Sports in Early America

Festivities/Sports Pilgrims rejected the idea of Pilgrims rejected the idea of Christmas as a holiday. Some new arrivals from Britain rejected the idea that these Pilgrims held. Some new arrivals from Britain rejected the idea that these Pilgrims held. The majority of early colonists did not want to mimic the ways and traditions of the Mother Country. The majority of early colonists did not want to mimic the ways and traditions of the Mother Country.

Britains Festive Culture Games and competitions were often held on holidays. (Christmas, Plough Monday, Shrove Tuesday and Easter Sunday). Games and competitions were often held on holidays. (Christmas, Plough Monday, Shrove Tuesday and Easter Sunday). Folk games included: Stoolball, foot races, quoits and skittles. Folk games included: Stoolball, foot races, quoits and skittles. Games allowed men to show off their physiques and skills. Games allowed men to show off their physiques and skills.

Britons loved violent games- Wrestling and cudgeling. Britons loved violent games- Wrestling and cudgeling. Cudgeling- wicker shield and stick were used to draw blood from an opponent. Cudgeling- wicker shield and stick were used to draw blood from an opponent.

Sport and Animals Individuals would throw stones at roosters on Shrove Tuesday. Whoever delivered the lethal blow took the prize home. Individuals would throw stones at roosters on Shrove Tuesday. Whoever delivered the lethal blow took the prize home. Rooster fighting and animal baiting were common. Rooster fighting and animal baiting were common.

Due to to things like animal baiting the bulldog became a national symbol for Great Britain. Due to to things like animal baiting the bulldog became a national symbol for Great Britain.

Football This game excited villagers the most of all. This game excited villagers the most of all. Most places had no real common rules. Most places had no real common rules. The football was made normally of an inflated animal bladder and encased in leather. The football was made normally of an inflated animal bladder and encased in leather. Purpose of the game was to move the ball across a defined goal line. Purpose of the game was to move the ball across a defined goal line.

Games and festivities relieved some of the grimness of life which routinely included early death from disease and famine. Games and festivities relieved some of the grimness of life which routinely included early death from disease and famine.

Taverns Tavern-keepers promoted prizefights, rooster- fighting, animal baitings and other contests. Tavern-keepers promoted prizefights, rooster- fighting, animal baitings and other contests. Many contests involved bloodshed, blood sports. Many contests involved bloodshed, blood sports. Admission was often charged for these events. Admission was often charged for these events.

Puritan Assault Puritans did not care for festivities on Sunday or religious holidays. Puritans did not care for festivities on Sunday or religious holidays. King James I issued a Declaration (Book) of Sports in King James I issued a Declaration (Book) of Sports in Parliament tried to overturn the Book of Sports, but was blocked by future kings. Parliament tried to overturn the Book of Sports, but was blocked by future kings.

Puritans, as well as Quakers, tried to do away with traditional games in the New World. Puritans, as well as Quakers, tried to do away with traditional games in the New World. Villagers were placed in the stocks if they presented a huge problem for these Protestant Reformers. Villagers were placed in the stocks if they presented a huge problem for these Protestant Reformers.

Sabbatarian Legislation It was not until the 1930s that Pennsylvania dropped bans on Sunday baseball games. It was not until the 1930s that Pennsylvania dropped bans on Sunday baseball games. Even today local ordinances prohibit certain activities on Sunday in parts of the country. Even today local ordinances prohibit certain activities on Sunday in parts of the country.

Lawful Sport To be lawful: To be lawful: 1. Dissociated from traditional revelries 2. Must refresh the participants worldly and spiritual duties.

Lawful Sport One must stop playing a sport if: One must stop playing a sport if: 1.It became an all-absorbing activity 2.Resulted in idleness, gambling, excessive drinking or deceit. Cards and dice were unlawful sports. Inn-keepers were fined for permitting gambling.

Puritans allowed: Puritans allowed: 1. Fishing 2. Hunting

Children and Sports Played with toys. Played with toys. Were allowed to swim in the summer and skate in the winter. Were allowed to swim in the summer and skate in the winter. Played football and bat-and-ball games. Played football and bat-and-ball games.

Training Days Law required that all men between the ages of 16 and 60 meet for military training on a regular basis. Law required that all men between the ages of 16 and 60 meet for military training on a regular basis. Troops competed in wrestling, foot races, jumping, horse racing and shooting-at-the mark. Troops competed in wrestling, foot races, jumping, horse racing and shooting-at-the mark.

New York and Early Sports Dutch settlers bowled, held boat races and played kolven/golf. Dutch settlers bowled, held boat races and played kolven/golf first organized horse race at the Newmarket course on Hempstead Plains, Long Island first organized horse race at the Newmarket course on Hempstead Plains, Long Island.

1736- Americas first circular track for horse racing was built Americas first circular track for horse racing was built. Rooster fighting as well as animal baiting were common. Rooster fighting as well as animal baiting were common.

Sports in Southern Colonies Less restrictive way of life than the North. Less restrictive way of life than the North. Puritan and Quaker groups had little influence in this region. Puritan and Quaker groups had little influence in this region.

The Great Awakening Until the Great Awakening of the 1740s southerners expressed their emotions, drank and gambled without incurring the wrath of the clergy. Until the Great Awakening of the 1740s southerners expressed their emotions, drank and gambled without incurring the wrath of the clergy.

Southern planters wanted to display the same lifestyle as English country gentry. Southern planters wanted to display the same lifestyle as English country gentry. Virginia sports- billiards, ninepins, skittles, versions of cricket, horse racing and gambling.

Virginians Bred the quarter horse. Bred the quarter horse. Later in the eighteenth century they turned from the native quarter horse to the English thoroughbred. Later in the eighteenth century they turned from the native quarter horse to the English thoroughbred.

Horse owners formed jockey clubs in various southern states. Horse owners formed jockey clubs in various southern states. The clubs kept careful records of bloodlines and races. The clubs kept careful records of bloodlines and races.

Although the great planters displayed reckless courage, brawling was replaced with more genteel forms of boxing. Although the great planters displayed reckless courage, brawling was replaced with more genteel forms of boxing. Gander-pulling was a favorite blood sport throughout the south. Gander-pulling was a favorite blood sport throughout the south.

Backcountrys Sporting Ways Appalachia, Mississippi Valley and Ozark Plateau comprise the backcountry. Appalachia, Mississippi Valley and Ozark Plateau comprise the backcountry. Wrestling along with rough-and-tumble were main sporting events in this region. Wrestling along with rough-and-tumble were main sporting events in this region.

Warfare Competitions: Running, jumping, leaping throwing axes, sledges and spears. Competitions: Running, jumping, leaping throwing axes, sledges and spears. Above all, backcountry people admired shooting skills. Above all, backcountry people admired shooting skills. The precise shooting of the hunters from Kentucky accounted for American success against the British at the Battle of New Orleans in The precise shooting of the hunters from Kentucky accounted for American success against the British at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.

Pastimes in the Revolutionary Era Republicanism, as well as, evangelical Protestantism tried to suppress popular pastimes/games. Republicanism, as well as, evangelical Protestantism tried to suppress popular pastimes/games. They felt that folk games would weaken the new society. They felt that folk games would weaken the new society. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had somewhat of a difference in opinion on games at this time. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had somewhat of a difference in opinion on games at this time.