This era saw a shift toward the materialistic and commercial values that remain central to American life. 3. Religious Pluralism (With a Catch)
Colonists imported European and Asian goods—from silver communion plates to velvet seat cushions—to define their social status.
Between 1680 and 1770, the British mainland colonies underwent a transformation that turned them into the world’s "first modern society". Long before George Washington took command, the DNA of modern America was already being spliced together. 1. A "Jumble of Peoples": The First Melting Pot Becoming America: The Revolution before 1776 fr...
The takeaway from is that the 1776 Revolution was possible only because the society was already "American" in every way but name. The colonies had already embraced diversity, global trade, and complex politics—the very traits we still debate today.
The "Hidden" Revolution: How America Became Modern Before 1776 This era saw a shift toward the materialistic
When we think of the American Revolution, we usually think of 1776—muskets, tea parties, and the Declaration of Independence. But according to historian Jon Butler in his book , the real revolution started nearly a century earlier.
By the mid-1700s, the colonies were home to an incredible variety of spiritual beliefs. While religious "modern revivals" signaled a renewed commitment to faith, they also grew out of a pluralistic environment where no single church held total authority. However, Butler reminds us that this emerging tolerance had a dark side: it rarely extended to the Native American or African populations, whose own spiritual traditions were often suppressed or decimated. 4. Politics Beyond the Town Hall Between 1680 and 1770, the British mainland colonies
We often hear about New England town meetings, but Butler argues that real political power moved to the provincial level. Colonists became "politically self-conscious" and power-hungry, building complex political institutions that were far more participatory than those in Europe. They weren't just reacting to British taxes; they were practicing the art of self-governance for decades. Why It Matters