Life in the Northern Colonies The New England and Middle Colonies

New England Spreads Out

New England Colonies, 1679

The Economy Several cash crops per farm (NJ, PA, NY) Wheat, corn, cattle, hogs Wheat, corn, cattle, hogs Surplus food went to West Indies Surplus food went to West Indies Commercial Industries (All colonies) Wheat grinding Wheat grinding Harvesting Fish Harvesting Fish Sawing Lumber Sawing Lumber Ship Manufacturing Ship Manufacturing Many Merchants

Urban Life Style Trade caused Port Cities to Grow Ie. NY, Boston, Philadelphia Ie. NY, Boston, Philadelphia Sophistication: paved streets, police patrols, whale-oiled lamps on sidewalks Overcrowding did cause problems Firewood/clean water scarce Firewood/clean water scarce Disease/fire spread rapidly Disease/fire spread rapidly Poverty Poverty

Diversity of the North Pre-1700 – immigrants were indentured servants from England 18 th century – 585,000 immigrants 1/3 from other countries 1/3 from other countries Scotts, English, Dutch, Germans, Irish Scotts, English, Dutch, Germans, Irish Variety of Religions Variety of Religions Reasons for coming: Escape economic devastation Escape economic devastation Religious freedom Religious freedom

Problems with English and “The Others” Different groups did not always get along Why should the [Germans] be suffered to swarm into our Settlements, and by herding together establish their Language and Manners to the Exclusion of ours? Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of Anglifying them? Suspicion of each other occurred on both ends.

Slavery in the North No need for as many slaves – why? Less labor in wheat than tobacco/rice Less labor in wheat than tobacco/rice Considered property, but had more legal standing Could sue, right to appeal in court, could testify against whites in cases not involving Africans. Could sue, right to appeal in court, could testify against whites in cases not involving Africans. Hard lives, considered less human, no gathering, no weapons, no protection from cruelty.

Life in the North Family Stability – grandparents too! Population grew initially from reproduction Booming birthrate Avg. life expectancy was 70

Patriarchy Authoritarian male father figures controlled each household. Patriarchal ministers and magistrates controlled church congregations and household patriarchs.

Women in the North Extensive Work Responsibilities Weaving clothes, sewing, gardening, tending livestock, baking, make candles Few Legal Rights No vote No entering into contracts No buying/selling property No keeping wages Only single women could run business Religion was used to keep women subordinate to husbands and men.

Salem Witch Trials Cause: limitations on women limitations on women tensions from uneven economic growth tensions from uneven economic growth strained relations with Natives strained relations with Natives misdirected religious zeal. misdirected religious zeal. Constant occupation with violence and death b/c feared Native attacks

The Beginning of the Salem Witch Trials Girls accused Tituba, African slave, of practice witchcraft Received attention for this, so accused others as well Those accused tried to save themselves by accusing others as witches

Patterns of those Accused 1.Economic Salem undergone economic growth left some very wealthy and some poor Poor accused the wealthier area 2.Women Women who were too independent Violated puritan standards of behavior

Result Ended when girls accused the governor’s wife Courts realized evidence was false The Accused: 19 people hanged 19 people hanged 1 person crushed to death 1 person crushed to death 4 “witches” died in jail 4 “witches” died in jail 150 others spent time in jail. 150 others spent time in jail.