Sport in Colonial America Chapter 11 Mechikoff & Estes, A History and Philosophy of Sport and Physical Education, Fourth Edition © 2006, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Colonial America: Attitudes Attitudes toward sport representative of settlers European background New England: Puritan Against play generally Mid-Atlantic (New York): Dutch, Quaker Moderate play acceptable South: Catholic, Baptist, and Methodist Most friendly toward play Attitudes were strongly influenced by religion

New England Puritans and Sport: 17th Century Generally cold toward playful activities All human beings were born “flawed” in the eyes of God Goal was to restrain the “evil” impulses of sinners Play was considered “evil” “idle hands are the devils workshop”

Puritans and Sport The good religious life determined how one should behave Government was formed to insure religious behavior Control of emotions and behaviors was critical Much debate over what was proper behavior Protestant work ethic Hard work: a sign that one was destined for heaven To be seen playing was a sign of moral depravity Overcoming desire to play was a sign of morality

Puritans and Sport Ban on play was recognized to be impossible Differed from European Puritans What play is acceptable? Play that helped maintain civic order Moderate recreation keeps one refreshed Abstention from recreation created disorder in life Fishing, hunting, and walking acceptable Improved health, renewed spirit

Sabbath and Sport Maintain the Sabbath Examples of people (John Baker) whipped for hunting Hunting not bad, but failed to keep Sabbath Sabbath laws (“blue laws”) in effect into the 20th century

Amusements in New England Taverns: American version of English pubs, German beer halls, and European inns Frontier taverns provided amusements, lodging Darts and cards were popular games Marksmanship, boxing, cockfighting, and horseracing were popular Social amusements became more acceptable as Puritan influence eroded

Card games were a popular Colonial pastime Cards Image source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. Card games were a popular Colonial pastime (18th century hand-engraved cards)

Sport in the Mid-Atlantic Quakers of Pennsylvania and Dutch Calvinists in New York: More friendly toward playful activities Horse racing popular from the beginning Improvement of the breed by importing Gamble on outcome Bowling, golf, early croquet, tennis, cricket, shooting matches, sleigh rides

Sport in the South Growth of sports in the south No Puritans settled here Catholicism was dominant religion Southern gentlemen extremely competitive Rugged individualism and competitiveness manifest in wagering on horses Founding Fathers enjoyed horse racing

Horse Racing First horse races were a quarter mile long Led to Virginia quarter horse Race tracks in Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina Wagering often heavy, women placed bets Big races followed by social festivities

Sport in the South Social class often dictated appropriate sporting behavior Upper class: requisite social and athletic skills Riding, dancing, fencing, and conversation Slaves participated as jockeys and boxers Some slaves gained freedom by fighting

Sport in South: Boxing Many boxers were slaves, providing entertainment and betting opportunities for whites First well-known American pugilist: Tom Molineaux, who won his freedom from slavery Traveled to England to fight British champion Tom Cribb in 1810—a rainy day match After 29th round, Molineaux was winning Partisan British fans stopped the fight briefly Molineaux caught a chill and was beaten in 40th round

Other Influences on Colonial Sport Native Americans originated the game of Lacrosse in the Northeast Expert riders: horseracing and tribal dances Had many forms of ball games that non-Indians learned and participated in throughout the country

La Crosse game, played by Native Americans and Whites (lithograph) Image source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.