Colonial Life

1. Colonial Life What was it really like to live over 200 years ago?

3. Life on Farms • 9 out of 10 people were farmers • Most families produced everything they needed themselves • Farm homes were simple • A fire was kept burning all day for heat & cooking • Farm life involved many chores

4. Life in Cities • Only 1 in 20 colonists lived in cities • The waterfront was the heart of the city where most trading, meeting and activity happened • Cities were noisy and smelly because of open sewers • Homes were built close together and made of wood • Colonists used torches and lamps for lighting • Fire was a constant danger

5. Rights of Colonists • Colonists were English citizens and had the same rights as any Englishman • English citizens had a voice in their government because they had representatives in Parliament • Colonists had other rights, such as the right to a trial by jury, because these were guaranteed by the English Bill of Rights

6. Crime & Punishment • Each colony had its own laws, but laws were similar in all the colonies • Some crimes were punishable by death, such as murder & treason • Some laws were based on religion. For example, in New England, a colonist could be put to death for cursing his/her parents • Theft, forgery, and robbery were punished by jail, whipping, or branding • Lesser crimes might be punished by fines, short jail terms or public humiliation, like time in the stocks

7. Life for African Americans • Slavery existed in ALL of the colonies, but was most popular in the South because of farming • Slaves worked in many different types of jobs such as farming, nurses, carpenters, servants, drivers, etc. • Slaves were at the bottom of colonial society and had no way of improving their lives

8. Class Differences • Wealth and success determined a colonist’s place in society • People’s clothing showed their status in society • Upper class included merchants, planters or other wealthy citizens who wore gold or silver, colored lace, and wigs • Middle class included farmers and craftspeople who wore plain, but brightly colored clothes • Lower class included farmhands and other workers who depended on others for their wage. They wore clothing made from cotton or cheaper materials. • Slaves and indentured servants were at the bottom of society. • Only those who owned property (middle or upper class) could vote, even though 1/3 of New England and ½ of Middle Colonies were indentured servants

9. Education • Except in New England, most children received little education • Colonists believed it was more important to educate boys than girls • Puritans (religious group) in New England established schools so children would be taught to read the Bible • Schools were one-room buildings where children of all ages learned together • Pencil and paper were scarce, so children used ink to write on bark or called out answers

10. Colonial Families • People were married in their early 20s • There were more men than women • Families had many children who were expected to help with household chores or work on farms • Half of all children died before adulthood • Life focused around the family

11. Leisure • “Bees” and “Frolics” were ways of combining work and pleasure. (ex. Quilting bee-women work on making quilt together in a big group.) • Children had simple toys such as dolls & marbles • Many colonists attended church and town meetings • Many colonies held fairs where colonists competed in foot races, wrestling matches and dance competitions

12. Food • Indians taught the colonists how to grow corn, a major part of the colonial diet • Meat was a favorite food but had to be obtained from hunting or raising animals • Colonists had to salt, smoke or pickle meat to keep it from rotting or used spices to disguise the taste • Apples, berries, and grapes were common fruits, and peaches grew in the Southern colonies • The main meal of stew was served around lunchtime, while colonists ate corn mush with milk, fruit, or honey for breakfast and dinner