Chapter 4 Life In The Colonies

1. Chapter 4 Life In The Colonies

2. 4.2 Life on a Farm Economy-The way a society organizes the manufacturing and exchange of things of value, such as money, food, products, and Services. *9 out of 10 colonists live on farms. *Most farm families raise or make nearly everything they needed. *Most homes are single rooms with a chimney at one end. *Everyone sleeps in one room. *Fireplace is only source of heat for warmth and cooking *Everyone wakes before sunrise to share in the work. They work from sunup to sundown.

3. 4.3 Life in Cities *Only 1 in 20 colonists lives in a city. *The heart of the city is the waterfront. *Marketplaces sell fresh food from the Farm. *Cobblestone streets lined with shops and taverns. *Cities are noisy and smelly. *Rotting garbage and open sewers create terrible stench. *City homes built close together. *Torches used for lighting. *Fire is a constant danger. Colonists keep fire buckets handy at all times colonists form “bucket lines” to fight fires; everyone pitches in.

4. 4.4 Rights of Colonists Magna Carta (Great Charter) 1215- Establishes the idea that the power of the monarch (ruler) is limited. Rights-Powers or privileges that belong to people as citizens and that cannot or should not be taken away by the government. Parliament-The Lawmaking body of England, consisting of representatives from throughout the kingdom. Founded in 1265. Petition-To make a formal demand or request. 1698 English Bill Of Rights-State that the power to make laws and impose taxes belongs to the people’s elected representatives in Parliament and that the people can petition the King and have a right to a trial by jury.

5. 4.5 Crime and Punishment *Each colonial assembly passes its own laws. *Crimes punishable by death include murder, treason, and piracy. *In New England, colonists can be put to death for defying God’s law or for striking or cursing their parents. *Lesser crimes are punished with fines, short jail terms, or public humiliation, like a stockade. *Blue Laws-Puritan laws requiring everyone to go to church on Sundays and not to work. *1691-Salem witch trials result in 20 people being put to death.

6. 4.6 Class Differences Class-A part of society defined by such qualities as wealth, occupation, and inherited titles or honors. Wealthy class wear gold, colored lace, buttons, boots, and wigs. Middle class is made up of farmers and artisans. Lower class is mostly made up of farmhands and other workers. At the bottom of colonial society is indentured servants and slaves.

7. 4.6 Continued… *Indentured Service notice advertising passage to the colonies in exchange for work.

8. 4.7 Life for African Americans *By the early 1700’s, enslaved Africans are living in every colony. *In southern colonies, slavery Slaves being expanded rapidly. Slaves raise loaded onto a tobacco, rice, indigo and other ship cash crops. The Atlantic Slave Trade *Most slaves come from West Africa. *Ocean crossing is a nightmare; many Africans die of sickness or despair. Work Without Hope *Most slaves put to work in fields raising crops. *Others work as nurses, carpenters, blacksmiths, servants, or gardeners. Working the fields *Their position in colonial society As a household servant is fixed at the bottom.

9. 4.8 Religion Puritan Church Services *Held in town meetinghouse. *Rows of wooden benches (pews) and a pulpit where preacher stands. *Older, wealthy people get the best seats up front. *Some services last as long as 5 hours Puritan church with break in the middle for lunch. First Great Awakening (1730’s) *A religious movement to revive people’s religious spirit. *Preachers travel from town to town and hold revival meetings. *Helps spread the idea that all people are equal in the eyes of God. *Encourages the ideas of liberty, equality, and resistance to authority. *Helps pave the way for the American Revolution. Revival meeting

10. 4.9 Education *Except in New England, most children in the colonies receive little formal education. *Wealthy Southern families hire tutors or send their children to boarding schools. *In the Middle Colonies, each religious group decides how to educate its children. One-room school house *Only in New England are towns required to provide public schools. *1647 Mass. passes a law that requires every town with 50 families or more to hire a teacher. *Schools are one-room buildings with a chimney and fireplace in the center. *There are very few supplies, so students shout out spelling words and write math problems in ink on pieces of bark. Classroom management, old school!

11. 4.10 Colonial Families Colonial families might include grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and stepchildren. Marriage *Men and women usually marry in their 20’s. *Since men outnumber women, almost every woman is assured of receiving a marriage proposal. *Life as a wife and mother is often harder than life as an indentured servant. Large Families *Most families have between 7 and 10 children. *Children are expected to be productive members of the family. *Nearly half of all children die before adulthood. *Family members rely on each other; several generations live together. *The family is the most important part of society.

12. 4.11 Leisure Bees and Frolics Chopping bees and frolics are organized to help clear trees off of land; barns and houses are built in one day. Toys and Sports Colonial children have few toys. They play games of Adults enjoy fox tag, blindman’s bluff, hunting, card and stoolbar. playing, billiards (a game like baseball). and bowling.

13. 4.12 Food *Corn is main vegetable of colonial diets. *Meat is a favorite food for many colonists. *Fruit orchards provide fresh fruit daily. *Apples, huckleberries, blackberries, blueberries, grapes, strawberries and peaches are all popular fruits of the colonies. *Popular vegetables are pumpkins, squash, beans, peas, and sweet potatoes. *Root vegetables include parsnips, turnips, carrots, and onions. *Most veggies are cooked into stews seasoned with meat and herbs. *Great iron pots of stew simmer 24 hours a day in colonial fireplaces. Main meal is eaten between noon and three o’clock.

14. 4.13 Chapter Summary *Economy is based on farming, commerce, and crafts. *Farm families produce much of what they need for themselves. *Colonists expect to enjoy all the rights of English citizens. *Crimes and punishments are defined by colonial assemblies. *Class differences are based mostly on wealth. *Religion is very important. Panorama of colonial Philadelphia *First Great Awakening revives religious feeling and helps spread the idea that all people are equal. *Most colonial children receive little education. *Children are expected to work on the farm or home. *Most colonial families are large. They often include many relatives. *Colonial life is mostly work, but some leisure time is found. *Colonists are mostly content to be ruled by English laws.