Role of women

Role of women A colonial woman often bore her husband many children, and childcare took up much of her time. Her other domestic responsibilities included cooking, laundry, making cloth and sewing clothes, gardening, tending animals, and preserving food. Other Roles of Women On Farms A woman might help plow, pitch hay, or do other chores, especially if she lived on the western frontier. In Towns A woman might keep a shop or an inn or work as a baker, a printer, or even an undertaker. In Public Life Because they could not vote or hold office, women had little or no role in public life. But on the western and southern frontiers, once in a while women participated in government in an advisory capacity.

The Gentry Size of Group The gentry were few in number, but they were the most powerful people. Occupations The gentry included wealthy planters, merchants, ministers, royal officers, successful lawyers and, often, prosperous artisans. Lifestyle People in this group often had luxurious homes filled with expensive furniture. Public Office Because many official jobs paid no salary, few but the gentry could afford to hold office.

The Middle Class Size of Group The great majority of European colonists were middle class and were neither rich nor poor. Occupations Men in the middle class were small planters, independent farmers, and artisans. Ethnicities The middle class was mostly white, but some of its members were of African descent. Public Office Middle-class men could vote, and a few held public office.

Indentured Servants Countries of Origin In the 1600s, most indentured servants came from England. In the 1700s, a growing number came from Ireland and Germany. Status Indentured servants and farmhands were just above enslaved Africans on America’s social scale. Rights Indentured servants were bound to obey their masters, and they had few, if any, rights. Those who disobeyed could be whipped, or time might be added to their service.

Indentured Servants At the end of a term, an indentured servant received clothes, tools, and 50 acres of land. About 1 indentured servant in 10 became a prosperous landowner, and another 1 in 10 became an artisan. The others either returned to their country of origin or joined a class of landless, poor whites.

African- Americans In 1763 almost half of the colonial population came from Africa, but very few African Americans were free. During the first census in 1790, there were 60,000 free people of African ancestry and 757,000 enslaved people of African ancestry in the colonies.

African Americans Even in the South, free African Americans were allowed to own property, and they also could become slaveholders. Some free blacks purchased enslaved relatives and set them free. But most African American property owners were not allowed to vote or sit on juries.

Colonial Society Men Gentry • Head of family • • Worked as farmers or in trades Gentry • Colonial Society Middle Class • Family • Living in extended families • More single people in towns Women • Children • Indentured Servants • African Americans •

Colonial roles Go through each station to take notes on each colonial role. (no more than 4 at a station) After you are done taking notes write a journal entry from the perspective of one of the roles 1 page Be descriptive Discuss the colony you live in and the conditions you are living in