Economic and Social Life in the Colonies Chapter 2.5

The British Economy Mercantilism – an economic policy that said the wealth and power of a country depended upon the amount of gold or silver they could attain through industry and exports. English believed that colonial commerce was the key to imperial power This was achieved through customs duties – taxes on imported goods In order to make the most money possible, Britain passed the Navigation Acts

Navigation Acts Stated that the colonies could only trade with England or English colonies using English ships with English sailors This would allow Britain to collect customs duties Also stated that tobacco and sugar could only be shipped to England This led to smuggling

What does this picture tell you about the process of farming at this time?

Regional Economic and Social Differences The vast majority of colonists were farmers Shipbuilding and ironworks were the only industry While sharing similarities, each colonial region developed differences.

Which of the three main colonial regions was most unlike the other two Which of the three main colonial regions was most unlike the other two? Why?

New England Small farms - raised livestock Grew wheat, rye, corn, and potatoes for their own use Exported - lumber - fish Main seaport - Boston Carried out most of the trade between colonies and Britain

Middle Colonies Farms more prosperous than in New England Why? Export - Wheat Seaports - New York - Philadelphia

Southern Colonies Raised the most profitable and valuable colonial crops In Virginia and Maryland - tobacco was the staple crop (in steady demand) and also the cash crop (grown for sale) North Carolina - produced cattle and lumber South Carolina and Georgia - harvested rice and indigo Main Seaport - Charles Town, SC

Community Life New England - granted land to men who banded together to form a town - favored compact towns to support public schools and the local church - most men owned a farm, boat, or business - more literate than other colonies Southern Colonies - plantation economy - had backcountry farmers who were excluded from plantation society - harder to sustain churches or schools - slavery promoted greater economic inequality

Education Massachusetts - required all towns to have a school - all students had to learn basics of reading and writing - main goal for students – be able to read the Bible Larger New England Towns - advanced grammar school for boys - girls went to dame school – a grammar school operated out of a woman’s home

Early textbooks called primers helped colonial students learn reading, writing, and other skills.

Colleges Small and expensive Only young men from wealthy families able to attend Rules were strict – students had to live moral and righteous lives

If any scholar shall be guilty of profane swearing, cursing, vowing, any petty or implicit oath, profane . . . use of the [name of God], . . . fighting, striking, quarreling, challenging, turbulent words or behavior, . . . idleness, lying, defamation, talebearing, or any other suchlike immoralities, he shall be punished by fine, confession, . . . or expulsion, as the nature and circumstances of the case may require. —Regulations at Yale College, 1745

Works Cited Werner-Lepsansky, Emma J., et al. United States History. Pearson Education Inc: United States. 2016. Print.