1. Life in the British Colonies

2. Overview Colonies were based on religious dissent
New England
Colonies were based on religious dissent
Strongly influenced by Puritan faith and
values
Church was the central part of life
Dissenters were banished
Promoted public education
1647, Mass. Passed law requiring schools for towns w/ 50 families; grammar school for those w/ 100 (Dame Schools)
Founded Harvard and Yale
Economy centers around Atlantic Ocean
Trade thru the West Indies – molasses, sugarcane, rum
Government took the shape of representative government – town meetings
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

4. Overview Middle Colonies Most culturally diverse
High degree of religious tolerance
Home of Quakers, Jews, Lutherans, Presbyterians
Philadelphia became largest city
A social class emerged: merchants (upper), craftsmen and retailers (middle), sailors and unskilled workers became (lower)
Economy will depend on farming and commerce
Urban areas formed
Slavery was not as common

5. Overview Southern Colonies Developed on the growing of staple crops
Rise of the plantation
Indentured servants/slavery
Divided between plantation owners, poor farmers, slaves
Idea that wealthy (gentry) were superior
Public education did not exist
Remained part of Church of England
Representative government / House of Burgesses

6. Towns of New England Small communities, by water
Life was non-stop activity
A new Englanders' house – barn, kitchen garden, back lot
Meetinghouse, school, pillories, stocks
Beyond town lay the fields
Average household was self-sustaining

7. Southern Plantations Large estates and plantations
Fields of tobacco, rice, indigo
acres
A typical plantation was a small town in itself
Usually found inland along rivers
High labor demand allowed for a quicker growth to institution of slavery

8. Servant or Slave Initially indentured servants provide needed labor
A 7 year contract
Typically poor farmers from England
Colonists would pay for voyage, and they would work for 7 years
Provide labor for tobacco farms
Headright System encouraged

9. Servant or Slave Slavery arrives in 1619
Treated like indentured servants
Gain freedom by converting to Christianity
Increase in population brought change
Maryland and Virginia, first to pass slave laws
Slavery will change to based on hereditary status
Laws on slaves were strict, monitored movement
1700, slavery was an accepted institution

10. Colonial Marriage/Family
Colonial marriages took place at an early age
Often married 2,3,4 times
Large families; large number of births
Infant mortality was high
Families often consisted of stepchildren, stepparents, and multiple generations

11. The Colonial Home Of wood and brick
Kitchen was the center of home life
Fire and its preservation
Trencher was commonly used
Shared items
Feather beds/rooms not heated
Cellars were common
Colonial diet

12. Colonial Work Everyone worked as soon as they were old enough
Children were often set to work
Domestic duties were taught
Jack of all Trades
Taverns
Women

13. Colonial health Regular bathing was optional
Little attention to sanitation
Medicinal herbs / quack remedies
Water was obtained from wells
Use of hogs
Smallpox was prevalent / inoculations
Little knowledge of diagnosis

14. Colonial Punishment Stocks or pillory Tar and feather
Caged, imprisoned
Whipping post
Children punishments
Offenses