Changes

== Colonial History  ==

== Colonial History  ==

During the colonial period, each colony had its own separate government, and they were like different countries.  There were no restrictions on travel, but if someone said the wrong thing in another colony they might end up in jail, as many non-[[Puritans]] did in [[Massachusetts]].

During the colonial period, each colony had its own separate government.  They functioned like different countries.  There were no restrictions on travel, but if someone said the wrong thing in another colony they might end up in trouble, as many non-[[Puritans]] did in [[Massachusetts]].

The only union before the [[American Revolution]] was the [[United Colonies of New England]], which existed from 1643 to 1684 in the northeast.  It consisted of a union of Massachusetts, Plymouth, [[Connecticut]] and New Haven in order to fight war and address interstate disputes.  Other than that, "disunity" existed among the colonies.

The only union before the [[American Revolution]] was the [[United Colonies of New England]], which existed from 1643 to 1684 in the northeast.  It consisted of a union of Massachusetts, Plymouth, [[Connecticut]] and New Haven in order to fight war and address interstate disputes.  Other than that, "disunity" existed among the colonies.

|1653

|1653

|8 English noblemen (granted by Charles II)

|8 English noblemen (granted by Charles II)

|colonized all of Carolina to grow silk, but this failed.  Colony split in 1729 into North Carolina (farms) and South Carolina (rice and indigo)

|Colonized all of Carolina to grow silk, but this failed.  Colony split in 1729 into North Carolina (farms) and South Carolina (rice and indigo)

|1729

|1729

|-

|-

|1732

|1732

|James Edward Oglethorpe

|James Edward Oglethorpe

|established as a refuge for debtors jailed in England and as a "buffer" against Spanish Florida; initially banned slavery

|Established as a refuge for debtors jailed in England and as a "buffer" against Spanish Florida; initially banned slavery

|1752

|1752

|}

|}

Learn and remember the above chart.  Notice how many colonies were "taken back" by the King of England.<ref>The terms "England" and "Britain" are used interchangeably (with the same meaning) throughout this course.</ref> Such is the power of kings, and a good reason to dislike that form of government.

Learn and remember the above chart.  Note that the terms "England" and "Britain" are used interchangeably (with the same meaning) throughout this course. Notice how many colonies were "taken back" by the King of England. Such is the power of kings, and a good reason to dislike monarchy.

Now let's continue with the Colonies around the turn of the century (i.e., the late 1600s and early 1700s).  Don't memorize dates, but do keep time periods separate in your mind.  In the 1600s most of colonies were just getting started (except for [[Georgia]], which was the only colony founded in the 1700s rather than the 1600s).  In the 1700s, the colonies (except for Georgia) had long been established and were just growing stronger.   

Now let's continue with the Colonies around the turn of the century (i.e., the late 1600s and early 1700s).  Don't memorize dates, but do keep time periods separate in your mind.  In the 1600s most of colonies were just getting started (except for [[Georgia]], which was the only colony founded in the 1700s rather than the 1600s).  In the 1700s, the colonies (except for Georgia) had long been established and were just growing stronger.   

City authorities prosecuted the suspects (mostly older women but also some men), and nearly two dozen were convicted and executed for the crime of witchcraft.  Some thought that the trials offered an opportunity to expose the nature and ways of the devil for the benefit of knowledge.  But others observed that killing all these people may itself the work of the devil.  Finally one of the accused witches identified the wife of the governor as being a witch.  That alarmed the governor himself, obviously, and he intervened to order the exclusion of spectral evidence and touching tests as evidence against the accused, and that proof be based on a higher standard of "clear and convincing evidence."  Under these better legal standards, nearly everyone was acquitted (found "not guilty") and the governor pardoned the few who were still convicted.  Tituba herself, who sparked the panic, later recanted her "confession" but remained in jail another year until a kind person paid the jailer money to release her and her husband.  (Note that while a few Puritans did own slaves in early times, they did not split slave families.)  Many associated with the trials later apologized, but not the Chief Judge William Stoughton.  He always insisted that he was about to "clear the land" of witches and the governor should not have intervened to prevent this; Stoughton subsequently became governor himself of the Massachusetts colony.

City authorities prosecuted the suspects (mostly older women but also some men), and nearly two dozen were convicted and executed for the crime of witchcraft.  Some thought that the trials offered an opportunity to expose the nature and ways of the devil for the benefit of knowledge.  But others observed that killing all these people may itself the work of the devil.  Finally one of the accused witches identified the wife of the governor as being a witch.  That alarmed the governor himself, obviously, and he intervened to order the exclusion of spectral evidence and touching tests as evidence against the accused, and that proof be based on a higher standard of "clear and convincing evidence."  Under these better legal standards, nearly everyone was acquitted (found "not guilty") and the governor pardoned the few who were still convicted.  Tituba herself, who sparked the panic, later recanted her "confession" but remained in jail another year until a kind person paid the jailer money to release her and her husband.  (Note that while a few Puritans did own slaves in early times, they did not split slave families.)  Many associated with the trials later apologized, but not the Chief Judge William Stoughton.  He always insisted that he was about to "clear the land" of witches and the governor should not have intervened to prevent this; Stoughton subsequently became governor himself of the Massachusetts colony.

This entire episode is taught today to embarrass the [[Puritan]]s and religious authority in general.  But this episode did not directly weaken [[Puritan]] authority.  Instead, it was success and prosperity that caused people to turn away from the strict Puritan life.  In 1850 a classic in American literature, The Scarlet Letter, described life in Puritan Boston in the 1600s and criticized its strict adherence to morality and the occasional hardship that caused.  Yet when that public morality was abandoned, Boston and Massachusetts became the most liberal areas in the nation, and one of only two states to allow same-sex marriage.  Morally, Massachusetts is now directly opposite to what it was in the 1600s.

This entire episode is taught today to embarrass the [[Puritan]]s and religious authority in general.  But this episode did not directly weaken [[Puritan]] authority.  Instead, it was success and prosperity that caused people to turn away from the strict Puritan life.  In 1850 a classic in American literature, The Scarlet Letter, described life in Puritan Boston in the 1600s and criticized its strict adherence to morality and the occasional hardship that caused.  Yet when that public morality was abandoned, Boston and Massachusetts became the most liberal areas in the nation, and Massachusetts is one of only two states to allow same-sex marriage.  Morally, Massachusetts is now directly opposite to what it was in the 1600s.

'''Debate:  Does the legal system or the Puritans -- or neither -- deserve blame for the Salem Witch Trials?'''

'''Debate:  Does the legal system or the Puritans -- or neither -- deserve blame for the Salem Witch Trials?'''