brendan3eb
09-21-2006, 10:01 PM
I just wrapped up an essay for my U.S. AP class and would be extremely pleased if a few people could take a look at it and give me some corrections.
A New Society
Between the settlement at Jamestown in 1607 and the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the most important change that occured in the colonies was the emergence of a society quite different from that in England. Changes in religion, economics, politics and social structure illustrate this Americanization of the transplanted Europeans.
By 1763, although some colonies still maintained established churches, other colonies had accomplished a virtual revolution for religious toleration and separation of church and state. In Pennsylvania there did not exist a tax-supported church or official religion. Everyone was free to worship however they pleased. Even Jews and Catholics were tolerated, however, they were not able to run for public office. Similar to Pennsylvania was the colony of Rhode Island. Roger Williams, the founder, let people practice whichever religion they chose to and did not request taxes for a state church, oaths about religious beliefs, or church attendance. Although these two colonies were tolerant of all religions, not ever colony was as tolerant. Many Puritan-based colonies in New England made religious requirements for voting. However, the overall movement of the colonies was a move to more religious tolerance.
In a similar economic revolution, the colonies outgrew their mercantile relationship with the mother country and developed an expanding capitalist system of their own. The colonies maintained an economic relationship with England in which all imports were to England and all exports were from England. However, as the Americans grew in population, began to demand more than England could produce and they began to produce more than England needed. England could not solely fulfill America's economic necessities, and therefore America began to sell products to non-British nations such as France and the West Indies.
Building on English foundations of political liberty, the colonists extended the concepts of liberty and self-government far beyond those envisioned in the mother country. For example, the colony of Pennsylvania had its own representative assembly elected by the landowners of the colony. The Puritans had a democratic process for electing officials and schoolmasters. The men of the towns would meet at the church and discuss matters of importance.
In contrast to the well-defined and hereditary class of England, the colonies developed a fluid class structure which enabled the industrious individual to rise on the social ladder. The average white man added ten years to his life just by making the choice to move to New England, and was typically not from the aristocracy or lower class of Europe. Although some indentured servants may have been "from the dregs", those who worked hard could move up a notch in the social order, something that was considered not possible in England. The majority of White Americans were farmers, and not aristocrats or homeless people. There existed no dominant person in the social order nor extremely poor class in the New World.
In conclusion, a society much different than England emerged in the colonies between 1607 and 1763. A society with greater toleration for different religions. These colonies of the New World broke free of their mercantile relationship with England and began to trade with all the nations of Europe. The colonies extended ideas of political liberty and created democratic forms of government. The large gap between the aristocrats and the lower class did not exist in the colonies, where the majority of white people were farmers. These changes in religion, economics, politics, and social structure are what helped define America, and make it unique from England.
A New Society
Between the settlement at Jamestown in 1607 and the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the most important change that occured in the colonies was the emergence of a society quite different from that in England. Changes in religion, economics, politics and social structure illustrate this Americanization of the transplanted Europeans.
By 1763, although some colonies still maintained established churches, other colonies had accomplished a virtual revolution for religious toleration and separation of church and state. In Pennsylvania there did not exist a tax-supported church or official religion. Everyone was free to worship however they pleased. Even Jews and Catholics were tolerated, however, they were not able to run for public office. Similar to Pennsylvania was the colony of Rhode Island. Roger Williams, the founder, let people practice whichever religion they chose to and did not request taxes for a state church, oaths about religious beliefs, or church attendance. Although these two colonies were tolerant of all religions, not ever colony was as tolerant. Many Puritan-based colonies in New England made religious requirements for voting. However, the overall movement of the colonies was a move to more religious tolerance.
In a similar economic revolution, the colonies outgrew their mercantile relationship with the mother country and developed an expanding capitalist system of their own. The colonies maintained an economic relationship with England in which all imports were to England and all exports were from England. However, as the Americans grew in population, began to demand more than England could produce and they began to produce more than England needed. England could not solely fulfill America's economic necessities, and therefore America began to sell products to non-British nations such as France and the West Indies.
Building on English foundations of political liberty, the colonists extended the concepts of liberty and self-government far beyond those envisioned in the mother country. For example, the colony of Pennsylvania had its own representative assembly elected by the landowners of the colony. The Puritans had a democratic process for electing officials and schoolmasters. The men of the towns would meet at the church and discuss matters of importance.
In contrast to the well-defined and hereditary class of England, the colonies developed a fluid class structure which enabled the industrious individual to rise on the social ladder. The average white man added ten years to his life just by making the choice to move to New England, and was typically not from the aristocracy or lower class of Europe. Although some indentured servants may have been "from the dregs", those who worked hard could move up a notch in the social order, something that was considered not possible in England. The majority of White Americans were farmers, and not aristocrats or homeless people. There existed no dominant person in the social order nor extremely poor class in the New World.
In conclusion, a society much different than England emerged in the colonies between 1607 and 1763. A society with greater toleration for different religions. These colonies of the New World broke free of their mercantile relationship with England and began to trade with all the nations of Europe. The colonies extended ideas of political liberty and created democratic forms of government. The large gap between the aristocrats and the lower class did not exist in the colonies, where the majority of white people were farmers. These changes in religion, economics, politics, and social structure are what helped define America, and make it unique from England.