apush chapter 3 patterns of society to end of chapter

Describe the characteristics of most 17th-century Southern plantations.

Most were rough and small estates with a workforce seldom exceeding 30 people, though some were enormous. Their economy was precarious, facing ruin when prices fell despite potential for great profit. Located far from towns, they became self-contained communities, with larger ones approaching the size of a town. Society was highly stratified, with wealthy landowners holding significant influence, while small farmers with few or no slaves formed the majority.

How did plantation life shape the culture of enslaved people by the mid-18th century?

By the mid-18th century, three-quarters of Black individuals lived on plantations with 10+ slaves, and half lived with 50+ slaves. In these larger establishments, a distinct society and culture developed. Enslaved people attempted to form nuclear families, but the threat of sale often led to the development of extended families. They also developed their own languages and a religion that blended Christianity with African lore.

What forms of resistance did enslaved people employ on plantations?

Resistance included occasional acts of individual defiance and at least two documented slave rebellions. The Stono Rebellion in South Carolina in 1739 involved about 100 Africans attempting to flee to Florida before being swiftly crushed by whites. Many slaves also tried to run away. Some enslaved individuals learned skills, set up their own shops, and some even managed to buy their freedom.

Explain the social and economic structure of Puritan communities in New England.

The social unit was the town, bound by a "covenant" of religious and social unity. Towns were arranged around a "common," with outlying fields divided based on family size and social status. They had considerable self-government with little colonial interference. English primogeniture was replaced by division of land among all sons, making women more mobile as they received no inheritance. The community's tight-knit nature, controlled by its layout, the power of the church, and town meetings, eventually weakened due to population increases pushing people to farm and live further out, leading to the formation of new towns. A patriarchal society also saw its power weakened by economic necessities.