Colonial Life 1607-1700

1. Colonial Life1607-1700 Chapter 4

2. I Can….. • Differentiate between the experiences of Europeans, American Indians, and Africans during the colonial time period.

3. Unhealthy Chesapeake

4. Unhealthy Chesapeake • Area plagued by malaria, typhoid, dysentery • Most early settlers died young • Area repopulated through continuous immigration • Men far outnumbered women • Immunity to disease increased with later generations • Virginia would go on to become the most populous of all the 13 colonies

5. Tobacco • Tobacco became the main cash crop for the Chesapeake region • After a few years, tobacco ruins the soil, forcing farmers to move to fresh land • Millions of pounds were exported to Europe each year • Tobacco became so profitable that more labor was needed • Because of early diseases, natural procreation was slow in Chesapeake • Other labor sources were needed

6. Tobacco

7. Labor Needs • American Indians (AI) died from European diseases • Indentured servants were poor Europeans that desired passage to the new world • IS often signed contracts promising to work for a wealthy landowner for 5 to 7 years. • If they survived, they were given freedom. An early custom was also to give them land, but this became increasingly rare.

8. Head-right System • Virginia and Maryland used the head-right system. • Anyone that paid the passage of an IS was awarded 50 acres of land as incentive to build the population. • Through the head-right system, the rich accumulated more, and more land. • This also accounted for the eventual high population of Virginia; 100,000 IS were brought from Europe by 1700.

9. Bacon’s Rebellion • As the number of former IS increased, they found it difficult to find suitable land. • The wealthy planters often kept these poor whites from voting in the House of Burgesses. • Many poor whites moved closer to the interior of Virginia, and soon the clashed with the AIs • 1676: Nathaniel Bacon lead an uprising of former IS against the colonial capitol of Williamsburg. • The rebellion was eventually crushed, but the wealthy had learned an important lesson.

10. Significance of Bacon’s Rebellion • First major class conflict (poor v. rich) in colonies • Lead to a decrease in use of IS • Lead to an increase in use of African slaves

11. Slavery • 1619: 1st African slaves arrive in 13 colonies • Most slaves shipped from Africa were sent to Spanish, French, and English colonies in South America and Caribbean. • In total, 400,000 arrived in what would become USA • Slaves were expensive, and if they died a huge investment was lost. • The legal status of slaves was not well defined in the early colonial era, and some gained their freedom. • Overtime, laws were passed that defined the racial tones associated with slavery.

12. Middle Passage

13. Africans in America • In South Carolina, rice was the major cash crop • Rice had been cultivated in Africa, and the knowledge of slaves aided their owners. • Rice plantations became harsh environments, with lots of physical labor needed. • In Virginia, tobacco was less physically demanding. Many Africans had natural immunity to tropical diseases that plagued the Europeans. • Natural procreation of slaves soon made importation less needed.

14. African Influences • Rice cultivation • Peanuts • Okra • Music • Religion

15. From Many Cultures to One • African slaves came from a variety of West African cultures • Slaves were taken from a variety of tribes and clans that spoke a diverse array of languages • Slaves also had a variety of religious beliefs, including Islam • Overtime, slave culture homogenized and most slaves converted to Christianity • Many slaves looked to the story of Moses leading the Hebrews to freedom as inspiration

16. Slavery • Not all slaves worked in agriculture • Some were trained to be skilled artisans (bricklayers, tanners, carpenters) • slaves often tried to escape • 1712: Rebellion in NY leads to 12 dead whites and 21 African Americans (AA) • 1739: Stono Rebellion in SC • Still, no slave uprising was as large as Bacon’s Rebellion

17. Southern Society • As slavery spread, so did the gap between rich and poor. • Planters owned lots of land, and lots of slaves • They also dominated the political sphere • Below planters were the small farmers • Owned some land and possibly a few slaves • Landless whites had little power, and depended upon the upper classes for income through jobs • Indentured servants, slaves, and AIs comprised the rest of society.

18. Geography of South • Few cities • Charleston, SC largest seaport • Most colonists lived within 50 miles of coast • Great plantations were often separated by many miles • South much more isolated than north

19. New England Family Life • New England did not suffer the health concerns of the south • In fact, the average life expectancy of Northern colonists exceeded that of Europeans • Most of population was comprised of Puritan families that immigrated • Women averaged 10 pregnancies; their lives revolved around children • Northern women that owned property were forced to give the property to their husbands (South kept it separate) • Midwifery: only profession dominated by women.

20. Puritan Values • Divorce rare • Church often forced divorced couples back together • What was the “scarlet letter”? • Morals lead many to avoid owning slaves

21. Northern Geography • Comprised of small towns • Bordered by AI (Iroquois) and French (Canada) • Farms not as large as south, closer together • Towns planned by proprietors; homes surrounded by meeting house and village green • Many towns had a school to teach literacy of the Bible • 1636: Harvard U founded to teach Puritan preachers (William and Mary 1st in South 1693)

22. Colonial Politics • North had town meetings (Mayflower Compact!) • Direct democracy • Local men had vote • Only church members originally allowed to vote • Thomas Jefferson on town meetings, “best school of political liberty” • South had state assemblies (House of Burgesses) • Land owners allowed to elect members • Dominated by wealthy elite

23. House of Burgesses

24. Half-Way Covenant • With church membership dwindling in the late 1600s, Puritans introduce the “half-way covenant” • Children of existing members could be baptized, but not accept communion • Diluted spiritual purity, yet enabled church to stay relevant and widened membership

25. Salem Witch Trials • As new comers entered New England, the Puritans feared a loss of identity • Witch trials were common in Europe, and in 1692 it spread to Massachusetts • 20 women were executed for “witchcraft” • Hysteria ended after the governor’s wife was accused; he outlawed such trials soon after • Demonstrate the fear of outsiders and waning religious zeal

26. Salem Witch Trials

27. New England Way of Life • Rocky soil not great for farming • Not as ethnically diverse as south • Little slavery • Puritans disagreed with AI practice of living off and sharing land; preferred to “improve” land by clearing it • Plenty of livestock in the newly cleared pastures • Industries: logging, shipbuilding, fishing, and whaling

28. Colonial Ideals • Ideals of self-reliance and resourcefulness permeate US society today • Life revolved around the seasons • Dusk till dawn workday • Cult of Domesticity: Women cook, clean, raise kids • Men farmed, cut wood, hunted • Despite Bacon’s and Stono Rebellions there was relatively little separation of classes compared to Europe • Equality and democracy for most whites

29. Timeline 1607-1700 • 1607: Jamestown settled • 1619: 1st slaves arrive • 1620: Pilgrims sail on Mayflower • 1630: Massachusetts founded • 1636: Harvard founded • 1662: Half-way Covenant established • 1676: Bacon’s Rebellion • 1692: Salem Witch Trials