COLONIAL LIFE

Based on this portrait, what role did women play? What role did men play and what economic activities seem to

prevail? What region do you think do you think this represents?

POPULATION BOOM

population growth due to longer life expectancies, better health, high fertility rates

and especially immigrationMiddle and Southern colonies experienced more population growth due to beginnings of

slave trade and availability of land most population influx of lower classes

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Social classes: Self-concious elites (merchants, lawyers, plantation owners), middling sort (small land owning farmers

or craftsmen most commonly called Yeomen Farmers ). Made up 60

percent of population “dependents” made up 40 percent of

the population.For men who were considered

independent social mobility was a given because of the abundance of land. Men

could own land, unlike in England, therefore giving them and their posterity

economic opportunities

SCOTS-IRISH AND PENNSYLVANIA DUTCHScots Irish

originally poor farmers who migrated to Ireland to avoid poverty and seek new

opportunities. moved to English North America and

started in Pennsylvania and spread along the backcountry.

They separated themselves from the rest of society and were stout

Presbyterians, however they stubbornly opposed theocracy. Opposed to

government mandates and viewed the Indians as enemies.

Paxton Boys March – vigilante Scots-Irish who marched on Philadelphia and

killed twenty Indians known as the Conestoga Massacre

Regulator Movement – angry, depressed famers murder corrupt political leaders to set up an honest government

Pennsylvania DutchNot Dutch at all

originally from Germany and spelled their name Duetsch which was mispronounced

NEW ENGLANDshipbuilding (more ships than all other colonies combined),

timber harvesting of white pine Fishing 1/3 of economy “gold mines of New England.” Fishing produced more wealth than all the gold chests of the Aztecs, whaling industry, trade of raw

goods into slave colonies of west indies

New England colonies benefited greatly from slave

trade wheat production but the

“wheat blast” ruined the crop

Molasses Act-hurt trade and the stopped

French import of Molasses but English

merchants then smuggled the good and

the trade continued. Represents colonial opposition to British

authorityYankee Ingenuity : Hard work, energy,

purposefulness, sternness,

stubbornness, self reliance and

resourcefulness

EducationTowns of 50 or more

had to provide education –

Harvard, William and Mary, Princeton

Land thought Indians wasted land and

English had a right to improve it

MIDDLE COLONIES“The best Poor man’s country”

many small farms for the growth of family food but also mass production of wheat

Yeomen Farmers “Pennsylvania the Breadbasket.” Fueled growth of

milling flour and trade. Livestock, pig iron, flaxseed and barrel staves.

SOUTHERN COLONIESChesapeake and lower south

Chesapeake had 90 percent of white population and 80 percent of black

population. Tobacco cultivation and used as a

medium of exchange. 1/3 of colonial exports and all went to

England first to be taxed and then redistributed.

Plantations in the South Large plantations emerged to handle

fluctuations of market and soil depravation. Large plantations lower per

unit cost and increased profits. Also large plantations needed more than

indentured servants or “white slaves” to work.

AgricultureRice and Indigo production a

major export in Georgia and South Carolina.

Slaves fed the other slaves in West Indies with rice

production.

GOVERNMENT STRUCTURESSalutary Neglect

Most colonial governments had three commonalities: Governor, council and an

assembly (bi-cameral).Governor usually represented the interests

of the crown.Most appointed by the Crown. Rhode Island

and Connecticut had elected governors.Council usually appointed by governor to

help in decision makingAssembly members were elected and

helped enact laws. Ex: House of Burgesses, House of Delegates in Maryland, House of

Representatives in MassachusettsFactioning of political groups many times

based on wealth or ethnicity became a problem.

COLONIAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIESRegional distinctions emerging even at the turn of

the 18th century*New England heavily dependent on trade, fishing, shipbuilding, whaling and forestry –

emergence of mercantilism – land became scarce*Middle Colonies dependent on mainly agriculture

– corn, some forestry and naval stores*Southern colonies entirely dependent upon

agriculture – abundance of land, wealthiest men lived southern colonies (small percentage),

emergence of plantations

TRADE WARS IN NEW ENGLAND

*Emergence of Triangular Trade*English, French and Native Americans battled for control of fur and fish trade

*Beaver Wars: Kanienkehaka, Onundagaono, and Onayotekaono (Oneida), Haudenosaunee tribes

involved in war over beaver trade which was considered a “hot” item in Europe

*Overfishing of cod and whale*Due to families dividing land up among many children land became scarce and

colonist began to expand westward meeting Native opposition