Colonial Communities: Center of Social, Economic, and Political Life

Vocabulary National Origin: a nation where someone was born Social Class: the distinction between levels of society where people are organized due to influence; economics, cultural or political Interdependence: mutual reliance usually associated with items of trade goods Puritans: Christian people who valued a simplified church doctrine that was strict in religious discipline Catholics: Christian people who follow the Pope in Rome as their leader Quakers: Christians that belong to the Religious Society of Friends Protestants: any Christian church that broke away from the Catholic church during the reformation or ones that descended from those whom separated

Essential Questions What were the different types of communities that were in the colonies? What were the roles of religion in the colonies and how did they influence politics? How were the social classes tied together economically and how were they unequal? Why was having a water source important for the colonists?

Religious-based Communities: Massachusetts was for Puritans Maryland was originally for Catholics Pennsylvania was for Quakers Place of National Origin: New England and Southern colonies were mostly English New York, New Jersey and Delaware was mainly Dutch but had many English; Delaware had Swedes originally Slave and free black communities:free black communities These were sprinkled all over the colonies. Variations of Communities Penn

The Social Structure Promoted Interdependence and Inequality Each social class in the colonies needed something from the other social classes but they were not treated equally. Gentry owned large parcels of land and bought many goods that other social classes produced; they also depended on the lower-class to work in the fields; some where politicians and ministers Middle class were merchants and tradesmen whom created goods for others in the colonies Lower-class depended on the Gentry to allow them to work on their land and the middle class for finished goods; slaves depended on the other social classes to feed and shelter them

Role of Religions Puritans: – Wanted Puritanism to dominate the colonies – Nonconformists were fined, banished, whipped, and imprisoned for not conforming to the way of the Puritans. – Settled in Massachusetts and New Hampshire – Warred with the Wampanoag Indians and sold about 1,000 of them into slavery – Practiced a strict Sabbath day on Sunday – Salem witch trial executed 20 people for witchcraft – Ministers and church members dominated politics.

Role of Religion Quakers: – Lived in Pennsylvania, eastern New Jersey and Delaware – Believed in the natural equality of all human beings and were against slavery – Made the first anti- slavery document – Paid Native Americans for their land – Virginia and Massachusetts banished Quakers

Role of Religion Catholics: – 1% of population in the 13 Colonies – Lived mostly in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York – In 1649 The Act of Toleration was passed in Maryland that guaranteed the right to religious freedom to all Christians in order to protect Catholic worshipers from the Protestants but their rights were quickly taken away. – Received much discrimination even in Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania: Test oaths administered to keep Catholics out of office Legislation that barred Catholics from entering certain professions (such as Law) Incapable of inheriting or purchasing land By 1718 the ballot had been denied to Catholics in Maryland, following the example of the other colonies Parents could even be fined for sending children abroad to be educated as Catholics Catholics were not allowed to settle in most colonies or if they were, did not receive the right to practice their religion Accused of being traitors because the French and Spanish were Catholic

Role of Religion Others: – The Great Awakening: 1730’s and 1740s Started by evangelist Jonathan Edwards Spread with evangelist George Whitefield Splinter religions began to be created – Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists “If your souls were not immortal, and you in danger of losing them, I would not thus speak unto you; but the love of your souls constrains me to speak: methinks this would constrain me to speak unto you forever.” George Whitefield

Survival Demanded Cooperation and a Strong Work Ethic When colonists originally arrived they had to create everything including food, housing, government, and goods to survive. The colonies that didn’t work hard to survive and cooperate together did not prosper until they did; Jamestown

Importance of Waterways Mills Trade Fresh water Food supply Transportation

Essential Questions What were the different types of communities that were in the colonies? What were the roles of religion in the colonies and how did they influence politics? How were the social classes tied together economically and how were they unequal? Why was having a water source important for the colonists?