Why didn't early American colonists grow their own tea?
As I've been learning in history class, tea was a major cause of the American Revolution. With the British inposing such heavy taxes on it, the colonists boycotted and went to the Boston Tea Party. But why not just grow their own? It seems possible in the south as I believe tea is a similar plant to tobacco, which was a major cash crop in the southern colonies...
Is maine one of the original 13 colonies of america?
Hartford, Connecticut, Dover, Delaware, Atlanta, Georgia, Annapolis, Maryland, Boston, Massachusetts, Concord, New Hampshire, Trenton, New Jersey, Albany, New York, Raleigh, North and Columbia, South Carolina, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Providence, Rhode Island and Richmond, Virgina. Next time it would be more time effective if you Ask Jeeves.com
What cities were the most important in colonial America? Why?
Seaports were the most important towns in Colonial America, for the obvious reason that trade kept the colonies going. New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston were the strongest of these. Jamestown, Charleston, and Savannah were also notable for their links to the tobacco, rice and indigo plantations.
What did Americans sound like in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and when did the recognizable “General American” accent come into being? Did Americans sound British in the 1700s and 1800s? If not, what did Americans sound like?
I've read and heard like the previous comments that the American accent is a snap shot of the British accent during the 18th century. Many former colonies reflect their origin... Australia's connection with its penal genesis and influx of east Enders gave its cockney edge. As the previous contributor mentioned the current British accent was something contrived by the affluent and became standardized as time went. I am an American Southerner and our southern accent of the affluent (associated with Charleston, SC) was apparently contrived as well during the middle of the 19th century, just before the war. Being that many of the Confederate Generals reached rock status and were (or trying to enter) of wealthy circles, it more or less established our traditional accent as the haughty southern gentleman's draw. My wife is from the outer banks of North Carolina and her family were the last of the lighthouse keepers (Cape Hatteras) and they have the unique High Tiders accent -- which must be a snap shot of some lost period - a mix of Virginian, Canadian, English, only slight draws... Very fast. They're very easy to pick out, with the Canadian "house" and "boat". I find it all fascinating. The previous commenter mentioned the Northeastern accent being the norm prior to WWII which based on films of 30's, I'd say could be partially (I'm not an expert) true. My upbringing being in West Virginia and North Carolina (part in France) and being around family from the late 19th century and none of them had the Northeastern accents. My thoughts are that the film's from the 1930's where still part of the influence of the entertainment power house of the New York Jewish community that also formed the Hollywood crowd. I work in the film industry and time, money, and what sells tends to define reality - that is not a criticism but it's just reality. I worked on the Patriot and Mel's character was very loosely based Francis Marion and our department conferred with Colonial Williamsburg to get this things as best we could but alas time, money, and what sells directed the film... Oh by the way the director is German. Oh dear I'm off subject...
Why was access to waterways an important factor of colonial cities and towns?
It was the fastest way to move goods and was also a source of industry and a food source new york - hudson river Philadelphia - Schuylkill River Dover - Delaware river Boston boston harbor - charles river
What resources did Colonial New York have?
one of the great natural harbors of the world...and the only good deep water harbor on the East Coast between Boston and the Delaware which lead, via the Hudson River, deep inland to the incredibly fertile farmland of central New York, and also through Lake George and Champlain, to Canada . Also of crucial importance to New York becoming the huge city it became, is that the land of central New York is fairly flat. If you are going west,....to the wilds of Indiana, say, you can do a fairly easy slog across New York or have to climb up and then down the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania and Virginia and North Carolina. Once they built the Erie Canal in 1820 ( just post Colonial ers ) New York City became the gateway to the Great Lakes and all of the central United States at a time when there were no roads to speak of , ALL trade went by water