 Women made soap for their families and sometimes sold it to earn extra money.  Most houses were built of brick.  Large land owners most often lived in the largest, nicest houses.  Slaves worked in the fields in the south and had no rights.  Indentured Servants worked for a certain amount of time. When they had worked the amount of time that was in the contract, they were given their freedom.

 Skilled workers such as blacksmiths, silversmiths, or gunsmiths were called artisans.  Women could not vote and didn’t have the same rights as men.  The people in Jamestown tried to force Native Americans to grow crops for them. This didn’t work, so they brought in slaves from Africa.  Wealthy landowners had more power in making decisions.  The middle colonies were sometimes called the “bread basket” colonies because the climate was ideal for growing wheat.

 Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire  Most people settled in villages and cities.  Most people were seeking freedom of religion.  The church was the center of social life.  Most people were involved in political and civic affairs.  They gathered to discuss things in town meetings.

 New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Philadelphia  People also settled there in villages and cities.  Colonists from many countries settled there.  They brought different religions, traditions, and customs.  Most political and civic affairs were settled in large towns where more people lived.

 Virginia, Maryland, The Carolinas (North and South), and Georgia  People were scattered and rural communities.  Many settlers lived on small or large farms.  They grew their own food and made their own cloth for clothing.  They did not have a lot of contact with people from different colonies.  There were many slaves and indentured servants.  There were few cities or schools.  The Church of England was the main church.  Southern colonies were divided into counties.  Tobacco was an important crop.