Colonial LifeColonial Life

Part 1 - GoverningPart 1 - GoverningEnglish Parliament English Parliament

– Magna Carta (1215) – signed by King JohnMagna Carta (1215) – signed by King JohnLimited the monarch’s right to levy Limited the monarch’s right to levy taxestaxesOriginally only intended for nobles but Originally only intended for nobles but extended to all citizensextended to all citizensThe Magna Carta Formed ParliamentThe Magna Carta Formed Parliament

– Two-house legislature made up Two-house legislature made up of the House of Lords (nobles, of the House of Lords (nobles, inherited power) and the House inherited power) and the House of Commons (elected by rich of Commons (elected by rich men and landowners)men and landowners)

– Greatest power = approve new Greatest power = approve new taxestaxes

– English Bill of Rights (1689) – King William English Bill of Rights (1689) – King William and Queen Maryand Queen Mary

Glorious Revolution removed King Glorious Revolution removed King James from power and invited his James from power and invited his daughter and her husband to rule since daughter and her husband to rule since they were more open to expand they were more open to expand Parliament’s powerParliament’s power

Questions:Questions:

What was Parliaments What was Parliaments greatest power?greatest power?

What boosted Parliaments What boosted Parliaments power in 1688?power in 1688?

AnswerAnswer::

What was Parliaments What was Parliaments greatest power?greatest power?

Approve new taxes!Approve new taxes!

Answer:Answer:

What boosted What boosted Parliaments power in Parliaments power in

1688?1688?

English Bill of English Bill of Rights!Rights!

Part 1 - GoverningPart 1 - GoverningColonial Self-GovernmentColonial Self-Government– Colonists called for a voice in government and to Colonists called for a voice in government and to

rule themselves due to the rights of Englishmenrule themselves due to the rights of Englishmen– Colonial LegislaturesColonial Legislatures

1619 – Virginia Company allowed House of Burgesses to 1619 – Virginia Company allowed House of Burgesses to make laws for Jamestown Companymake laws for Jamestown Company

1629 – General Court set up in Massachusetts where 1629 – General Court set up in Massachusetts where colonists elected delegatescolonists elected delegates

William Penn was given ownership of Pennsylvania by William Penn was given ownership of Pennsylvania by the British; 1701 – colonists forced Penn to agree to let the British; 1701 – colonists forced Penn to agree to let the General Assembly make laws that only the King could the General Assembly make laws that only the King could overturnoverturn

Part 1 - GoverningPart 1 - Governing

1760 – Every British colony 1760 – Every British colony in North America had some in North America had some from of legislaturefrom of legislature

– Legislatures clashed with Legislatures clashed with the King and colonial the King and colonial governorsgovernors

– Right to VoteRight to Vote50% to 75% of all white 50% to 75% of all white males in American males in American colonies could votecolonies could vote

Much higher percentage Much higher percentage than in Englandthan in England

Africans, Native Africans, Native Americans, slaves, and Americans, slaves, and women could not votewomen could not vote

Questions:Questions:

Who was given ownership Who was given ownership of Pennsylvania by the of Pennsylvania by the

British?British?

Who could vote in the Who could vote in the American colonies?American colonies?

Answer:Answer:

Who was given Who was given ownership of ownership of

Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania by the British?British?

William Penn!William Penn!

Answer:Answer:

Who could vote in the Who could vote in the American colonies?American colonies?

50% to 75% of 50% to 75% of White Males!White Males!

Part 1 - GoverningPart 1 - GoverningRegulating TradeRegulating Trade– Mercantilism – colonies existed to serve the Mercantilism – colonies existed to serve the

economic needs of Englandeconomic needs of EnglandThe colonies were sources of raw materials and sales The colonies were sources of raw materials and sales opportunitiesopportunitiesNavigation Acts – Navigation Acts –

– 1) Shipments from Europe to the colonies had to pass through 1) Shipments from Europe to the colonies had to pass through England firstEngland first

– 2) Ships built and owned by England only were allowed to 2) Ships built and owned by England only were allowed to import goods to England from the coloniesimport goods to England from the colonies

– 3) The colonists could sell certain key items (tobacco, sugar, 3) The colonists could sell certain key items (tobacco, sugar, etc) to England Onlyetc) to England Only

– Benefited colonists because they ensured a market for their Benefited colonists because they ensured a market for their goods and encouraged ship buildinggoods and encouraged ship building

– Some colonists resented Acts because they felt they favored Some colonists resented Acts because they felt they favored English merchants and restricted the amount of money they English merchants and restricted the amount of money they could makecould make

Questions:Questions:

What term means that the What term means that the colonies existed to serve the colonies existed to serve the economic needs of England?economic needs of England?

How did the Navigation Acts How did the Navigation Acts benefit the colonies?benefit the colonies?

Answer:Answer:

What term means that What term means that the colonies existed to the colonies existed to

serve the economic serve the economic needs of England?needs of England?

Mercantilism!Mercantilism!

Answer:Answer:

How did the Navigation How did the Navigation Acts benefit the colonies?Acts benefit the colonies?

1) Ensured a market for their 1) Ensured a market for their goods!goods!

2) Encouraged shipbuilding 2) Encouraged shipbuilding in New England!in New England!

Part 2 - SocietyPart 2 - SocietyFamiliesFamilies– Very important, included extended familyVery important, included extended family– Farm Families – most colonists lived on farmsFarm Families – most colonists lived on farms

Large families an advantageLarge families an advantageClosely knit and self-sufficientClosely knit and self-sufficientResponsibilities given to each family memberResponsibilities given to each family member

– Examples: Planting, cultivating, harvesting, houseworkExamples: Planting, cultivating, harvesting, housework

Houses were not very comfortableHouses were not very comfortable– Made out of wood, few rooms, crude utensils, cold over winterMade out of wood, few rooms, crude utensils, cold over winter

– Town FamiliesTown FamiliesFew cities and townsFew cities and townsEasier for single peopleEasier for single peopleFamily still held in high regardFamily still held in high regardSingles expected to live with family or boardSingles expected to live with family or board

Part 2 - SocietyPart 2 - Society

RolesRoles– MenMen

Control incomeControl incomeManage propertyManage propertyCommand authorityCommand authorityRepresent household in public lifeRepresent household in public life

– Voting, officeholderVoting, officeholder

– WomenWomenMarried men chosen by parentMarried men chosen by parent

– Based on property, religion, and family needsBased on property, religion, and family needs

Many domestic responsibilitiesMany domestic responsibilities– Cooking, laundry, gardening, farmingCooking, laundry, gardening, farming

Little or no public lifeLittle or no public life

Part 2 - SocietyPart 2 - Society

– Young PeopleYoung PeopleUnder seven years oldUnder seven years old

– Played jump rope, hopscotch, with marbles and homemade toysPlayed jump rope, hopscotch, with marbles and homemade toys– The wealthier the family, the better the toysThe wealthier the family, the better the toys

Expected to work as of seven years of ageExpected to work as of seven years of age– If they lived through infancyIf they lived through infancy

Girls = Worked in the homeGirls = Worked in the home

Boys = Worked in the fields or as apprenticesBoys = Worked in the fields or as apprentices– Apprenticeship – prepared boys to work individuallyApprenticeship – prepared boys to work individually

Adults believed working prepared children for life as an Adults believed working prepared children for life as an adultadult

Questions:Questions:

Where did most colonists Where did most colonists live?live?

What household person What household person managed property and managed property and

controlled income?controlled income?

Answers:Answers:

Where did most Where did most colonists live?colonists live?

On Farms!On Farms!

Answer:Answer:

Which member of the Which member of the household managed household managed

property and controlled property and controlled income?income?

Men!Men!

Part 2 - SocietyPart 2 - Society

Social ClassesSocial Classes– In England, land measured wealthIn England, land measured wealth– Land in American colonies was plentiful which Land in American colonies was plentiful which

made it appealing to Englishmenmade it appealing to Englishmen– Social status in England determined by birthSocial status in England determined by birth– American colonies had classes but were more American colonies had classes but were more

socially equalsocially equal

Part 2 - SocietyPart 2 - Society– GentryGentry

Upper class colonialsUpper class colonials– Planters, merchants, ministers, official, lawyersPlanters, merchants, ministers, official, lawyers

Few in numberFew in numberMost powerful peopleMost powerful peopleGentry often held official jobs because there was no pay Gentry often held official jobs because there was no pay for those jobsfor those jobs

– Considered serving a duty and a rightConsidered serving a duty and a right

– Middle ClassMiddle ClassMajority of colonistsMajority of colonists

– Planters, independent farmers, artisansPlanters, independent farmers, artisans

Not rich, not poorNot rich, not poorMainly whiteMainly whiteContinually growingContinually growingGave poor something to strive forGave poor something to strive for

Part 2 - SocietyPart 2 - Society– Indentured ServantsIndentured Servants

Contracted workers doing 4 to 10 years work for person who paid for Contracted workers doing 4 to 10 years work for person who paid for them to go to the coloniesthem to go to the colonies

Just above slavesJust above slaves

1600s - most came from England1600s - most came from England

1700s – growing numbers from Germany and Ireland1700s – growing numbers from Germany and Ireland

Few, if any, rightsFew, if any, rights

Bound to obey master who could work them to death and add service Bound to obey master who could work them to death and add service time for disobeying or committing criminal activitytime for disobeying or committing criminal activity

At end of service, received a set of clothes, tools, and 50 acres of At end of service, received a set of clothes, tools, and 50 acres of land at end of serviceland at end of service

Only 2/10 became prosperousOnly 2/10 became prosperous

– Free African AmericansFree African Americans60,000 free in 1790 compared to 757,000 enslaved60,000 free in 1790 compared to 757,000 enslaved

Allowed to own property and slavesAllowed to own property and slaves

Had restricted livesHad restricted lives

Questions:Questions:

What group made up the What group made up the majority of the colonists?majority of the colonists?

How long did indentured How long did indentured servants work for?servants work for?

Answer:Answer:

What group made What group made up the majority of up the majority of

the colonists?the colonists?

Middle Class!Middle Class!

Answer:Answer:

How long did indentured How long did indentured servants work for?servants work for?

4 to 10 years!4 to 10 years!