly distributed”(p.78).
However, there was still some sense of unity in the colonies. “The topography of eastern North America emphasised the geographic coherence of the 13 colonies in relation to the British settlements in Canada […] Cultural dependence on Britain and shared Protestantism bound the colonies to each other, and there were increasing numbers of inter-colonial connections and associations” (p.83). It can be seen in the map above that there is some coherence geographically speaking, among the colonies. They are not too far away from each other, on the contrary.
According to the map and to what is known about the American settlement, Jamestown was founded on Chesapeake Bay in Virginia by 1607. Only one in five settlers survived the brutal disease régime due to the colony’s inadequate conditions. They depended on supplies from England and on the Indians that taught them how to survive. Only when they began cultivating tobacco for sale abroad, could they finance their activities and develop their colony. By the middle of the seventeenth century, Virginia had been joined by several more northern colonies in New England as well as adjacent Maryland, a colony similar to Virginia but founded primarily as a haven for Roman Catholics. From this point on it was clear that a permanent British bridgehead had been established. Before the end of the century New York had been captured from the Dutch, and New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and North and South Carolina had been founded. Georgia, the final colony among those that later formed the United States, was founded in 1732. By this time there were three major divisions: 1st The New England Colonies, formed by New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. 2nd The Middle Colonies, formed by New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware (the Middle colonies often served as a tactical unit of administrative support to New England). 3rd The South Colonies, which included Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia.
ReplyDeleteAs of the mid-eighteenth century, all areas were densely inhabited by whites and lay close to the Atlantic coast. Settlement extended only 350 miles inland, not exceeding westwards of the Appalachian Mountains.
In the publication From Settlement to Independence, Colin Bonwick refers to the 13 colonies becoming American, at first unknowingly, towards independence. Although Jack Greene argues the contrary in the Pursuits of Happiness (1988). Greene’s perception is that the colonies were becoming more, not less, anglicized as the eighteenth century wore on. Economic, political and cultural connections tied them increasingly into British metropolitan culture, and British standards became the primary model for colonial behavior. Élites deliberately attempted to imitate metropolitan culture and values. Cultural dependence on Britian and shared Protestantism bound the colonies to each other, and there were increasing numbers of intercolonial connections and associations. Despite the ethnic variety of the population, the English heritage dominated the colonies, and although those outside the élite were less enthusiastic than their social superior, English culture also played a major role in the development of American popular culture.
Moreover, there wasn’t an “American Nation” before the imperial crisis exploded. Continental unity was much more a product than a precursor of the Revolution. America’s economy was growing and developing. Cultural development was keeping pace, and the colonies were developing the capacity for self-government whether they remained members of the British Empire or became an independent nation.
It is unlikely to argue that 13 colonies were becoming distinctively American during the time when considered that even American republicanism was, at its core, quite Puritan, which had British roots. However, it should be noted that there were some things that Americans seemed to deal with better than the British during that time: “If its arts and literature were still relatively unsophisticated by comparison with British high culture, in other respects it was notably more advanced.” (p. 81). This quotation suggests that Americans somehow found themselves a field to express their creeping collective identity. Although being striking in that field, the rest was still heavily influenced by British impact. For instance, gentility was inspired by no one else than the British models themselves. The political and legal structure was also heavily influenced by the English models in theory with its “traditional functional divisions between the governor, upper house and lower house mimicked the British balance of king lords and commons.” (p. 81).
ReplyDeleteThe colonists regarding themselves as “British, albeit Britons living overseas” is another proof of their process of anglicization. They did not only see themselves as primarily British but also showed their loyalty to the Crown and even celebrated special occasions regarding the royal family. One of the most ironic things for me is that George Washington, who was later appointed as the chief commander of the Continental Army, was frustrated about not being offered a royal commission by the Crown itself. What is more, Thomas Jefferson, who was later named the “Founding Father”, was once the epitome of an “ideal English country gentleman” (p. 83)
According to the text from Colin Bonwick it was true that the colonies were showing signs of difference and sustainability as time went on but the British influence was still much greater than the notion of american identity.
ReplyDeleteIt is told to us that the settlements were often not on the same foot about matters and did not have a sense of identity together and were rather separate from one another, the one thing connecting them was Britian rule.
There was no sense of American nation and the sense of continental unity was more a product of the revolution than a pre-cursor of it, before the revolution the colonies did not have a sense of unity nor self administration or factors unique to the "American identity".
The elite classes taking park in British culture and considering themselves as British and following the traditions and worshipping the Royals was, however, not something common with the lower class, according to Colin.
In “Pursuits of Happiness”, Jack Greene argues that, as time went by, the colonies in America, were becoming, on one hand, successively more American. But, on the other hand, they were becoming more anglicized, throughout the eighteenth century: "It is tempting to insist that the 13 colonies were becoming distinctively American as they moved, at first unknowingly, towards independence. In some respects this was, of course, true. But . . . they were converging and becoming more, not less anglicised as the eighteenth century wore on."
ReplyDeleteIn fact, as Colin Bonwick argues in “From Settlement to Independence”, the English culture, economy and politics were extremely present in the colonies. The British heritage was a model for the colonies, as the elites wanted to imitate metropolitan culture. However, the English values had not only an influence on the elites, but they also played an important part in shaping popular culture in America.
Interestingly enough, Americans frequently showed their fealty to the Crown and even “joined together in celebrating the birthdays of the King, Queen and other members of the royal family”. They also celebrated British victories and even took part in the capture of Louisburg and Québec. This demonstrates how patriotism felt in the colonies was deeply linked to Great Britain. For example, George Washington even performed duties as a provincial officer attached to the British Army.
Disunion from Britain was anticipated in both America and Great Britain. And as the eighteenth century went on, the words “American”, “united colonies” and “continental” were more common on the newspapers. But a separation was still predicted to be many generations away. A cultural dependence on Britain and Protestantism united the colonies. However, the colonies had not yet developed a strong enough political cohesion for a lasting alliance. Besides this, they had not developed characteristics of nationhood, as “there was no single established church, legal system or monetary system”. We can, nonetheless, argue that some regional unity existed, but more based on the differences from others regions. There was not really an internal cohesion and the colonies were regularly in conflict.
However, by the third quarter of the eighteenth century, the population, economy and culture were increasing and developing, in the thirteen colonies. We can even say that they had acquired the capacity for self-government. And, even though, they were still vulnerable to disruption, the future of the colonies looked bright (“their long-term prospects were highly favourable – whether they remained members of the British Empire or became an independent nation”).
- Beatriz Bicudo Cunha
This statement suggests that while people might think the 13 colonies were becoming very different from Britain as they moved toward independence, in a way it was but, as said by Jack Greene in “Pursuits of Happiness” (1988) they were actually becoming more anglicised., since at that time, the ruling was mostly Puritan, having British roots, making them connected to one another. Economically, culturally and politically, Americans were tied to British culture. While the colonies were forming, their development was a mix of becoming more independent from Britain and staying connected to British culture. This happened across different regions, as shown on the map of colonial America.
ReplyDeleteWhen we talk about the division of the colonies, it means that each area was developing in its own way. Even though there were signs of an American identity forming, the colonies were still strongly influenced by British culture. This influence showed in how people lived, how laws were made, and how they talked and acted.
In some places, like New England, the colonies were growing in a way that showed their independence from Britain. They had their own governments and were starting to develop their own unique identity separate from Britain.
But in other areas, like the Southern colonies, they were still very tied to British ways. They relied heavily on trade with Britain, and their social structure was similar to that of England.