Life in Colonial AmericaLife in Colonial America

• The colonies didn’t get along.

• They were jealous of each other.

• The colonies continued to grow due to economic success, religious and political freedom

• This attracted a steady flow of new settlers

Commercial New EnglandCommercial New England• Long winters and poor soil made large-

scale farming difficult.

• Subsistence farming – produced just enough to meet the needs of their families.

New EnglandNew England

• Shipbuilding was an important New England industry

• lumber was transported from the forests by way of rivers

• New England was the center of the shipping trade

• It linked the colonies to other parts of the world.

• Triangular Trade – routes linking New England colonies to England and the West Indies

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Growth of the Middle Colonies

Growth of the Middle Colonies• Due to fertile soil and milder climate, they

cultivated larger areas – produced bigger harvests

• Cash Crops – crops grown solely for profit

• This attracted non-English settlers – German, Dutch, Swedish…

• This brought about the development of cultural diversity and tolerance

• Other Jobs: carpentry, flour making, lumbering, mining, small-scale manufacturing

Southern Colonies – Plantation Life

Southern Colonies – Plantation Life• The south was well suited for cash crops

• Tobacco, rice, and indigo were major crops

Plantations• Began using indentured servants – laborers

who agreed to work without pay for a certain period of time to pay for their passage to America

• When it got too expensive, they turned to enslaving Africans

Slave trade was important to the Southern Colonies

• Inhumane shipping of slaves was known as the “Middle Passage”

a. Tight Pack

putting as many slaves as possible on the boat

*more slaves started the trip, but moredied on the way

b. Loose Pack

limiting the number on the boat to maximizesurvival

Slave Ship InteriorSlave Ship Interior

“Coffin” Position: Onboard a Slave Ship

“Coffin” Position: Onboard a Slave Ship

Onboard the Slave ShipOnboard the Slave Ship

Revolt Aboard a Slave ShipRevolt Aboard a Slave Ship

African Captives Thrown Overboard

African Captives Thrown Overboard

Sharks followed the slave ships across the Atlantic!

Slave Auction in the Southern U. S.

Slave Auction in the Southern U. S.

Notice of a Slave AuctionNotice of a Slave Auction

• The slaves suffered great cruelty

• Slave codes, laws to force slaves to cooperate, were encouraged

Slave With Iron MuzzleSlave With Iron Muzzle

30 Lashes30 Lashes

Whipped Slave, early 19cWhipped Slave, early 19c

Southern Colonies – Plantation Life

Southern Colonies – Plantation Life• Families were torn apart

• A few slaves were able to learn skills and lucky enough to buy their freedom

• Some northern colonists did not believe in slavery, which eventually led to the civil war

New American CultureNew American Culture• Religion, education, and the arts

contributed to a new American culture

The Great Awakening•Religion became less fervid in the 18th century due to relaxed church doctrine.•Jonathan Edwards•George Whitefield

EducationEducation• At first, children were taught at home

• New England– 1647 Massachusetts Puritans passed a law

stating that colonies must have a teacher paid through taxes

• Middle Colonies– schooling was not as universal but

widespread

• Southern Colonies– formal education limited to large landowners

and professionals (lawyers, doctors)

EducationEducation• Schools were primitive

– few books, instruction only 2-3 months a year– most students didn’t make it beyond primary– most girls received little education– yet there was a high proportion of people who

could read and write

EnlightenmentEnlightenment– began in Europe

– They believed that knowledge, reason, and science could improve society.

– The best known scientist of that time was Ben Franklin –

– He later helped guide the colonies to freedom in the 1770’s

The PressThe Press• Books, newspapers, almanacs spread

knowledge

• Almanacs were popular – they included a calendar of important dates and holidays, sunrise/sunset times,

advice on farming,

poems, news of the year,

practical advice

The PressThe Press• Books, newspapers, almanacs spread

knowledge

• Almanacs were popular – they included a calendar of important dates and holidays, sunrise/sunset times,

advice on farming,

poems, news of the year,

practical advice

Charter ColoniesCharter Colonies• Charter Colonies:

• England granted a charter, a grant of rights and privileges

from England

to stockholders

Proprietary ColoniesProprietary Colonies• Owned by an individual proprietor or a

small group of proprietors (landowner)

• England began to change colonies into royal colonies under their control– England appointed a governor and upper

council– Colonists selected lower council– Implemented tax laws and restrictions– Only white male landowners could vote– Helped prepare them for the future

Proprietary ColoniesProprietary Colonies• Britain controlled the colonies trade through

the Navigation Acts– Colonies had to sell to Britain, even if they could

get a better price somewhere else– Colonist grew to resent Britain– Some began smuggling goods out of the

country