People of Colonial AmericaPeople of Colonial America

Created by Vina EvansCreated by Vina Evans

Baker ElementaryBaker Elementary

44thth grade grade

SS4H3: The student will explain the factors that SS4H3: The student will explain the factors that shaped British Colonial Americashaped British Colonial America

– b. Describe colonial life in America as experienced by b. Describe colonial life in America as experienced by various people, including large landowners, farmers, various people, including large landowners, farmers, artisans, women, indentured servants, slaves, and artisans, women, indentured servants, slaves, and Native Americans.Native Americans.

– Table of Contents

Who settled in the Thirteen Original Colonies?

Large LandownersThe Southern colonies contained farming settlements because the growing season in the South was long. The farms in the southern colonies were large and called plantations. People on plantations grew cash crops like cotton, tobacco, indigo, rice, and sugar cane so that they could send agricultural products to Europe to be sold. These landowners were wealthy and would hire imported slaves to do the hard work on the plantation.

Most colonists lived on small farms in the backcountry. The Most colonists lived on small farms in the backcountry. The backcountrybackcountry is an area in the country where very few people is an area in the country where very few people live. They usually didn’t live near schools or towns. Farmers live. They usually didn’t live near schools or towns. Farmers in the New England colonies only grew enough to feed their in the New England colonies only grew enough to feed their families. Most families had 7-8 children and they had to help families. Most families had 7-8 children and they had to help with the farming. Farmers’ children learned to read and write with the farming. Farmers’ children learned to read and write ONLY if their parents were able to teach them. In the Middle ONLY if their parents were able to teach them. In the Middle colonies, settlers owned or worked on farms of various sizes. colonies, settlers owned or worked on farms of various sizes. Workers who did not own the land were called Workers who did not own the land were called tenant farmerstenant farmers..

An An artisanartisan is a person that specializes in a special craft, product or service. is a person that specializes in a special craft, product or service. Many artisans made bricks, sails for ships and furniture. Others were Many artisans made bricks, sails for ships and furniture. Others were carpenters, blacksmiths, silversmiths, printers, weavers, shoemakers, tailors, carpenters, blacksmiths, silversmiths, printers, weavers, shoemakers, tailors, and basket makers. Artisans could be found in all colonies but they were most and basket makers. Artisans could be found in all colonies but they were most common in the middle colonies. Artisan usually hired an apprentice to help common in the middle colonies. Artisan usually hired an apprentice to help with the making of their craft. with the making of their craft. ApprenticesApprentices were people who trained for many were people who trained for many years to become an artisan (skilled worker).  Usually an apprentice would train years to become an artisan (skilled worker).  Usually an apprentice would train for seven or more years.  Age nine was the youngest a boy could become an for seven or more years.  Age nine was the youngest a boy could become an apprentice.  It was very hard work.  An apprentice would work long hours to apprentice.  It was very hard work.  An apprentice would work long hours to learn his trade.  Being an apprentice was a great  way of helping a young boy learn his trade.  Being an apprentice was a great  way of helping a young boy learn to make his own living and raise a family.  learn to make his own living and raise a family. 

Women played an active role in colonial life.Women played an active role in colonial life. They performed They performed traditional roles including preparing and serving the food, traditional roles including preparing and serving the food, weaving clothing, and raising and educating the children. weaving clothing, and raising and educating the children. Tending farmlands was hard work during colonial times, and it Tending farmlands was hard work during colonial times, and it was not suited for European women. But times were changing was not suited for European women. But times were changing and tobacco and cotton were the rulers of the land in the South. and tobacco and cotton were the rulers of the land in the South. Women were needed in the new settlements to help tend to the Women were needed in the new settlements to help tend to the crops and harvesting. Candle-making, churning butter, milking crops and harvesting. Candle-making, churning butter, milking cows, gardening and making cheese were other task that women cows, gardening and making cheese were other task that women performed.performed.

In colonial times, many Southern landowners used indentured servants. An In colonial times, many Southern landowners used indentured servants. An indentured indentured servant servant would agree to work for someone for a certain length of time usually between would agree to work for someone for a certain length of time usually between four and seven years. In exchange, servants had their boat fares paid. For many four and seven years. In exchange, servants had their boat fares paid. For many Europeans, this was the only way they could afford to travel to North America. Europeans, this was the only way they could afford to travel to North America. Indentured servants had few rights. Without the permission of their masters, they were Indentured servants had few rights. Without the permission of their masters, they were not allowed to marry, to leave their houses or travel, nor buy or sell anything. Most not allowed to marry, to leave their houses or travel, nor buy or sell anything. Most indentured servants were put to work in the tobacco fields of Virginia and Maryland. This indentured servants were put to work in the tobacco fields of Virginia and Maryland. This was hard manual labor under the grueling hot summer sun, under which Europeans was hard manual labor under the grueling hot summer sun, under which Europeans were not accustomed to working. were not accustomed to working.

Beginning early in the 1600s, southern plantation owners began to importBeginning early in the 1600s, southern plantation owners began to importenslaved people to do the hard work of growing the crops on their largeenslaved people to do the hard work of growing the crops on their largeplantations. The first enslaved Africans were brought to the Jamestownplantations. The first enslaved Africans were brought to the Jamestowncolony in Virginia in 1619. They were bought and sold like property. Men,colony in Virginia in 1619. They were bought and sold like property. Men,women and children were treated as if they were animals. When the sale was women and children were treated as if they were animals. When the sale was finished, families, friends, and relatives were often separated. Some ownersfinished, families, friends, and relatives were often separated. Some ownersprovided decent food, clothing, and shelter. However, some owners providedprovided decent food, clothing, and shelter. However, some owners providedterrible living conditions. Many times entire families would have to shareterrible living conditions. Many times entire families would have to sharesmall, dirty living spaces and barely had enough food to feed their family.small, dirty living spaces and barely had enough food to feed their family.

During the colonial period, Native American life was a story of cooperation andDuring the colonial period, Native American life was a story of cooperation andconflict with the Europeans. Both groups competed for land. Sadly, manyconflict with the Europeans. Both groups competed for land. Sadly, manyEuropeans came to view the Native Americans as uncivilized and dangerous. Europeans came to view the Native Americans as uncivilized and dangerous. Both groups depended on the land for their survival. But Europeans andBoth groups depended on the land for their survival. But Europeans andNative Americans had very different ideas about land ownership. They alsoNative Americans had very different ideas about land ownership. They alsohad quite different religious beliefs. Oftentimes, Europeans would take Nativehad quite different religious beliefs. Oftentimes, Europeans would take NativeAmericans as slaves to work for them.Americans as slaves to work for them.