Life in the British Colonies What was life like during Colonial times?

New England Towns Self-sufficient communities: the people made or grew whatever they needed. Meetinghouses were used as churches and to hold town meetings. Town meetings were held to make decisions about laws and government. At a town meeting, the male landowners would make decisions such as whether or not to paint the church. They might have discussed making peace with the Indians Common – an open area in town where the herder took care of livestock Militia – volunteer army Constable – police officer who made sure the town’s laws were obeyed.

Market Towns Farmers traveled there in Conestogas to trade their farm produce for goods and services. A general store sold imports (goods brought into the colonies from other countries such as cloth, buttons, tea, spices, etc.) Most market towns had more than one church, a sawmill, a blacksmith’s shop, a cobbler, and other artisans.

What is a county seat? Several times a year, plantation families would travel to the main town for each county or large part of a colony. While there, people went to church, held dances, and traded crops for goods. Slaves were bought and sold there. There was a courthouse and jail.

Cities Some of the first major cities were Philadelphia, New York City, and Charleston. They grew because they had good harbors where ships would arrive with new settlers and imports. They would leave with exports (goods to be sold in other countries) see map. Many people made a living by fishing, shipbuilding, and other artisan trades. Apprentices learned under them.

Triangular Trade Routes

Plantations Plantations were self-sufficient. A main crop was grown and skilled workers produced many needed goods. Goods that couldn’t be made were brought in through trade. Planter: Supervised and made sure the crops were planted, harvested, stored and shipped Indentured Servants

Plantations Built along waterways Crops were used instead of money Planters sold farm products through British brokers. They paid brokers because the trip to Britain was so long and expensive. Daughters of planters learned to read and sew (few schools).

Frontiers: People left settled areas along the Atlantic coast and pushed farther inland into backcountry (beyond settled lands where lack of roads and waterfalls made travel difficult) to claim what they saw as open land. Attacks by wild animals, and also the Indians, French and Spanish (see map) Clearing the land Cutting timber to build homes Planting crops Gathering, cooking, and storing food