Life in the Colonies

**Words to Know** Social: Interactions among people Political: Referring to politics or government

New England Social Life Centered around the church and villages Centered around the church and villages

New England Religious Life Puritans Puritans Separatists (Pilgrims) Separatists (Pilgrims)

New England Political/ Civic Life Very democratic Very democratic Town meetings served as the government Town meetings served as the government

Mid-Atlantic Social Life Many villages and cities Many villages and cities Varied and diverse lifestyles (people from different backgrounds) Varied and diverse lifestyles (people from different backgrounds)

Mid-Atlantic Religious Life Diverse religions Diverse religions Quakers, Catholics, Anglicans Quakers, Catholics, Anglicans

Mid-Atlantic Political/ Civic Life Market towns provided a place for colonists to live and trade with others. Market towns provided a place for colonists to live and trade with others.

Southern Social Life Large landowners lived in mansions on plantations with enslaved African Americans and indentured servants. Large landowners lived in mansions on plantations with enslaved African Americans and indentured servants. Fewer cities Fewer cities Fewer schools Fewer schools

Southern Religious Life Church of England was the established religion. Church of England was the established religion.

Southern Political/ Civic Life People in Southern colonies lived in counties. People in Southern colonies lived in counties.

Interesting Facts about the Colonies The first slaves arrived in Jamestown in The first slaves arrived in Jamestown in The first English person born in North America was Virginia Dare, the granddaughter of Sir Walter Raleigh. The first English person born in North America was Virginia Dare, the granddaughter of Sir Walter Raleigh. People in Salem, Massachusetts were accused of being witches. People in Salem, Massachusetts were accused of being witches. Roger Williams was banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony. So, he created Rhode Island for religious freedom. Roger Williams was banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony. So, he created Rhode Island for religious freedom.

Artisans Worked as craftsmen in towns and on plantations Worked as craftsmen in towns and on plantations Lived in small villages and cities Lived in small villages and cities

Women Worked as caretakers, house- workers, and homemakers Worked as caretakers, house- workers, and homemakers Were not allowed to vote Were not allowed to vote Had few opportunities to get an education Had few opportunities to get an education

Farmers Worked the land according to the region Worked the land according to the region Relied on family members for labor Relied on family members for labor

Large Landowners Lived predominately in the South Lived predominately in the South Relied on indentured servants and/ or enslaved African Americans for labor (complete work on plantations) Relied on indentured servants and/ or enslaved African Americans for labor (complete work on plantations) Were educated in some cases Were educated in some cases Had a rich social culture Had a rich social culture

Free African Americans Were allowed to own land Were allowed to own land Had economic freedom and could work for pay and decide how to spend their money Had economic freedom and could work for pay and decide how to spend their money Were not allowed to vote Were not allowed to vote

Indentured Servants Men and women who did not have money for passage to the colonies and who agreed to work without pay for the person who paid for their passage Men and women who did not have money for passage to the colonies and who agreed to work without pay for the person who paid for their passage Were free at the end of their contract Were free at the end of their contract

Enslaved African Americans Captured in their native Africa and sold to slave traders. Then, they were shipped to the colonies where they were sold into slavery. Captured in their native Africa and sold to slave traders. Then, they were shipped to the colonies where they were sold into slavery. Were owned as property for life without any rights Were owned as property for life without any rights Were often born into slavery. (Children of enslaved African Americans were born into slavery) Were often born into slavery. (Children of enslaved African Americans were born into slavery)