Early American Culture Chapter 5, Section 1

Land , Wealth, and Rights Cheap farmland and abundant natural resources gave colonists a chance to prosper. Less opportunity in England. Less than 5% owned land in England Land ownership in the colonies provided colonist with political rights and voices. More Americans had the right to vote than did their British counterparts.

Social Mobility Land ownership in the colonies shaped a much different social class as compared to England. American was unique because it had: 1.) no titled aristocracy 2.) a large middle class 3.) a huge underclass of slaves. America had NO class of nobles whose titles passed from parent to child. The poor had greater opportunities to rise to the middle class!!!

Social Mobility

Colonial Life- Women Farming Women cooked; churned butter; made soup, candles, clothes, tended the garden and looked after the farm animals. City Women had similar chores, but also ran Inns or other small businesses. Women could NOT vote. They could NOT preach. (Unless a Quaker) A married women could NOT own land unless granted permission form their husband. By law, even the money a women earned, was the property of her husbands.

Colonial Life- Men Farming Men planted, raised and harvested crops. They cared for their livestock and butchered their own meat. They also cut trees and chopped wood for the fireplace.

Life of the Young Male American families were LARGE. New England families had 6 to 8 children. More children, meant more hands to use on the farm. At 6, the boys were “breeched.” They no longer had to wear skirts of a young child, but were given pants. They began to help their father with work on the farm. At 13, many boys left the farms to become an apprentice. The process of learning a skilled trade from an experienced craftsman.

Life of a Young Female Girls rarely became an apprentice. They learned household chores from their mothers. In New England, girls at the age of 13 were sent away to other households to learn specialized skills such as weaving, sewing, or cheese making.

Education and Literacy Colonial America had a high rate of literacy, or the ability to read and write. In New England, 85% of white men were literate, compared to 60% in England. In the Middle Colonies, 65% of white men were liberate, and in the South about 50%. Educated African Americans was rare. If enslaved, it was illegal to educate them.

Schooling Children were taught to read so they could read the Bible. New England provided free public education and some opportunists for higher education. Urban areas also provided free education for the young.

Colonial Literature Literacy also help to unite the colonies. In the 1700’s the colonies only had ONE local newspaper, the Boston News Letter. Gradually colonist began to publish their own books. Almanacs also became popular. Included calendars, weather predictions, star charts, farming advice, home remedies, recipes, jokes, and proverbs. In 1732- Benjamin Franklin published Poor Richard’s Almanac.” Colonists also published poetry, regional histories, and autobiographies.

Poor Richard’s Almanac

Religious Revival Colonists drew inspiration from two cultural movements as they developed their new society. 1.) the Great Awakening, a Christian religious revival 2.) the Enlightenment, a movement stressing human reason.

The Great Awakening In the 1730’s & 1740’s, a religious movement swept through the colonies. Offered hope that EACH person could break from the past and begin a new spiritual relationship with God. Could occur through a conversion, or rebirth. A belief of Evangelicalism. This movement led congregations to argue over religious practices. Church populations changed, as people left and joined other practices.

The Great Awakening cont… Encouraged a belief in spiritual equality. Inspired religious debate, increasing religious diversity. George Whitefield, drew thousands of followers with his famous sermons and raised funds for orphans. Huge crowds gathered to listen to Jonathan Edwards famous preaches about religious equality for all.

The Enlightenment Emphasized human reason and science as the paths to knowledge. Encouraged the belief that human beings could use rational thought to improve themselves and society. Supporters valued justice and equality and called for social and political change. Benjamin Franklin was a famous American Enlightenment figure.

The Enlightenment cont… Began in Europe, as scientists discovered natural laws governing the universe. Encourage a belief of progress- the idea that human beings can improve society. Ideas of progress, natural rights, and government by agreement had a strong impact on future colonial development. ***Encouraged colonists to reexamine their ties to Brittan!!!***

The Enlightenment & John Locke English philosopher, John Locke challenged the belief that kings had a God-given right to rule.(Divine Right) Claimed that human beings had rights to change government rule, especially governments that did NOT protect them. Argued that people have Natural Rights. Rights of Life, Liberty, and Property. Locke’s ideas would remain influential for centuries to come. ***Again, Encouraged colonists to reexamine their ties to Britain!!!***