Colonial Society Small Farms Leisure Class Differences Education Church

B. Native Americans and Colonists in Conflict  Conflict occurred due to different viewpoints on owning land – The Natives believed you could NOT own land while the whites believed you could  Most tribes were broken apart by the whites  Few tribes ever adopted white European ways

C. Slaves and their treatment  Most slave owners were in the South  Slaves were considered property – Worked 12 to 14 hour days – Branded by owners  Tended to keep African customs strong Named children African names, spoke Gullah

E. Life on the Small Farm  Grew crops such as corn, squash, beans, and pumpkins  Used all products they grew  If they didn’t eat the crops, they sold them at the market  Not very good at conserving land

G. Leisure  Had events like husking bees, house and barn raising, and fairs  Held town meetings in New England to discuss important issues  Sporting events  horse racing, rooster fighting  North – ice skating, sledding  South – card playing, dancing

I. Class Differences  Enjoyed more social equality than in England, but still a person’s birth and wealth determined social status. – Gentry – top of society (wealthy planters, merchants, ministers, lawyers, royal officials) – Middle Class – included farmers who worked their own land, skilled craftsworkers, and some tradespeople – Lowest class – hired farmhands, indentured servants, and slaves Indentured servants – signed contract to work without wages for a period of 4 to 7 years for anyone who would pay their passage to America

J. Courtship and Gender Relations  Marriage was considered a business  Girls would marry as early as age 13  Women tended to take care of the household, husband, and family  Men would work in the fields or have a trade

K. Importance of the Church  Used as a place to socialize and for business  Church could last from 20 minutes to 3 hours – North – eat lunch and socialize after church – South – take walks after church

Literacy and Education  Of all the colonies, New England was the most literate and had the first public schools.  Middle and Southern – churches and families set up private schools that only wealthy people could afford to send their children to.  Usually was a one room school house  Mostly boys attended

Families  Families were large because of the many jobs to do  Family consisted of your blood relatives as well as the neighborhood  Illness often required orphans to be adopted

Life on the Frontier  Did not conform to the lifestyles of towns  Gun was the most important tool  used for hunting and protection  Law and order did not exist