Early American Culture

1. Early American Culture

2. Power/Rights • Land ownership gave colonists political rights and wealth. • Generally, only white male landowners could vote. • AKA: the TightyWhities

3. Women in the Colonies • Women were very much a part of the colonial economy. • Could not own land. • Did not have ANY rights. • Farm wives bartered. • Traded services in exchange for services – no money • For example: taking care of a sick child might be paid by receiving a loaf of bread.

4. Women’s Role • Responsible for the household. • Any $ the wife earned/had belonged to the husband.

5. Children in the Colonies • Very large families. Averaged 6 to 8 children. • Age 6 boys learned a skill from their father. • Apprenticed – sent to learn a skill from a master craftsmen – ex- carpenter • Girls learned skills from Mom.

6. Schooling • Education was valued. • School ended at the age of 7. • Taught to read, only to understand the Bible. • Only children from wealthy families went beyond reading to study math and writing. • Went to private schools. • Poorer children were taught by Mom or went to dame schools.

7. It was illegal for a slave to be educated! • If you control their mind, you control their behind.

9. The Colonists believed they should have the same rights as the Englishmen: • Magna Carta:King could not take away property, • could not tax people unless a council of men agreed, • and could not be put on trial without a witness. • Parliament: England’s lawmaking body – model of representative government. • Peter Zenger Trial: Freedom of the Press