Chapter 2: Colonial Ways of Life Review

Who primarily lived in the colonies?

diverse, mostly young men under age 25 who were indentured servants

Slash and Burn Agriculture

involved deforestation, animal population declined, conflicts between European vs Native land philosophy

Population in Colonies

more longevity, more scattered/spread out, less disease, marriage in early 20s, 2 more children per family than Europe.

Average age in 1790

16

Deferential Class System

lower classes defer to their “betters” for decisions

Women’s role at the time

to obey husband, considered weaker gender because of Eve

Women could not:

own land, preach, teach, vote, bring lawsuits, etc. (with a few exceptions). Still better quality of life than Europe.

Climate/Agriculture in Southern Colonies

hot/long growing seasons, agriculture: tobacco, lumber, naval products (labor done mostly through indentured servants)

Stono Uprising

S.C., 1729: around 20 slaves rebelled, took weapons, and marched towards Florida for freedom

The Gentry

wealthy landowners, top of deferential system, controlled church and government, followed church of England

farmers (free)

next after gentry on deferential system

indentured servants

below free farmers on deferential system

african slaves

last on deferential system

Society in New England

villages & towns, no headrights, lots of commercial shipping, chronic shortage of money, resources to England for manufactured goods

Triangular Trade

Atlantic trade routes, middle passage = slave trade

Salem Witch Trials

random people accused of being witches, usually outcasts of community, caused by socioeconomic strain

Tituba

first person convicted and killed in Salem witch trials, accused by Ann Putnam

Society and Economy in Middle Colonies

traits from both new england and southern colonies, ethnic mixtures, diverse

Upper Class

merchants and professionals

Middle Class

artisan and craftsmen

Lower Class

manual labor

Enlightenment

emphasis on science, understanding natural laws, emphasis on education, new ways of looking at leaders, emphasis AWAY from church

John Locke

enlightenment thinker, made tabula rasa theory, essay of human understanding, lots of constitution is written from his ideas

Tabula Rasa

blank slate theory, that people are affected/made who they are by their environments.

Great Awakening

first american movement, in response to enlightenment, clergy wants more religious focus, new denominations, more successful in middle + south

George Whitefield

preaches “rebirth” in Christ, emotional conversions, more effective on frontier.

Jonathan Edwards

“sinners in the hands of an Angry God”, preaches vivid descriptions of hell