<P> Ethnocultural factors were most visible in Pennsylvania . During 1756--76, the Quakers were the largest faction in the legislature, but they were losing their dominance to the growing Presbyterian faction based on Scotch - Irish votes, supported by Germans . </P> <P> Mortality was very high for new arrivals, and high for children in the colonial era . Malaria was deadly to many new arrivals in the Southern colonies . For an example of newly arrived able - bodied young men, over one - fourth of the Anglican missionaries died within five years of their arrival in the Carolinas . </P> <P> Mortality was high for infants and small children, especially from diphtheria, yellow fever, and malaria . Most sick people turned to local healers and used folk remedies . Others relied upon the minister - physicians, barber - surgeons, apothecaries, midwives, and ministers; a few used colonial physicians trained either in Britain or an apprenticeship in the colonies . There was little government control, regulation of medical care, or attention to public health . Colonial physicians introduced modern medicine to the cities in the 18th century, following the models in England and Scotland, and made some advances in vaccination, pathology, anatomy, and pharmacology . </P> <P> The religious history of the United States began with the first Pilgrim settlers who came on the Mayflower in 1620 . Their Puritan faith motivated their move from Europe . The Spanish set up a network of Catholic missions in California, but they had all closed decades before 1848 when California became part of the U.S. There were a few important French Catholic churches and institutions in New Orleans . </P>

What was the south atlantic system how did it shape colonial society