1. Colonial Life

2. Part 1 - Governing English Parliament Review
Magna Carta (1215) – signed by King John
Limited the monarch’s right to levy taxes
Originally only intended for nobles but extended to all citizens
The Magna Carta formed Parliament a two-house lawmaking body
House of Lords - nobles inherited power
House of Commons – members elected by rich men and landowners
Parliament’s Greatest power = approving new taxes
English Bill of Rights (1689) – King William and Queen Mary
Glorious Revolution removed King James from power and invited his daughter and her husband to rule since they were more open to expand Parliament’s power

3. Critical Thinking:
Name two ideas or parts of English government that influenced our American government.

4. Part 1 - Governing Colonial Self-Government
Colonists called for a voice in government and to rule themselves due to the influence of English laws.
Colonial Legislatures
1619 – Virginia Company allowed House of Burgesses to make laws for Jamestown Company (1st legislature in British North America).
1629 – General Court set up in Massachusetts where colonists elected delegates (representatives)
William Penn given ownership of Pennsylvania by the British
As Royal Governor, only Penn and his council could make laws, not citizens.
1701 – Colonists forced Penn to agree to let the General Assembly make laws that only the King could overturn.

5. Part 1 - Governing Right to Vote in the Colonies
1760 – Every British colony in North America had some form of legislature (law making body).
Legislatures clashed with the King of England and their own colonial governors who usually supported King.
Right to Vote in the Colonies
50% to 75% of all white males could vote
Much higher percentage than in England
Africans, Native Americans, slaves, non-land owners, and women could not vote.

6. Who was given ownership of Pennsylvania by the British?
Questions:
Who was given ownership of Pennsylvania by the British?
Who could vote in the American colonies?

7. Part 1 - Governing Regulating Trade
Mercantilism = colonies existed to serve the economic needs of England
The colonies were sources of raw materials and sales opportunities for England
Navigation Acts –
1) Shipments from Europe to the colonies had to pass through England first.
2) Only ships built and owned by England were allowed to import goods to England from the colonies.
3) The colonists could sell certain key items (tobacco, sugar, etc) to England only.
Benefited colonists because it ensured a market for their goods and encouraged ship building.
Some colonists resented Acts because they felt they favored English merchants and restricted the amount of money they could make.

8. How did the Navigation Acts benefit the colonies?
Critical Thinking:
How did the Navigation Acts benefit the colonies?
Why would the Navigation Acts encourage smuggling in the colonies?

9. Part 2 - Society Families Very important, included extended family
Farm Families – most colonists lived on farms
Large families an advantage
Closely knit and self-sufficient
Responsibilities given to each family member
Examples: Planting, cultivating, harvesting, housework
Houses were not very comfortable
Made out of wood, few rooms, crude utensils, cold during winter
Town Families
Few cities and towns
Easier for single people
Family still held in high regard
Singles expected to live with family or board in someone’s home

10. Part 2 - Society Roles Men Women Controled income Managed property
Commanded authority
Represented household in public life
Voting, officeholder
Women
Married men chosen by parent
Based on property, religion, and family needs
Many domestic responsibilities
Cooking, laundry, gardening, farming
Little or no public life

11. Part 2 - Society Young People Under seven years old
Played jump rope, hopscotch, marbles, and homemade toys
The wealthier the family, the better the toys
Expected to work by seven years of age
If they lived through infancy
Girls = Worked in the home
Boys = Worked in the fields or as apprentices
Apprenticeship – prepared boys to work in future professions
Adults believed working prepared children for life as an adult

12. Questions: Why were large families an advantage in Colonial America?
What household person managed property and controlled income?

13. Part 2 - Society Social Classes
In England, land ownership measured wealth.
Land in American colonies was plentiful which made it appealing to Englishmen.
Social status in England was determined by birth.
American colonies had classes but were more socially equal than in England.

14. Part 2 - Society Gentry Middle Class Upper class colonials
Planters, merchants, ministers, officials, lawyers
Few in number
Most powerful people
Gentry often held official jobs because there was no pay for those jobs
Considered serving a duty and a right
Middle Class
Majority of colonists
Planters, independent farmers, artisans
Not rich, not poor
Mainly white
Continually growing
Gave poor something to strive for

15. Part 2 - Society Indentured Servants Free African Americans
Contracted workers doing 4 to 10 years work for person who paid for them to go to the colonies
Just above slaves
1600s - most came from England
1700s – growing numbers from Germany and Ireland
Few, if any, rights
Bound to obey master who could work them to death and add service time for disobeying or committing criminal activity
At end of service, received a set of clothes, tools, and 50 acres of land
Only 2/10 became prosperous
Free African Americans
60,000 free in 1790 compared to 757,000 enslaved
Allowed to own property and slaves
Had restricted lives

16. Questions:
How do you feel about Africans in the colonies could own slaves? Explain.
Would you have been an indentured servant in Colonial America? Why or why not?