Colonial life in America from different perspectives

Large Landowners

Lived predominantly in the South

Relied on indentured servants and/or enslaved African Americans for labor

Were educated in some cases

Had rich social culture

Farmers

Worked the land according to the region

Relied on family members for labor

Artisans

Worked as craftsmen in towns and on plantations

Lived in small villages and cities

Merchants

Worked to buy and sell goods to the colonists

Lived in towns and cities

White Women

Worked as caregivers, house-workers, and homemakers

Were not allowed to vote

Had few opportunities for getting an education

Free African Americans

Were able to own land

Had economic freedom and could work for pay and decide how to spend their money

Were not allowed to vote

Indentured Servants

Were men and women who did not have money for passage to the colonies and who agreed to work without pay for the person who paid for their passage

Were free at the end of their contract

Enslaved African Americans

Were captured in their native Africa and sold to slave traders, then shipped to the colonies where they were sold into slavery

Were owned as property for life and did not have any rights

Were often born into slavery (i.e., children of enslaved African Americans were born into slavery)

Children

"Infant" until age 12

Could be apprenticed to learn a trade or skill (age 12)

Had to be obedient to parents

Most worked (boys on farm; girls with mother)

Had little time for play and few toys

Clergy

Served as spiritual leaders, teachers, and counselors; influenced people's opinions