Life in the American Life in the American ColoniesColonies1680-17751680-1775

VA, MA, PA, NC and MD: largest VA, MA, PA, NC and MD: largest populations by 1775.populations by 1775.

Since 1760, the overall population Since 1760, the overall population had increased by almost 1 million had increased by almost 1 million people largely because of a high people largely because of a high birthrate. birthrate.

It was not uncommon for a man to go It was not uncommon for a man to go through several wives because they through several wives because they often died in childbirth. often died in childbirth.

Most of this population lived in rural Most of this population lived in rural areas.areas.

Ethnic Composition of the Ethnic Composition of the Colonies Colonies

English largest ethnic group English largest ethnic group Many Germans moved to Pennsylvania Many Germans moved to Pennsylvania Large number of Scotch-Irish lived Large number of Scotch-Irish lived

along the frontier along the frontier Largest non-English group was African, Largest non-English group was African,

most of whom were slaves. The vast most of whom were slaves. The vast majority of African-Americans lived in majority of African-Americans lived in the South. the South.

Social Organization Social Organization

Aristocrats including merchants, Aristocrats including merchants, officials and clergymen officials and clergymen

Lesser professionals Lesser professionals Yeoman farmers Yeoman farmers Manual workers and hired hands Manual workers and hired hands Indentured servants and criminals Indentured servants and criminals African-American slaves African-American slaves

A New England kitchen. A hundred years agoA New England kitchen. A hundred years agoDigital ID: (digital file from b&w film copy neg.) cph 3a05604 Digital ID: (digital file from b&w film copy neg.) cph 3a05604

http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a05604 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a05604 Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-1857 (b&w film copy neg.) Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-1857 (b&w film copy neg.)

Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA D.C. 20540 USA

Sack Back Gown and Matching Petticoats. Brocaded silk Sack Back Gown and Matching Petticoats. Brocaded silk taffeta, linen bodice and sleeve linings, made in England or taffeta, linen bodice and sleeve linings, made in England or Virginia by Elizabeth Dandridge Aylett Henley.G1975-340.Virginia by Elizabeth Dandridge Aylett Henley.G1975-340.

Mrs. Gavin Lawson (Susannah Rose) by John Hesselius. Oil on Mrs. Gavin Lawson (Susannah Rose) by John Hesselius. Oil on Canvas. Virginia, dated 1770. Mrs. Lawson wife of a planter Canvas. Virginia, dated 1770. Mrs. Lawson wife of a planter

and merchant of Stafford County, Virginia, wears a satin gown and merchant of Stafford County, Virginia, wears a satin gown with stomacher front, fine lace, and pearls. 1954-262.with stomacher front, fine lace, and pearls. 1954-262.

Everyday Life Everyday Life Medicine: Bleeding was a common practice. Barbers Medicine: Bleeding was a common practice. Barbers

and physicians practiced medicine. and physicians practiced medicine. Sanitation was poor. Smallpox was common. No Sanitation was poor. Smallpox was common. No

running water or plumbing. Trash often thrown in running water or plumbing. Trash often thrown in the streets. the streets.

Transportation: Poor system of roads making long Transportation: Poor system of roads making long distance communication difficult. Taverns along distance communication difficult. Taverns along roads were important places for gossip and roads were important places for gossip and information. information.

Food was abundant. America provided fertile land Food was abundant. America provided fertile land and ample hunting grounds. and ample hunting grounds.

Amusement: House raisings, quilting bees and other Amusement: House raisings, quilting bees and other work opportunities allowed people to gather. work opportunities allowed people to gather. Religion was very important and provided another Religion was very important and provided another gathering place. gathering place.

Leeches could ingest ten times their Leeches could ingest ten times their weight in a patient's blood.weight in a patient's blood.

Instruments used for bloodletting were Instruments used for bloodletting were often crude and unsanitary.often crude and unsanitary.

The eighteenth-century version of the universal The eighteenth-century version of the universal cure was bloodletting. The genuine physician and cure was bloodletting. The genuine physician and the quack alike resorted to it in cases from brain the quack alike resorted to it in cases from brain

fever to broken legs, colic to cancer.fever to broken legs, colic to cancer.

An early version of a hack An early version of a hack saw was also used by a saw was also used by a

surgeon.surgeon.

WorkWork

Most individuals Most individuals were farmers. Land were farmers. Land was cheap and was cheap and abundant. abundant.

Lumbering was Lumbering was most important most important manufacturing manufacturing activity. activity.

Triangle Trade Triangle Trade

Source: Florida Virtual SchoolSource: Florida Virtual School

ReligionReligion Two established religions Two established religions

(1775) - Anglican and (1775) - Anglican and CongregationalCongregational

Roman Catholics were Roman Catholics were discriminated against. discriminated against.

Salem Witch Trials Salem Witch Trials occurred in 1692 occurred in 1692

Great Awakening - This Great Awakening - This religious revival was religious revival was America's first mass America's first mass movement. Two clergymen movement. Two clergymen who helped lead this mass who helped lead this mass wave of evangelism were wave of evangelism were Jonathan Edwards and Jonathan Edwards and Cotton Mather. Cotton Mather.

  

                      

              

              

        

Education Education

New England: Primary and secondary New England: Primary and secondary schools were established early so schools were established early so individuals could read their Bible. individuals could read their Bible.

South: Mass education not common. South: Mass education not common. Wealthier families used tutors. Wealthier families used tutors.

New England: College education New England: College education important. Harvard University was founded important. Harvard University was founded in 1636 partially to train new clergy. Many in 1636 partially to train new clergy. Many families sent their children to England for families sent their children to England for study. study.

Art and Literature Art and Literature Art was not a major concern Art was not a major concern

in early America. in early America. Architecture was modeled Architecture was modeled

after England. after England. Literature was mainly Literature was mainly

theological in nature. theological in nature. Jonathan Edwards was one of Jonathan Edwards was one of the main authors. the main authors.

Benjamin Franklin wrote Benjamin Franklin wrote Poor Poor Richard's Almanack Richard's Almanack that was that was known for its pithy sayings known for its pithy sayings like: Waste Not, Want Not. like: Waste Not, Want Not.

Franklin set up the first Franklin set up the first privately supported library in privately supported library in America. America.

Printing presses and Printing presses and newspapers were common. newspapers were common.

Politics Politics By the Revolution, eight colonies had royal By the Revolution, eight colonies had royal

governors, three had proprietors who chose governors, three had proprietors who chose governors, and two elected their own governors, and two elected their own governors. governors.

Almost all colonies had a two-house legislative Almost all colonies had a two-house legislative body. body.

London did not spend a lot of time London did not spend a lot of time administering the colonies. This was known as administering the colonies. This was known as 'salutary neglect.' 'salutary neglect.'

Local government varied. In the South, Local government varied. In the South, counties ruled. In New England, the citizens counties ruled. In New England, the citizens participated in town meetings (direct participated in town meetings (direct democracy). democracy).

A tradition of self-rule became grounded in A tradition of self-rule became grounded in the colonies. the colonies.