Life in the American Colonies

1. Life in the American Colonies

2. New England Colonies – Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire • Geography – forests, rocky soil, hilly and mountainous land, easy access to the sea • Climate – cold, harsh winters, short growing season • Resources – lumber, excellent harbors, fishing, wild animal game

3. The New England colonies had numerous natural resources used for trade with Britain and other countries. Small farms, fishing, lumbering, shipbuilding and trade were industries of the New England colonies. Manufacturing became a major economic force in the New England colonies.

4. Close knit families Town centers – communities built around harbors Town Hall/Meeting House Debate over town issues, encouraged democratic ideas Each colony had an elected governor and representatives Village school and church Schooling based on religion Common pasturelands and small farms Artisans and craftsmen Justice System Strict laws were based on religious beliefs Severe punishments Stocks (public ridicule) Death penalty Family Life in New England

5. Middle (Mid-Atlantic) Colonies – New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware • Geography – access to sea, valleys, forests, rivers, mountainous areas, hills • Climate – cold winters, hot, humid summers, long growing seasons • Resources – fertile soil, good harbors, iron and coal, forests Middle Colonies

6. The Mid-Atlantic colonies were nicknamed The Breadbasket colonies. Fertile soil and long growing seasons of the Middle colonies created the perfect environment for farming. Farmers raised wheat and rye (types of grain). They also had enough land areas to raise cattle and pigs. Some people in the Mid-Atlantic colonies mined iron and coal and traded with Britain and other countries.

7. Close knit families Market Towns – Towns built for farmers to bring their goods to sell or trade with others Common meeting areas in town Trading posts along the harbors Schools and churches Individual farms Artisans and craftsmen Religion Many different religions including Quaker, Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish People - Diverse population including Germans, Swedes, Irish, British Family Life in The Middle Colonies

8. Diverse cultures bring their ideas and knowledge with them. Some of the things brought to the Mid-Atlantic colonies by the Europeans who settled there are: Log cabins introduced by the Swedish Brick homes built in the style of the Dutch Germans introduce wood burning stove

9. Southern Colonies – Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia • Geography – coastal plains; low, wet areas; rolling hills • Climate – hot, humid summers, mild winters, rainy season • Resources – fertile soil, access to the sea for trade, forests Southern Colonies

10. Close knit families Most activities occurred on family farms or plantations. Children were educated at home by parents or tutors. Individually owned farms or plantations Few cities developed in the south. Life in these colonies was mostly rural. Indentured servants and slaves lived in separate houses on family farms and plantations. Religion Various religions including Baptists and Anglicans People Rich landowners Backwoods farmers Slaves and indentured servants Family Life in the Southern Colonies

11. Tidewater Plantations Large areas of land that produced cash crops including indigo, rice, tobacco, and (later) cotton Along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean Rivers allow easy access to ocean trade routes Increase exports and imports Backcountry Lie at the base of the Appalachian Mountains Hilly, thick forests Requires land clearing, more difficult life Harder to get products to trade markets Two ways of life in the South

12. Slavery The large plantations of the southern colonies required a large labor force. - For many years, indentured servants worked on southern plantations. - Many southern plantation owners began buying slaves to replace indentured servants. - Many colonists, including those who lived in the New England colonies and the middle colonies became rich by participating in the slave trade. - Slaves were brought from Africa to the colonies across the Atlantic Ocean. This route became known as the Middle Passage. - Slaves were sold as property – Slaves were enslaved for life and children who were born to slaves became slaves, too, and could be sold away from their parents. - Slaves were not considered people and had no rights. - It was illegal for slaves to learn to read or write.

13. Plantations in the South • Distances between plantations were so great that visitors were rare. • The plantation owner and his family lived in the “great house”. • Slaves worked in the fields and as domestic servants. • Slaves lived in slave quarters on the plantation.