Early American Culture

Think about this: What are some rights in which you feel entitled to because you are American? How do you think people in Britain's American colonies saw themselves?

Land, Rights and Wealth Colony’s thriving--- * England >5% owned land *New World land was plentiful Political Rights- *White Male landowners *City dwellers-fee Social System - rank system Colonial Social Ranks High *Large Landowners *Church Officials *Government Officials *Wealthy Merchant Upper Middle *Small Farmers *Trades people Lower Middle *Renters *Unskilled Workers Low *Indentured Servants *Slaves

Women/Young Children Farm wives-house chores City women-business owners Couldn’t vote, own land or hold office Permission of the husband Average family-5 to 8 children 6yrs boys- ”breeched” work in the fields 11yrs boys- apprentices 13-14yrs girls- learned specialized skills

Schooling School was valued Children taught to read and write Bible/scripture study “Dame Schools” Textbooks-religion High literacy rates – England 60% – New England 85% – Middle 65% – Southern 50%

Great Awakening Religion declining Religious movement: “Great Awakening” Traveling ministers Jonathan Edwards George Whitefield Results: *Increased attendance in church *Helped new religions *Increase service * Ideas of equality “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”-Jonathan Edwards

The Enlightenment Reason and science as the paths of knowledge. Europe: Natural laws Benjamin Franklin John Locke Natural rights *Life, liberty, and property *Creation of government *Right to change it Big influence on leaders

Questions: How did land ownership affect a colonist’s place in society? What work did colonial women and young children do? What rights were denied women? Why were most children taught to read? What was the Great Awakening? How did it change colonial culture? How did the Enlightenment affect the colonies? In what ways are they similar? And different?