Life in the Colonies: An Overview of Daily Life, Economy, and Rights in the 1700s
Explore life in the American colonies during the 1700s, focusing on daily activities, farm living, and the economy. This chapter delves into the foundational aspects of colonial society, including commerce, the rights of colonists as English citizens, and the influence of major legal documents like the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights. Learn about the cultural dynamics, class differences, the harsh realities of slavery, and the impact of religion and education on colonial families. Understand how these elements shaped colonial identity and laid groundwork for future American society.
Life in the Colonies: An Overview of Daily Life, Economy, and Rights in the 1700s
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Presentation Transcript
Chapter 4 Life in the Colonies
Introduction • Let’s read the introduction and anecdotal story about Benjamin Franklin • Rest of chapter is about what life was like for people in the 1700’s
life on a farm • Colonists develop: • economy- the way a society organizes the manufacture and exchange of things of value, such as money, food, products, and services • commerce-buying and selling goods • 9 of 10 colonists lived on little one family farms • Families depended on nearly everything for their farms • Everyone lived in one large room • Fireplace-used for heating/cooking • Early to rise, late to bed
life in cities • By 1750 only 1 in 20 lived in a city • Organized by water • Ships bring supplies, people, news from Europe • Commerce occurs… what is it??? • Specialty shops and specialty jobs
Rights of colonists • Colonists were English citizens (living abroad) • Expected the same rights • rights- powers or privileges that belong to people as citizens & cannot or should not be taken away by government (govt) • Magna Cartaor “Great Charter” • Power of king limited • Parliament- lawmaking body of England, consisting of representatives throughout the kingdom • English Bill of Rights • petition-to make a formal demand or request
Crime & punishment • Assemblies in colonies pass laws defining what crimes were and the appropriate punishment • Examples: • treason-acts of disloyalty towards govt • piracy-robbery at sea • fines, jail terms, public shaming • Blue Laws established • Salem Witch Trials
Class differences • colonists wanted an opportunity to “move up” • class- part of society defined by qualities like wealth, occupation, and inherited titles or honors. (may have upper, middle, and lower class)
Life for African Americans • by early 1700’s slaves were inhabiting every one of the 13 original colonies • raise cash crops • Atlantic slave trade • goods were traded for Africans • middle passage • work without hope • began to create a new way of life
middle passage • “Amistad” movie about a slave ship revolt (took place later in time… but good visual)
middle passage • what things do you think of when seeing this picture?
religion • integral part of colonial life • 1730’s religious movement • First Great Awakening- a revival of religious feeling and belief in the American colonies • spread idea or notion that all were created equal in the eyes of God • helps pave the way for American Revolution… why?
Education • only formal education was in New England colonies • middle or southern colonies had no public schools • New England colonies were progressive • laws passed for instructors to be hired for towns with 50 families or more • 100 family towns built schools
Colonial Families • large extended families lived together • men outnumbered women in colonies …. why? • colonial families were large…. especially farm families, can you guess why?
Summary • economy, rights, class differences, African Americans, religion, education, home life
