Life in the American Colonies Culture and Society Chapter 5, Lesson 3

Life in the Colonies What was life like for people living in the thirteen colonies? By the mid-1770s, the population in the thirteen colonies had risen from about 250,000 to roughly 2.5 million The African slave population grew at an even faster rate from 28,000 to more than 500,000 Immigration played a central role in the population growth in the colonies Between 1607 and 1775 an estimated 690,000 Europeans immigrated to the colonies During the same time period, slave traders brought in roughly 278,000 slaves

Life in the Colonies What was life like for people living in the thirteen colonies? Colonial women also married early and had large families, further contributing to the growth in population The colonies were also a much healthier place to live compared to other places in world Despite the relatively healthy environment, life was still precarious. Women often died during child-birth, and outbreaks of diseases such as smallpox killed many colonists

Life in the Colonies A New American Spirit Many people came to the colonies from other countries all across Europe Despite the different languages and cultures found in the colonies, a unique American identity began to emerge Along with this new identity there emerged a strong spirit of independence Settlers began to do things their own way as they adapted to their environment Religion, education and family contributed to this new American culture, but the colonial family was its foundation

Life in the Colonies Family Roles Colonial men were the formal heads of households – they managed the farm or business and worked the fields and repaired the fences Sons worked on the family farm or as indentured servants for other local farmers – some of the more fortunate became an apprentice to a skilled craftsman Women ran the household, educated their children, and worked the fields with their husbands – but had few rights Widows or unmarried women were often teachers or nurses – some ran businesses or even owned property, but could not vote

American Beliefs What values and beliefs were important to the American colonists? The American spirit and family was the foundation for life in the colonies Americans were committed to education, their religious beliefs and an open mind towards new ideas

American Beliefs Colonial Education Parents, particularly mothers, taught their children to read and write at home In New England and Pennsylvania, schools were set up to make sure children could read the Bible As early as 1647, Puritans in Massachusetts required that communities of 50 people or more set up public schools By 1750, 85% of the men and roughly 50% of the women could read Most schools were private and some craftsmen held classes for their apprentices The earliest colleges were set up top train ministers

American Beliefs The First Great Awakening In the 1730s and 40s a religious movement called the Great Awakening swept through the colonies Ministers like George Whitfield called for a “new birth” or a return to the strong religious faith of earlier days The Great Awakening inspired greater religious freedom and placed an emphasis on personal faith rather than religious rituals Independent thinking was also encouraged, not only in the religious realm, but in political maters as well

American Beliefs The First Great Awakening The Great Awakening encouraged independent thinking as well, not only in the religious realm, but in political maters as well The result was greater colonial unity as both religious and regional barriers came down The ideas that came out of the Great Awakening would also lead to the rapid spread of revolutionary ideas about independence

American Beliefs The Enlightenment Many colonists during the 1700s were also inspired by the Enlightenment which emphasized that science, reason and knowledge could improve colonial society Enlightenment thinkers like Benjamin Franklin promoted freedom of thought and expression, a belief in equality and the idea of popular government These ideas were spread throughout the colonies in newspapers and pamphlets In some cases, the government tried to censor these ideas by banning printed materials that carried a subversive message

American Beliefs The Enlightenment Many colonists during the 1700s were also inspired by the Enlightenment which emphasized that science, reason and knowledge could improve colonial society Enlightenment thinkers like Benjamin Franklin promoted freedom of thought and expression, a belief in equality and the idea of popular government

American Beliefs Ideas of Freedom Enlightenment ideas were spread throughout the colonies in newspapers and pamphlets In some cases, the government tried to censor these ideas by banning printed materials that carried a subversive message In 1733, John Peter Zenger went on trial for publicly criticizing New York’s corrupt governor Zenger and his lawyer, Alexander Hamilton argued he had the right to publish the truth The jury agreed, and the foundation for a free press was established

American Beliefs Civic Virtue Colonists like Benjamin Franklin began to think in terms of civic virtue – democratic ideas, practices, and values that form a free society Colonists would soon put these ideas into practice as they began to move towards the building of a new nation