1.  Patterns of Society p. 84-91

2. Social Mobility  England: land was scarce, population large, a small but powerful group of landowners existed  America: land was abundant, population small  Relied less on land ownership than on control of a large workforce  Social mobility was more possible in America

3. The Plantation  First plantations emerged in VA and MD: tobacco  Most were actually rough and small estates  Indentured servants worked in tough conditions where daily deaths were common  Workforce of a plantation was usually under 30 people

4. Plantation Economy  Unstable economy: if markets were good, they could make profit  If crop prices fell (tobacco in 1660’s), it could destroy the plantation  Residents lived in a cluster of buildings since cities were sparse  Wives of plantation owners relied on servants, they could then spend time on family

5. Plantation Slavery  Smaller farms: not a rigid social separation between whites and blacks  Larger plantations: ¾ of all blacks lived with at least 10 slaves, ½ with 50 or more to a plantation  Africans developed a society and culture of their own

6. Plantation Slavery  Slaves attempted to create nuclear families  Could at times build stable households  Problems:  Any family member could be sold at any time  Surrogate families were created to those sold

7. Slave Culture  Slaves developed languages of their own  Gullah: a hybrid of English and African  Done to communicate so English masters couldn’t understand what they said  Religion was blended as well: Christianity and African folklore were blended  Treatment of slaves was very mixed; some were treated well, others brutally

8. Stono Rebellion  Symbolizes the most important slave revolt  SC in 1739  100 Africans rose up, seized weapons, and killed several whites  Attempted to escape to FL  Uprising quickly crushed, most were executed

9. Other Facts:  Some slaves worked in the fields  Others cooked for and raised the whites’ children  Some learned trades such as blacksmithing, carpentry, shoemaking, spinning, weaving, sewing, etc…  Craftsmen (and women) could be hired out to other planters  Some could even buy freedom, but this was rare

10. Puritan Community  Each settlement drew up a covenant among its members  Bound all residents in a religious and social commitment to unity and harmony  Towns had houses and a meeting house arranged around a central pasture or common  Divided up the fields and woodlands among the residents

11. Puritan Community  Size and location of a family’s field depended on the family’s numbers, wealth, etc…  Families generally lived in the village with their neighbors close by  Strong sense of community

12. Puritan Democracy  A town was able to run its own affairs with little interference from the colonial gov’t  Yearly town meetings were held  Decided on important issues  Chose “selectmen” who governed until the next meeting  Adult males only allowed  Church membership was required for full participation

13. Puritan Democracy  Primogeniture-the passing of all inherited property to the firstborn son-did not take root in N.E.  Fathers would divide land among all of his sons  This control of inheritance was one of the most effective means of exercising power over male members of the family

14. Puritan Democracy  Sons usually stayed close to their fathers after moving  Women were more mobile, as their dowries were moveable objects (furniture, household goods, money, etc…)  Population growth become the major issue with the Puritans, as it compromised their tight-knit community

15. Population Pressure  As towns grew, residents cultivated land further from town centers  Farmers wanted to be close to their land  Some would ask to build a church out of town, which created new towns  This led to conflict

16. Population Pressure  As generations increased in number, inherited land was smaller and smaller by sons  Other towns sprouting up limited the land available on edges of towns  Sons had to leave the family to find enough land  Fathers needed their sons income as much as the sons needed land: big problem!  Family structure was weakened over time

17. Salem Witch Trials  This is on pages 88-89. We will be going over this on Tuesday.  Witchcraft spread through many N.E. towns in the 1690’s  Most were middle-aged women with few or no children  Most were of low social position  Frequently accused of other crimes  Witchcraft was a common feature of Puritan religious conviction

18. Growth of Colonial Cities  See charts on p. 89!  Growth of cities started slowly  By 1770’s, Philly had 28,000 and NY had 25,000 people; Boston, Charleston, Newport  Served as trading centers for farmers  Leaders were mostly merchants  In cities, social distinction was very evident

19. Commercial and Cultural Importance  Cities were centers of industry  Ironworks, distilleries for molasses  What schools existed were in cities, as were shops and cultural activities  Social problems existed:  Crime, vice, pollution, epidemics, traffic (what kind of traffic??)

20. City Structure  Set up constables offices, and fire dept’s  Effects of prices on goods affected merchants and could be severe  Newspapers were available, as were books  Taverns and coffee houses provided a forum for people to discuss issues

21. Inequality  John Winthrop: “Some must be rich, and some poor”  Wealthy families had many more privileges in all areas of life  Unlike any other time in history, the wealthy were actually the largest group of people in cities like Boston: this does not last!!