Colonial Society in America

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Eighteenth-century American culture

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American culture in the 18th century moved in competing directions, with ties to Great Britain tightening while a distinctly American culture began to form.

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Transatlantic trade impact

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Transatlantic trade enriched Britain and raised living standards for North American colonists, reinforcing colonial ties to British culture.

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Consumer revolution

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The consumer revolution was marked by increased purchasing of luxury items by colonists, shifting from luxuries to common goods.

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Colonial currency challenges

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Colonists used barter, commodity money, and paper notes due to a lack of hard currency, leading to issues like depreciation and counterfeiting.

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Caribbean and North American trade

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North American colonies traded surplus food and raw materials with Caribbean colonies, which were more valuable to Britain due to sugar production.

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Slavery in British North America

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Slavery was legal in every North American colony by 1750, with distinct characteristics based on local economic and cultural practices.

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Virginia's slave laws

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Virginia's slave code of 1705 protected enslavers' interests, ensuring children of enslaved women were born enslaved and conversion to Christianity did not lead to freedom.

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South Carolina's slave system

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South Carolina had a majority enslaved African population by 1750, with brutal slave codes and a task system allowing some autonomy for enslaved people.

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Quakers and slavery

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Quakers were the first group to turn against slavery, disowning members involved in the slave trade by 1758 and expelling slave-owning members by 1772.

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Colonial political structures

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Colonial governments were categorized as provincial, proprietary, or charter, with varying degrees of control by the British Crown.