Chapter 4: Life in the Colonies

🗺️ The 13 Colonies

By the 1700s, England had established 13 colonies along the Atlantic coast of North America. These colonies were divided into three regions, each with unique characteristics.

New England Colonies

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire

Climate: Cold winters, short growing season
Economy: Fishing, shipbuilding, lumber, trade
Society: Small farms, towns centered around churches
Religion: Mostly Puritan, emphasis on education
Government: Town meetings - direct democracy

📚 Education in New England

Puritans valued education so everyone could read the Bible. Massachusetts passed the "Old Deluder Satan Act" (1647) requiring towns to establish schools. New England had the highest literacy rates in the colonies.

Middle Colonies

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware

Climate: Moderate, good for farming
Economy: "Breadbasket" - grew wheat and grain; also trade and commerce
Society: Most diverse - many nationalities and religions
Cities: Philadelphia and New York became major port cities
Religious tolerance: Pennsylvania (founded by Quakers) welcomed all religions

William Penn (1644-1718)

Quaker who founded Pennsylvania as a "holy experiment" in religious tolerance. He treated Native Americans fairly and paid them for land. Pennsylvania became a refuge for persecuted people from Europe.

Southern Colonies

Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia

Climate: Warm, long growing season
Economy: Large plantations growing cash crops (tobacco, rice, indigo)
Society: Wealthy planters, small farmers, enslaved Africans
Labor: Relied heavily on slavery
Settlement: Spread out on large plantations, fewer towns

🌾 Cash Crops

Tobacco - Virginia and Maryland
Rice - South Carolina and Georgia (grown in swampy lowlands)
Indigo - Blue dye plant, very valuable for textiles

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Colonial Society

Social Classes

Colonial society had a clear hierarchy:

Upper Class (Gentry)

Large landowners, wealthy merchants, royal officials. Had political power and social prestige.

Middle Class

Small farmers, artisans, craftsmen, shop owners. Most colonists were in this group.

Lower Class

Indentured servants, laborers, sailors. Worked for others but were free.

Enslaved People

Africans forced into slavery, considered property with no rights. Lowest position in society.

Family Life

Large families - Children were economic assets (helped with work)
Gender roles - Men worked farms/shops, women managed households
Children's work - Boys learned father's trade, girls learned household skills
Early marriage - People married young (women often in teens)

Colonial Occupations

Farmer - Most colonists were farmers
Blacksmith - Made metal tools and horseshoes
Cooper - Made barrels for shipping goods
Miller - Ground grain into flour
Printer - Printed newspapers and books
Tailor/Seamstress - Made clothing
Merchant - Bought and sold goods

⚓ Colonial Economy

Mercantilism

Britain followed the economic system of mercantilism:

Colonies existed to benefit the mother country (Britain)
Colonies provided raw materials to Britain
Britain sold manufactured goods back to colonies
Trade with other nations was restricted

The Triangle Trade

A three-way trade system developed across the Atlantic:

Leg 1: Africa

Ships left New England with rum and manufactured goods → Traded for enslaved Africans

Leg 2: Middle Passage

Enslaved Africans transported to West Indies/colonies → Sold into slavery

Leg 3: Return

Ships returned to New England with molasses and sugar → Made into rum

⚠️ The Middle Passage

The voyage from Africa to the Americas was called the "Middle Passage." Conditions were horrific:

Africans were chained in cramped, dark cargo holds
Many died from disease, starvation, or suicide
About 15-20% died during the voyage
This was one of history's greatest human tragedies

Navigation Acts

Britain passed laws to control colonial trade:

Colonies could only trade with Britain
Goods had to be shipped on English ships
Certain products could only be sold to Britain
Colonists resented these restrictions

⛓️ Slavery in the Colonies

Development of Slavery

Slavery became central to the colonial economy, especially in the South:

1619

First Africans arrive in Virginia as indentured servants

1640s-1660s

Colonies pass laws making slavery permanent and hereditary

1700s

Slavery becomes entrenched, especially on Southern plantations

By 1750

About 200,000 enslaved Africans live in the colonies

Life Under Slavery

Enslaved Africans faced brutal conditions:

Worked from sunrise to sunset, six days a week
Lived in small cabins with dirt floors
Given minimal food and clothing
Could be sold and separated from families
Punished harshly for any resistance
Had no legal rights - considered property

African American Resistance and Culture

Despite oppression, enslaved people maintained their humanity:

Preserved culture - music, stories, traditions from Africa
Created community - strong family bonds despite separation
Practiced religion - Christianity mixed with African traditions
Resisted slavery - worked slowly, broke tools, ran away
Rebellions - Some attempted armed resistance (though rare and brutally crushed)

Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753-1784)

Enslaved African who became the first published African American poet. Kidnapped from West Africa as a child, she was purchased by the Wheatley family in Boston who taught her to read and write. Her poetry proved that enslaved people had intellect and talent equal to anyone.

📚 Key Terms

Cash Crop: Crop grown primarily for sale rather than for the farmer's own use
Mercantilism: Economic system where colonies exist to benefit the mother country
Triangle Trade: Three-way trade route between New England, Africa, and the West Indies
Middle Passage: The horrific voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean
Indentured Servant: Person who agreed to work for several years in exchange for passage to America
Plantation: Large farm that specialized in growing one or two cash crops
Gentry: Upper class of colonial society
Artisan: Skilled craftsperson

📝 Chapter Summary

The 13 colonies were divided into three regions: New England, Middle, and Southern
Each region had different climate, economy, and society based on geography
New England focused on fishing, shipbuilding, and trade; valued education
Middle colonies were the "breadbasket" with diverse population and religious tolerance
Southern colonies relied on plantation agriculture and slave labor
Colonial society had clear class divisions from gentry to enslaved people
Britain controlled colonial trade through mercantilism and Navigation Acts
The Triangle Trade brought enslaved Africans to the Americas
Slavery became entrenched, especially in the South, causing immense suffering
Enslaved Africans resisted and maintained their culture despite oppression