Will's Good Idea for the week of 12-4-16

General George Washington and his Fighting Continentals: Ch 1

So right now I've been working on an intro chapter describing the colonies.

Basically in 1775 Britain's American colonies were the best place in the world to live. Land was plentiful, opportunity was everywhere. One could farm, or become an apprentice, or get a gig on a ship. A young man had myriad of options. He was stronger and healthier than his European cousins, even the English, and he was free. There was hardly any government, and barely any taxation.

The east he was hemmed in by the Atlantic, but this was no barrier. The colonies were an integral part of the empire and the Atlantic World. In three to six weeks one could sail across the Atlantic to Europe. A far more formidable barrier was the Appalachians and the wilderness beyond. While the French were canoeing the wide Missouri, the English had barely penetrated west of the low Appalachians. There was also the matter of hostile Indians. Though thin on the ground compared to the colonist the Indians were fierce and savage fighters.

The society of the colonies was English in character but with strong strains of Scotch-Irish, German, Dutchman and Swede. The official religion was the C of E, more or less, but a powerful Protestant band of 'new lights' were the religiously energetic people of the colonies. These were the bible thumping, fire breathing Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists and Congregationalists who viewed the C of E as barely better than Rome. Catholics, in their eyes were superstitious peasants practicing witchcraft.