Summary: Colonial Society On The Eve Of Revolution

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AP U.S History – Chapter Five, Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution Lusty population growth in thirteen colonies: colonists were doubling their numbers every twenty-five years,black and white; youthful people (political consequences followed) English to American ratio lessened every year. Colonial America was picturesquely mottled with numerous foreign groups; Germans (Pennsylvania) enhanced religious diversity, belonged to a variety of protestant sects, had no deep-rooted loyalty to the English crown. The Scots-Irish: turbulent Scots lowlanders, failed to prosper economically in Northern Ireland due to English restrictions and Scottish Presbyterianism. Early in the 1700's many abandoned Ireland and came to America…show more content…
By mid-century the richest 10% in Boston and Philadelphia owned nearly two-thirds of the taxable wealth in their cities. In the New England countryside landholdings were repeatedly subdivided as the supply of unclaimed land decreased and families grew. In the south prosperity was weighed out in terms of slave ownership, meaning wealth was not distributed evenly among the whites; gap between the gentry and the “poor whites” widened as more and more whites were more likely to become tenant farmers. INDENTURED SERVANTS “Jayle Birds”- convicts and paupers involuntarily shipped to America Black Slaves – least fortunate of all, enjoyed no equality with the whites, source of cheap labor for the colonies, oppressed and restricted for fear of rebellion. Most honored profession – Christian Ministry. Physicians were poorly trained and not highly esteemed, not until 1765 was the first medical school founded. Epidemics – Smallpox, diphtheria, popular yet fatal remedy was “bleeding.” Agriculture was the leading industry, involving about 90% of the people. Tobacco (VA & Maryland), Wheat (Chesapeake), Grain (Middle
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