Population and Economy Colonial Population and Economy

Colonial Society Develops From 1650 to 1700, the colonial population increased from about 50,000 to more than ¼ of a million. Colonies took on distinct regional characteristics 3 regions New England, Middle, and Southern Each region had its own social structure, geography, and economy

Colonies of Each Region New England Colonies Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut Middle Colonies New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware Southern Colonies Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia

New England Society The Puritans settled in small towns with an open town common and local governments; valued religious devotion, hard work, and obedience to strict rules regulating daily life. 1642 Mass. Leg require parents and ministers teach their children the Bible. 1647 require town with 50+ families to establish elementary school, those with 100+ establish secondary school Other New England colonies follow shortly after. Most were subsistence farmers; producing just enough food for their families. Towns people discussed town affairs which lead to local government. Townspeople elected selectman to oversee town matters and appoint clerks, constables, and other officials. Any male resident could attend a town meeting and express an opinion on an important issue. New England settlers developed a strong belief in their right to govern themselves. Town meetings helped set the stage for the American Revolution.

Middle Colonies Settlers, especially non-English immigrants, immigrated to the Middle Colonies because of their religious tolerance; i.e. Scots Irish & German Most immigrants settled in eastern Pennsylvania. The growth of port cities, including Philadelphia, Boston, and New York, increased trade. Cities developed distinct social classes. Wealthy merchants; controlled trade (wore elegant imported clothing, rode in fancy carriages; like the British upper class) Skilled artisans (Carpenters, black smiths, glassmakers, bakers, masons, etc.), inn keepers and shop-owners (roughly ½ population). City’s unskilled laborers (work at the harbors, servants, etc.) and those without property; approx. 30% of the population. Indentured servants Enslaved Africans (very few lived in the north); approx. 20% of the urban population.

Southern Society The Southern plantation society had distinct social classes. Wealthy plantation owners Shop owners Small farmers; subsistence farmers Landless tenant farmers; indebted to the land holder Indentured servants Enslaved Africans The lives of wealthy planters varied greatly from those of small farmers, and even more substantially from the indentured servants. Wealthy planters controlled local government. Plantations functioned as self-contained communities. The majority of landowners lived on small farms practicing subsistence farming.

Indentured Servants Early colonial days there were not enough workers to tend to crops Many of England's farmers were pushed off their land, many left England by way of indentured servitude in the colonies. Neither enslaved nor Free The person who paid their passage was also responsible for providing shelter, clothing, and food until the indenture expired. Servant agreed to work for a contracted number of years to repay their debt. Virginia headright earned the landowner an additional 50 acres for each servant he paid passage and provided for.

Growth of Enslaved Labor Planters switched to enslaved labor several reasons: Enslaved workers did not have to be freed Enslaved workers could not demand their own land Cheap land became available in the 1680s; fewer were willing to become indentured English government started adopting policies that encouraged slavery 1672 King Charles II granted a charter to the Royal African Co. to engage in the slave trade Planters could use slaves as collateral to borrow money against because they were considered property.

Colonial Economies Early colonial era, settlers lacked money to invest in local industry resulting in the importation of manufactured goods from England. The colonies produced few goods that the English wanted in return. Instead of trading with England they developed a system of triangular trade that involved a 3 way exchange of goods; making New England Merchants rich.

Triangular Trade New England shipped…… Caribbean paid with…….. Fish, lumber, and meat to sugar planters Caribbean paid with…….. Bills of exchange, credit slips or molasses New England purchased…….. Hardware, linens, or other English goods New England shipped……… Finished products to West Africa West Africa paid with……… Enslaved Africans

New England Economy Small agricultural farm, raised pigs, sheep, and cattle, grew corn, grains, apples, and other fruits and vegetables. Fishing and whaling brought prosperity, Grand Banks provided cod, halibut, mackerel, and herring. Sold to other colonial markets, England, and the Caribbean. Whale blubber was used for lamp oil and candles, the bones for buttons, combs, and other items. Thriving lumber industry; waterfalls provided power to run saw mills. Ship building took place near the coast where they could be built quickly and cheaply.

Middle Colony Economics With rich soil and long growing seasons, the Middle Colonies were the ideal region for agriculture. Rye, oats, barley, wheat, and potatoes Middle Colonies were know as the colonial “bread basket” Rivers of the Middle Colonies—the Delaware, Susquehanna, and Hudson—enabled efficient transportation of crops to markets. Rise of a merchant class in the port cities of Philadelphia and New York because crops from the region were shipped from those cities to other colonies or to England.

Southern Colony Economics The economy of the Southern colonies was based on cash crops. The first cash crop was tobacco. Other cash crops included sugarcane, rice, hemp, and indigo. Enslaved Africans were crucial to the labor-intensive agriculture. Planters used enslaved African labor because enslaved workers did not have to be freed like indentured servants and would never have to be given their own land.