Daily Colonial Daily Colonial LifeLife

By Julia MaierBy Julia Maier

Trades/FarmingTrades/Farming•Most of the families during Most of the families during

colonial times did their own colonial times did their own farming.  They grew most of their farming.  They grew most of their food and they raised livestock food and they raised livestock such as cows, pigs, and sheep. such as cows, pigs, and sheep. Farming was a very hard life.  Farming was a very hard life.  There was always work that had There was always work that had to be done from sun up to sun to be done from sun up to sun down. The chores were endless.down. The chores were endless.

Family LifeFamily Life•Most of the families during colonial Most of the families during colonial

times did their own farming.  They times did their own farming.  They grew most of their food and they grew most of their food and they raised livestock such as cows, pigs, raised livestock such as cows, pigs, and sheep. Farming was a very and sheep. Farming was a very hard life.  There was always work hard life.  There was always work that had to be done from sun up to that had to be done from sun up to sun down. The chores were sun down. The chores were endless.endless.

Pastime/HobbyPastime/Hobby• Millinery shops were almost always owned by Millinery shops were almost always owned by

women.  They would sell fabric that could be women.  They would sell fabric that could be made into clothing.  A milliner would also made into clothing.  A milliner would also make things like shirts, aprons, caps, hats, make things like shirts, aprons, caps, hats, muffs, and trim for gowns. Many young girls muffs, and trim for gowns. Many young girls would become an apprentice to a milliner so would become an apprentice to a milliner so she could learn the skills of gown making.  It she could learn the skills of gown making.  It was important that she learned how to cut, was important that she learned how to cut, fit, and sew fabric so a customer could get fit, and sew fabric so a customer could get just the right fit.just the right fit.  

CommunicationCommunication

•The people could purchase The people could purchase newspapers to get information, newspapers to get information, news, and whatever was going news, and whatever was going on in there town.on in there town.

ReligionReligion

•Many people came to America to Many people came to America to search for religious freedom.  They search for religious freedom.  They hoped to escape the religious hoped to escape the religious persecution they were facing in persecution they were facing in their countries. Many religious their countries. Many religious groups (such as the Quakers and groups (such as the Quakers and Puritans) formed the first 13 Puritans) formed the first 13 colonies on the basis of all their colonies on the basis of all their religious beliefs.religious beliefs.

EducationEducation• In colonial times, education was In colonial times, education was

important. Some children went to important. Some children went to school and some didn't.  Those that school and some didn't.  Those that did go would learn to read, write, did go would learn to read, write, and do arithmetic.  Parents wanted and do arithmetic.  Parents wanted their children to learn how to read so their children to learn how to read so they could read the Bible.  They they could read the Bible.  They wanted their children to study their wanted their children to study their religion.religion.

Daily Life (Food, Games, Daily Life (Food, Games, Transportation, Housing, Transportation, Housing, etc)etc) • The center of all family activity in a colonial home was the kitchen.  It was The center of all family activity in a colonial home was the kitchen.  It was

the busiest and warmest room in the house.  There was a large fireplace the busiest and warmest room in the house.  There was a large fireplace that was used for cooking and for heat. Many of the fireplaces were so big that was used for cooking and for heat. Many of the fireplaces were so big that a person could stand in it.  A woman had to be careful when she was that a person could stand in it.  A woman had to be careful when she was cooking so her long skirt would not catch on fire. Women played an cooking so her long skirt would not catch on fire. Women played an important role in cooking.  The woman of the house began cooking the important role in cooking.  The woman of the house began cooking the meals before dawn. The mother would build a fire, bring in the water, and meals before dawn. The mother would build a fire, bring in the water, and pick vegetables from the garden, milk the cow, gather eggs and hang meat pick vegetables from the garden, milk the cow, gather eggs and hang meat to dry early in the day. Transportation in colonial times was very difficult.  to dry early in the day. Transportation in colonial times was very difficult.  Old Indian trails were used to form roads.  These roads were so small that Old Indian trails were used to form roads.  These roads were so small that horses were sometimes too big to travel on them.  So the colonist had to horses were sometimes too big to travel on them.  So the colonist had to walk while carefully pulling his horse or mule.  In colonial times most walk while carefully pulling his horse or mule.  In colonial times most homes were simply one big room. It was used for sleeping, eating, cooking, homes were simply one big room. It was used for sleeping, eating, cooking, and working.  The older children would sleep in the attics while the grown-and working.  The older children would sleep in the attics while the grown-ups and babies slept in the large room.  The babies slept in cradles close to ups and babies slept in the large room.  The babies slept in cradles close to the fire. Colonial homes did not have bathrooms; the people would have to the fire. Colonial homes did not have bathrooms; the people would have to go outside to small places called privies or necessaries. Some of the games go outside to small places called privies or necessaries. Some of the games and toys helped the children to learn how to solve problems.  Archery and toys helped the children to learn how to solve problems.  Archery helped the boys aim, making hunting easier for them. Quoits, a game helped the boys aim, making hunting easier for them. Quoits, a game played with rope circles and stones, helped the children practice their played with rope circles and stones, helped the children practice their aiming and throwing. aiming and throwing.

CreditsCredits• www.ssdsbergen.org/Colonial/life.htmwww.ssdsbergen.org/Colonial/life.htm• www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/

16071783/religion.htm 16071783/religion.htm • www.history.org/almanack/life/trades/www.history.org/almanack/life/trades/

tradehdr.cfm tradehdr.cfm • www.history.org/Almanack/life/family/www.history.org/Almanack/life/family/

background.cfm background.cfm • www.kidinfo.com/american_history/www.kidinfo.com/american_history/

colonization_colonial_life.html colonization_colonial_life.html

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