- Slavery in eighteenth-century colonial America
- Slavery and the British empire
- British control of slave trade
- Triangular trading routes
- Slaveowning as an element of "freedom"
- Africa and the slave trade
- Participation of African rulers
- Introduction of European goods
- Consequences for West African societies
- Opportunities for rulers, merchants
- Impact of imported textiles on craft production
- Impact of imported guns on slave trade, relations among kingdoms
- Depletion of African population
- Middle passage
- Regional patterns of slavery
- In the Tobacco Kingdom (Virginia, Maryland)
- Breadth and importance of slavery
- Forms of slave labor
- Social hierarchy of slave society
- In the Rice Kingdom (South Carolina, Georgia)
- Breadth and importance of slavery
- Forms of slave labor
- Social hierarchy of slave society
- In the northern colonies
- Breadth and importance of slavery
- Forms of slave labor
- In the Tobacco Kingdom (Virginia, Maryland)
- Slave culture and resistance
- The making of an African-American people
- Regional patterns of African-American culture
- In the Chesapeake
- In South Carolina and Georgia
- On the rice plantations
- In the port towns
- In the northern colonies
- Resistance to slavery
- Running away
- Collective rebellion
- New York City uprising of 1712
- Uprisings around Caribbean and Gulf coast of 1730s and '40s
- Stono rebellion of 1739
- New York City plot of 1741
- Slavery and the British empire
- Eighteenth-century British patriotism
- Shared embrace of by Britons and colonists
- Sources
- Common culture and institutions
- Military power
- Expanding commercial economy
- Concept of British liberty
- Eighteenth-century British liberty
- Elements of
- "Rights of Englishmen"
- "Balanced Constitution"
- Protestantism
- As distinctively British
- Language of
- Expanding currency in Britain and colonial America
- From class-based privilege to general rights
- As emerging battle cry for the rebellious
- Republican liberty ("republicanism")
- Principles
- Supreme value of public service
- Property as key to independence and public virtue
- Appeal to landed elites of Britain and America
- Principles
- Liberal freedom ("liberalism")
- Principles (derived from John Locke's "social contract")
- Natural, universal rights of the individual
- Consent of the governed
- Rule of law
- Government as protector of life, liberty, property
- Right of rebellion
- Relation to social order
- Compatibility with material inequality
- Inspiration for challenges by excluded groups
- Principles (derived from John Locke's "social contract")
- Overlaps between republicanism and liberalism
- Elements of
- The public sphere in eighteenth-century colonial America
- Extent and limits of democracy
- The right to vote
- High levels of white male suffrage
- Exclusions on the basis of sex, religion, race, wealth
- Uneven competitiveness of elections
- Appointive vs. elective office
- Powers of governors or crown
- To appoint officials
- To veto colonial legislation
- The right to hold office
- Traditions of class deference
- The right to vote
- Influence of colonial elites in local governance
- British policy of "salutary neglect"
- Growing assertiveness of colonial assemblies
- Issues between elected assemblies and crown-appointed officials
- Expanding realm of public debate
- Clubs
- Taverns and coffee houses
- Pamphlets and broadsides
- Books, circulating libraries
- Newspapers
- Freedom of expression
- Absence from traditional English rights
- Growing point of conflict between press and assemblies
- Trial of John Peter Zenger
- The Enlightenment in America
- Principles of Enlightenment
- Benjamin Franklin as embodiment of American Enlightenment
- Arminianism and Deism
- Extent and limits of democracy
- The Great Awakening
- Spread of religious revivals
- Precursors: Theodore Frelinghuysen, William and Gilbert Tennent, Jonathan Edwards
- George Whitefield
- Driving concerns
- Diminished religious devotion
- Rising commercialism
- Style and themes
- Emotional, personal style of Christianity
- Evangelical preaching
- Power of individuals over their own salvation or damnation
- Impacts
- Congregational splits into Old Light and New Light factions
- Proliferation of new churches
- Broadening of debate over established churches and religious freedom
- Reassessment of power relations and central values in America
- Spread of religious revivals
- Imperial rivalries
- Spanish and French empires in North America
- Breadth of territory, sparseness of settlement
- Impulses to reinvigorate
- The Spanish
- Meager settlements in New Mexico, Texas, and Florida
- California
- Spread of missions and presidios
- Relations with Indians
- Conversion to Christianity
- Transformation from hunters and gatherers to farmers and craftsmen
- Exploitation of forced labor
- Consequences for Indian society
- The French
- Expansion of French traders into Mississippi Valley
- From Great Lakes
- From Mobile and New Orleans
- Farming communities in French Canada
- Louisiana
- Sugar plantations
- New Orleans
- Expansion of French traders into Mississippi Valley
- Forts and trading posts along western frontier of British colonies
- Spanish and French empires in North America
- The Seven Years'War (French and Indian War)
- Background
- Multi-sided contests for power in Ohio Valley ("middle ground")
- France
- England
- Rival Indian communities
- Settlers
- Land companies
- Ohio Company land claims
- Multi-sided contests for power in Ohio Valley ("middle ground")
- The War
- Outbreak
- Initial French and Indian successes
- Turning of tide by British forces; surrender of New France outposts
- 1763 Peace of Paris
- Repercussions
- For international balance of power
- Ouster of French empire from North America
- Global reshuffling of imperial alliances and possessions
- For financial situations of Britain, France
- For relations between Indians and colonies
- Loss of diplomatic middle path for frontier Indians
- Development of pan-Indian identity
- Pontiac's rebellion
- Proclamation of 1763
- Rise of anti-Indian hostility from frontier colonists
- Resignation of Quakers from Pennsylvania assembly
- Paxton Boys
- For colonial identities
- Stronger bonds among the colonies
- Stronger bond to British empire
- For international balance of power
- Background