Ilham Batar, Aubrey Moore, Kylan Croxford, & Cameron Hallett

B4, U.S History

9/30/2015
Between the settlement at Jamestown in 1607 and the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the most
important change that occurred in the colonies was the extension of British ideals far beyond the
practice in England itself. Changes in religion, economics, politics, and social structures illustrate
this Americanization of the transplanted British colonists.
By 1763, although some colonies still maintained established churches, some colonies
had accomplished religious toleration and a separation of church and state. The only religion
accepted in England was the Church of England, and they called themselves Anglicans. The head
of this church was the King. There were a few colonies that had religious freedom or they didnt
have their religion tied to the state. One colony in specific that had religious freedom was Rhode
Island. This colony was established by Roger Williams, he wanted religous freedom. When the
first colonists came to the New land they brought the Englishs strict religious practices with
them, but after a little while people started to drift away from these strict practices especially
after the Great Awakening.
In a similar economic revolution, the colonies outgrew their mercantile relationship with
Britain, and developed an expanding capitalist system on their own. Britain was using the
Colonies as a kind of farm, gathering much needed resources. The Colonies had to sell the raw
material to England, then buy back the finished products. The colonies were not allowed to sell
to anyone else except for Britain. Then Britain put down taxes and a ban on smuggling. This put
pressure on the colonies, because the had very little income, and Britain was raising prices on the
absolute necessities. The Colonists were making more products and material than England, but
not making any profit due to laws and regulations. If the poor take from the rich, it's thievery, but
if the rich take from the poor, it's Capitalism.
Building on the English foundations of political liberty, the colonists extended the
concepts of liberty and self-government far beyond those envisioned in England. In 18th century

England, the English favoured a system called Mercantilism. Mercantilism kept all the money
and goods in the government by not trading with any other nation. In the colonies they followed
british mercantilism but had their own views named Capitalism. Capitalism is a political system
where the countys trade and industry is controlled by the people rather than the government.
This allowed for trade between private organizations and other countries instead of being stuck
in the loop of Mercantilism.
In contrast to the well-defined and hereditary classes of England, the colonies developed
a more fluid class structure, which enabled industrious individuals to rise on the social ladder.
The English system was incredibly strict, and you could only be in a higher class if you were
born into that family specifically. This was the same situation with money and how the English
earned their livings. The colonies, on the other hand, had the opportunity to earn their own
money and start fresh in America. For example, a colonist living in the New England area can
make money by fishing and then selling his product, or he could farm and make his earnings that
way. The colonists created this system so that they could all start fresh and be able to succeed in
the New World.
The extension of British ideals in the American Colonies gradually lead to a rift between
the Colonies and Britain. This resulted in changes in religion, economics, politics, and social
structures. The biggest change in religion during this time was going from strict practices to
more freedom throughout their practices. The British Economy mandated that the colonies could
only do business with them, and them alone. The British political system only allowed trade
throughout the country and colonies, the colonists prefered a different system other than what
England had to offer.For the social structure in the colonies, they differed from England with the
opportunity to start new and to make their own wages, instead of their income being based on
family.