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October 1, 2020 History Notes1760 – the population of the 13 English Colonies was 1,500,0001776 – 2,500.000 people lived in the 13 coloniesPhiladelphia was the largest American city with 25,000 peopleNew York City and Boston each had a population of about 20,000 Obviously many people had come to live in the English portion of the New World, the area now named the United States. Colonial citizens came from MANY PLACES, but they all came looking for religious, economic, or political freedom. Most all of them knew that they would have to provide for themselves so they came prepared to work hard. In America, unlike many other places in the world, royal or noble blood was not required to be successful. It made little difference who your parents were or how much money they had. Americans could own land, they could expect to profit from their labor, and if they worked hard, they could achieve the AMERICAN DREAM. MELTING POTThe United States has been frequently referred to as a ‘melting pot’ nationDuring the Colonial Era, people from many lands came to settle in AmericaPeople coming from different lands result in ethnic diversitySome of the lands from which they came included England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Holland, FranceMany also came from AFRICA (but generally not by choice) The different peoples brought different customs and religionsPeople of many different denominations of the Church came to settle in America alsoSome of these varied denominations included Puritans, Congregationalists, Baptists, Quakers, Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, JewsNote that all of these varied groups believed in the Creator God and most believed that Jesus Christ was God’s son who was sent to earth in order that we might be savedWhat is unique about America is that these various ethnic and religious groups came to America for the same basic reasons: POLITICAL FREEDOM, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AND ECONOMIC FREEDOM.They left their native countries and cultures behind and began to develop a love for their new home in America.All eventually learned to speak EnglishAlmost all shared a faith in and dependence on God (IN GOD WE TRUST)So, despite differences, they blended into one-they all became AmericansThis blending together—this unity—gave rise to the term MELTING POT Their differences-this DIVERSITY-made a strong America because they blended togetherNo other country on earth has such a history of being a melting pot nation like America Page 2The Latin phrase ‘E PLURIBUS UNUM’ inscribed on coins, meaning OUT OF MANY, ONE, celebrates the melting pot country that we are. ENGLISH SUPREMECYThere is one final concept to be learned before we study our fight for independenceRemember that there were 3 European nations that claimed land in what we now call the USASpain claimed Florida, Texas, California, and the American SouthwestFrance claimed Louisiana-land on either side of the Mississippi RiverEngland claimed just the 13 colonies—the smallest in area of these 3 countriesWhy were the English so much more successful in colonizing than were the Spanish or the French?Spanish explorers came looking for treasures/riches They really had very few permanent settlements in the current USA (St. Augustine is most famous) They failed to see riches with which the land was blessed…the forests, rivers, wildlife and fertile land Consequently, they failed to build permanent homes and clear the land in order to farm Most Spaniards regarded Spain, not the New World, as home France did not form many permanent settlements either other than New Orleans Frenchmen could be found in many places in Louisiana, but they never stayed long in one place Their focus was on the fur trade—they bartered with the Indians for furs/pelts Like the Spaniards, the Frenchmen called France or maybe New France homeEnglishmen and people from other places came to America to settle permanently They came to build permanent homes, to clear land, to farm, and to build their lives in America These people left their European homes behind and made America home insteadBecause the settlers in the 13 colonies enjoyed LIBERTY and had put in so much work to make their homes permanent, they learned to love their new landAmerica was a very popular destination for Europeans who yearned for freedom and opportunity Consequently, the colonies grew rapidlyThe 13 English Colonies became the most dominant, strongest, most heavily populated area of the New WorldWe are still affected by these events in the 21st Century—English is our national language to this good day, and we are still regarded as a Christian nation that provides economic, religious, and political freedom to all!ARE WE BLESSED AS AMERICANS? YES WE ARE!!!!!!! And America continues to be the place where oppressed people around the world want to come!!! Page 3The following is a reprint from your September 19 notes and summarizes our discussion in class today. This information is critical to your understanding about what makes America a great country.Social Classes: English settlers were well aware of social classesIn England the NOBILITY (lords, earls, dukes) owned almost all of the landThis land was passed from parents to childrenEveryone else was a COMMONERCommoners had almost no chance to buy land or to become part of the nobilityThey had no UPWARD MOBILITYSocial classes were ignored in the earliest days of America howeverIt mattered not who your parents were—people were judged on their ability to make a living and how SELF-RELIANT they wereAs America developed, 3 social classes developed: 1) the very rich – plantation owners and others who owned much land, a few doctors, lawyers 2) the middle class (this was by far the largest class) 3) indentured servants, slaves, and frontier farmersUnlike England, however, in America there was widespread ownership of landWith free enterprise, Americans who were smart and worked hard had every opportunity to become wealthyThis ability to better oneself was called UPWARD MOBILITYOnly slaves were barred from profiting from their intelligence and hard workToday we should recognize that America, our country, was settled by incredibly wise, hard-working, self-reliant people. Even before the Revolution, our ancestors were already committed to liberty, trusting God, and being good citizens who generally lived out the scriptural admonition to love your neighbor. These 3 GUIDING PRINCIPLES are the foundation upon which our country has survived and thrived. These 3 principles are like our national motto, so remember them as follows: 1. LIBERTY2. IN GOD WE TRUST3. E PLURIBUS UNUMCheck the coin you received in class today. Find these 3 guiding principles etched into the surface of your coin. You will need to keep these principles firmly in mind well past your days in American History class. Living by these principles have made our country great, but failure to live by them will endanger everything that has been so good about our United States. October 15, 2020 History Notes(These notes are provided in advance to assist you with your homework for October 15.)THE GREAT AWAKENINGRise of CONSUMERISM - association of possessions with social class, self-worth, importanceLuxuries became ‘necessities’Americans just had to have linens, glassware, furniture, cutlery, cookery from EuropeRelate this form of consumerism in the 1700s to consumerism in America today (I Phones, big-screen TVs, SUVs, etc.)Rise of the LADIES AND GENTLEMENLadies and gentlemen during this period had to be educated and they had to have THINGSThey thought that having stuff made them more importantHaving ‘things’ was necessary to be considered a part of the ‘upper’ or wealthy class.BIBLICAL ADMONISHIONS REGARDING MONEYI Tim 6, Luke 16Be sure to read the passages from I Timothy and Luke as directed in your homework for October 15.Not surprisingly, the rise of CONSUMERISM coincided with a SPIRITUAL DECLINE in the colonies. SPIRITUAL DECLINEChristian values helped shape all of our early colonizationFor New England-Puritans especially, belief in Christ was a vital part of their daily livesBut their Christian commitment began to wane or lessen toward the end of the 1600s In all of the colonies there was a tendency for Christianity to just be a set of rules As colonists became more successful, they had a tendency to forget to be thankful to God for all that they hadTheir commitment to living like Jesus wanted them to live slippedSo, even in this period of our history, we needed spiritual revival-to bring back to life, to gain new strength and energy SPIRITUAL REVIVAL—THE GREAT AWAKENINGcirca 1730s revival broke out in both England and the American coloniesEngland-the ‘Methodist Revival’ started by John WesleyAmerica-‘THE GREAT AWAKENING’ was the name given to the American revivalThe Great Awakening would have a profound (great) effect on the history of our country! Leaders of the Great Awakening:1. JONATHAN EDWARDS-son of a New England pastor, Attended Yale at 13In college he got concerned about his spiritual well-being-tried unsuccessfully to reform himselfThen he accepted Christ and became a pastor in North Hampton, MassSpirit led to 300 conversionsHe said this about his town after these 300 people became Christians:“Behold, the town seemed to be full of the presence of God…The revival struck the hearts first of the young people and then their elders all over town…The tavern was soon empty. People had done with their quarrels, backbiting, and meddling with other men’s affairs.” Jonathan EdwardsEnfield, Connecticut, July 1741, Edwards preached the most famous sermon in American HistorySinners In the Hands of An Angry GodVivid description of hell was given to ‘awaken’ sinners It was an act of God’s own restraint that unbelievers were not already dead and in hellALL people are wicked and deserve hellNothing man can do within himself to save himselfOnly God’s grace through Jesus Christ saves us 2. GEORGE WHITFIELD-associated with Englishman Charles Wesley, preached in England and IrelandHe made 7 trips to America just to preach the gospelGreat voice so he could preach outside to crowds estimated at up to 20,000 at one timeHe preached to slaves, Indians, children and was ‘America’s preacher’ w/great influenceResults of the Great Awakening: Thousands of people saved, lives were changed Humanitarian efforts for poor, orphans, Indians, slaves developed Music in worship became popular (Isaac Watts-hymn writer)*** New colleges founded-Brown, Princeton, Rutgers, Dartmouth Solidified religious freedom-separation of church and state Unifying effect on people of the colonies **Watts wrote “This is the Day’ ‘When I Survey the Wondrous Cross’ ‘Joy To The World’ John Newton wrote ‘Amazing Grace’ during the Great AwakeningDAVID BRAINERD-see pages 54 – 55—MISSIONARY TO THE INDIANS and to frontier settlers His ministry to the Indians was practical as well as spiritual He taught them to build barns and to store grains and other foods for winter use One Indian said of Brainerd, “He not only talk Jesus all the time, Him live Jesus all the time” PHILLIS WHEATLEY-see page 66—FIRST BLACK WOMAN POET in America The words ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’ found on coins today are more than a phrase…God was who colonials citizens depended upon for salvation and who they trusted for help in their daily lives. ................
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