Colonial Society in the 18th century: Chapter 3 AMSCO

To understand political power ... we must consider what estate all men are naturally in, and that it is a state of perfect freedom to order their actions and dispose of their possessions ... within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man .... "Whosoever therefore out of a state of nature unite into a community must be understood to give up all the power necessary to the ends for which they unite into society, to the majority of the community ... And this is done by barely agreeing to unite into one political society ... . And thus that which begins and actually constitutes any political society is nothing but the consent of any number of freemen capable of a majority to unite .... And this is that ... which did or could give beginning to any lawful government in the world."

-John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 1690.

How is the topic of Locke's writing similar to most writing in the colonies in the 18th century?

• He wrote about nature, and most writing was about nature or agriculture.

• He wrote about the rights of the majority, and most writing was about rights and liberties.

• He wrote about freemen, and most writing was about freedom and slavery.

• He wrote about politics, and most writing was about politics or religion.

Locke's writings had the most direct influence on the

• American Revolution

• Great Awakening

• Mayflower Compact

• Zenger Case

Which of the following groups in the colonies in the late 17th century would be most critical of Locke's ideas?

• Slaveowners

• Church Leaders

• Merchants

• Women

"[Lawyer for the prosecution:] Gentlemen of the jury; the information now before the Court, and to which the Defendant Zenger has pleaded not guilty, is an information for printing and publishing a false, scandalous, and seditious libel, in which His Excellency the Governor of this Province ... is greatly and unjustly scandalized as a person that has no regard to law nor justice .... Indeed Sir, as Mr. Hamilton [Zenger's attorney] has confessed the printing and publishing these libels, I think the jury must find a verdict for the King; for supposing they were true, the law says that they are not the less libelous for that; nay, indeed the law says their being true is an aggravation of the crime. "[Mr. Hamilton:] Not so ... I hope it is not our bare printing and publishing a paper that will make it libel. You will have something more to do before you make my client a libeler; for the words themselves must be libelous, that is false ... or else we are not guilty."

-James Alexander, lawyer for J. Peter Zenger, The Trial of John Peter Zenger, 1736

Which of the following had an effect on attitudes toward traditional authority similar to the effect of the Zenger case?

• The arrival of new immigrants in the British colonies.

• The growth of the legal profession.

• The spread of the Great Awakening.

• The westward movement of settlers.

Which group would most strongly support Zenger's position on the press?

• Farmers in New England.

• Southern planters.

• Settlers on the frontier.

• Residents of cities.

Which of the following was a long-term effect of the jury's decision in the Zenger case?

• Zenger became a colonial leader.

• The colonial press became more willing to criticize the British.

• Restrictions on the press increased.

• New York became the center of anti-British sentiments.

"For a nation thus abused to arise unanimously and to resist their prince, even to dethroning him, is not criminal but a reasonable way of vindicating their liberties and just rights; it is making use of the means, and the only means, which God has put into their power for mutual and self-defense ... . "To conclude, let us all learn to be free and to be loyal. ... But let us remember ... government is sacred and not to be trifled with. It is our happiness to live under the government of a prince who is satisfied with ruling according to law .... Let us prize our freedom but not use our liberty for a cloak of maliciousness. There are men who strike at liberty under the term licentiousness. There are others who aim at popularity under the disguise of patriotism. Be aware of both. Extremes are dangerous."

-Jonathan Mayhew, church minister,"On Unlimited Submission to Rulers," 1750

According to Mayhew, the people should be willing to challenge abuses by the

• Royal Governors

• Church Ministers

• Slaveowners

• King

Which of the following possible influences on Mayhew is most clearly reflected in his statement?

• The Great Awakening.

• The teachings in the colonial colleges.

• The ideas of the Enlightenment .

• The rulings by royal governors.

Mayhew would probably apply his warning, "not use our liberty for a cloak of maliciousness" to

• The Mayflower Compact.

• The Act of Toleration.

• Bacon's Rebellion.

• The Zenger Case.

What was the context in which Mayhew was writing?

• Democratic practices were slowly increasing.

• Opposition to British rule of the colonies was increasing.

• The Great Awakening was making authorities stronger.

• Restrictions on voting were becoming tighter.