Life in provincial America Life in the colonies was not easy for anyone, but as the settlements became more permanent and prosperous the situation improved for both men and women. Women - began to marry later and live longer - had between 5-10 children (high infant mortality rate, needed workers) - had no real rights in society (more rights if unmarried or widowed)

Men - average life expectancy was around 65 - seen as head of household, held voting rights, served as elders in the church - Law of Coverture said that male head of household had jurisdiction over any female family members (could verbally or physically punish for wrongdoing) - abuse was common, divorce was difficult to obta obtain but certainly not all relationships were abusive or unhappy

In general, with the success of the colonies colonists were: - living longer - better nourished - had a healthier environment Eventually every colony overcame the limited supplies, difficulty of defense and losses due to illness and demoralization during the “starving times”.

Education Education in the colonies was affected by the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment. - formal education widened gap between rich and poor - poor and middle class didn’t take more challenging courses (geometry, cartography, anatomy) - popularized ideas about the duty of rulers to conform to public will, rather than the public conforming to the will of the ruler - promoted the belief that individuals could overcome difficulties of social class through hard work (Ben Franklin) - promoted a greater degree of social equality (among white men)