1. Ch. 4 Sect. 1 Life in the Colonies pp. 88-95
Growth of the Colonies
Ch. 4 Sect. 1
Life in the Colonies pp

2. Quiz 4-1 topics Vocabulary Rising colonial populations
Farming in NE—other occupations
Farming in the South
Triangular trade route-Middle Passage
Middle colony ports

3. Growth of the Colonies
Population went from 250,000 in 1700 to 2.5 million in 1750’s
Why?
Immigration—Africans and Europeans
More women with larger families
Healthier-Children made to age six—people lived longer

4. Commerce in New England
Many small businesses
Used water Power –Mills
Women sold candles, soap and garments
Craftspeople—blacksmith, furniture makers and printers
Shipbuilding
Fishing

5. Colonial Trade Most NE farmers practiced subsistence farming
Engaged in other business activities like trade
Northern Coastal cities were the center of the shipping trade
Followed trade routes to England and the West Indies carrying fish, fur and fruit
Engaged in slave, molasses, rum trade known as triangular trade routes

6. Middle Passage
Slaves were marched to a European fort on the African coast
There they were traded, branded and forced on the ship
the passage to the West Indies was called the Middle Passage
When slaves reached the American market they were auctioned off
12 million Africans sent to the Americas

7. Middle Colonies More fertile soil and milder climate than New England
In NY and Penn. Farmers grew large quantities of wheat, oats, corn and rye—called the “Bread Colonies”
Grains and livestock were shipped to port cities of NYC and Philly
NYC—18,000 people, Philly—24,000 people

8. Industries and Immigrants Mid Col
Some home based crafts such as carpentry and flour making
Large businesses such as tanning, mining, lumbering and iron milling
The cultural diversity created a tolerance for differences
100,000 Germans mainly settled in Pennsylvania
Dutch, Swedes, Scotch-Irish, French Huegenots
Swedes brought the log cabin idea

9. The Southern Colonies and Slavery
Rich soil and warm climate made the South suited to cash crops and large farms
Tobacco was the principal cash crop of Maryland and Virginia
Required many workers--first indentured servants and then slaves
When tobacco prices fell—farmers switched to wheat or corn

10. South Carolina and Georgia
Main cash crop was rice
Grown in low lying areas along the coast
Work in the rice paddies was strenuous
Hot sun, biting mosquitoes
Rice growers relied on slave labor
Rice price steadily grew, more profitable than tobacco

11. Southern Tidewater Locations

12. Tidewater
Most Southern plantations located in the Tidewater—low lying plains along the coast
Large farms located on rivers so products could be shipped to market
A plantation was a self-contained community
Included the main house, slave cabins, barns, stables , store houses even a chapel and school

13. Tidal Swamp Conversion Carney (p. 91)
Step 1: trees are removed. An embankment is built around the acre and a canal is dug around the outside of the embankment. The changes to the land allow the swamp to be drained of water.
Step 2: a quadrant (one-quarter) of the field is again surrounded by an earthen dike and a “trunk” is inserted.
Steps 3 and 4: The process is repeated until the whole acre is planted with rice.

14. (Carney) A “hanging trunk” that controlled the tides flowing into the rice field.

15. Backcountry Hills and forests climbing up to the Appalachian Mountains
Grew corn and tobacco with their families on small farms—some slaves
Even though these farmers outnumbered plantation owners *the plantation owners controlled the political and economic life of the region*

16. Slavery and Traditions see Roots
Most slaves worked in the fields
Others worked as carpenters, bricklayers, weavers
Overseers kept the slaves working
Slave codes (laws) controlled behavior, ability to punish slaves, slave movements
Slaves drew on the language, customs and traditions of West Africa

17. Criticisms of Slavery Many Puritans refused to own slaves
Quakers and Mennonites condemned slavery
The debate over slavery would continue to boil during the 1800’s leading up to the Civil War