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In the 1700s, the English colonies grew in size, reaching 2 million in population compared to only 100,000 in the French settlements.   

In the 1700s, the English colonies grew in size, reaching 2 million in population compared to only 100,000 in the French settlements.   

But note that the English colonies were majority English, but not exclusively English.  Germans came here, African slaves came here involuntarily, and Scotch-Irish immigrated to the back country of the Middle Colonies and settled in Appalachia (where they remain a key voting bloc for the upcoming 2008 presidential election).  The Middle Colonies were New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, and consisted of many diverse ethnic groups and religions; prejudice existed between the groups but they were peaceful towards each other.  William Penn even ''advertised'' for immigrants to come to Pennsylvania.   

But note that the citizens of  the English colonies were not exclusively English.  Germans came here, African slaves came here involuntarily, and Scotch-Irish immigrated to the back country of the Middle Colonies and settled in Appalachia (where they remain a key voting bloc for the upcoming 2008 presidential election).  The Middle Colonies were New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, and consisted of many diverse ethnic groups and religions; prejudice existed between the groups but they were peaceful towards each other.  William Penn even ''advertised'' for immigrants to come to Pennsylvania.   

In the 1730s and 1740s, a marvelous spiritual revival known as the "Great Awakening" swept the colonies.  A glorious [[Christian]] fervor spread throughout, helping to bring the colonies closer together in terms of beliefs, customs and practices.  Led Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, this was called "New Light" revivalism to distinguish it from the spiritualism of the 1600s.

In the 1730s and 1740s, a marvelous spiritual revival known as the "Great Awakening" swept the colonies.  A glorious [[Christian]] fervor spread throughout, helping to bring the colonies closer together in terms of beliefs, customs and practices.  Led by Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, this was called "New Light" revivalism to distinguish it from the spiritualism of the 1600s.

Jonathan Edwards was brilliant man who graduated valedictorian at age 17 from [[Yale University]].  (Harvard was founded in 1636; the College of William & Mary in 1693; and Yale in 1701).  As Edwards grew older, he developed a sermon entitled "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."  It was so powerful that it moved listeners to tearfully repent simply upon hearing it, and it remains the most prominently cited example of "fire-and-brimstone" preaching.

Jonathan Edwards was brilliant man who graduated valedictorian at age 17 from [[Yale University]].  (Harvard was founded in 1636; the College of William & Mary in 1693; and Yale in 1701).  As Edwards grew older, he developed a sermon entitled "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."  It was so powerful that it moved listeners to tearfully repent simply upon hearing it, and it remains the most prominently cited example of "fire-and-brimstone" preaching.

George Whitefield was an even better preacher, perhaps the finest preacher of all time in the English-speaking world.  Known as the "Great Itinerant," he drew enormous crowds for his sermons as he did seven tours through the colonies from 1740 to 1770.  He would simply arrive at a public place, like the Boston Commons, and many thousands would show to hear his sermon.  They did not leave disappointed.

George Whitefield was an even better preacher, perhaps the finest preacher of all time in the English-speaking world.  Known as the "Great Itinerant," he drew enormous crowds for his sermons as he did seven tours through the colonies from 1740 to 1770.  He would simply arrive at a public place, like the Boston Commons, and many thousands would come to hear his sermon.  They didn't leave disappointed.

Not all was well for everyone in the colonies during the Great Awakening.  During this time [[South Carolina]] had grown heavily dependent on slavery to pick its crops and sustain its economy.  By the late 1730s South Carolina had twice as many slaves as white people.  In 1739 tensions between the slaves and their masters reached a boiling point in the Stono Rebellion in Charleston.  This insurgency by the slaves was brutally suppressed, and then South Carolina passed harsh laws (codes) to exercise even more control over the slaves.  More so than any other colony (and later, more than any other state), South Carolina was the colony (and later, the state) most determined to keep and use slavery.

Not all was well for everyone in the colonies during the Great Awakening.  During this time [[South Carolina]] had grown heavily dependent on slavery to pick its crops and sustain its economy.  By the late 1730s South Carolina had twice as many slaves as free Europeans.  In 1739 tensions between the slaves and their masters reached a boiling point in the Stono Rebellion in Charleston.  This insurgency by the slaves was brutally suppressed, and then South Carolina passed harsh laws (codes) to exercise even more control over the slaves.  More so than any other colony (and later, more than any other state), South Carolina was determined to keep and use slavery.

== Migration and Conflict ==

== Migration and Conflict ==