Chapter 4

1. Chapter 4 Life in Colonial America (1607-1775)

2. A Land of Variety • Variety of Peoples • (1607-1775) Colonial Era – from the founding of Jamestown to the War for Independence • English, Scots-Irish, German, French, etc. • 2.5 million people by 1776 • 19% African slaves • Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Charles Town were among the largest cities

3. Diversity of Churches • American colonies offered more religious freedom than anywhere else in the world • Southern Colonies • Maryland, Virginia, N. and S. Carolina, Georgia • Anglican church = official church • Huguenots = French Protestants in S.C. • Paul Revere – (Huguenot descent) Renowned Boston silversmith and patriot

4. Middle Colonies • New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware • More religious diversity • Presbyterians, Baptists, Anglicans, Mennonites, Dutch Reformed, Quakers, Jews, Amish, Moravians • Moravians – wrote the 1st classical music to be composed in America

5. New England • Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island • Known for its many churches • Most churches in the early years were Puritan (Congregational) churches • Role of Christianity • The Bible helped shape American character • Christianity gave people a sense of nobility and hard work

6. The Livelihood of the Colonies • Agriculture • 90% of colonists depended on farming (main occupation) • Farmers were self-reliant • Homespun – linen and wool cloth from which clothes were made

7. New England – the region least suited for agriculture • Long winters • Short growing season • Rocky terrain • Middle Colonies = “Bread Colonies” • They produced an abundance of grain • Southern Colonies • Tobacco • Indigo – used to produce blue dye

8. Industry • Lumber – New England had lots of trees • Shipbuilding (from the timber) • Fishing and whaling (from the shipbuilding) • Cold Atlantic waters held great fish • Fur trading • Bartering – trading or exchanging goods with the Indians • Blacksmithing – shod horses and forged tools for farming and wagons • England was chief overseas customer

9. Triangle Trade Route • 2 distinct ports that New England used • Africa  West Indies  Back to N. E. • Fruits of Freedom • Mercantilism – colonies existed solely for the good of the mother country

10. Colonial Culture • Home Life • Houses started simple/temporary • Then came log cabins/wood cottages • Nails were scarce • Dutch (New York) used brick homes • Southern plantations had mansions • (1720’s) Georgian Architecture • Large brick/stone homes • The fireplace was central in American life

11. Travel and Communication • (1750) “Post Roads” connected major cities • Stagecoaches travelled between cities • Recreation • Quilting bees • Corn huskings • Barn Raisings

12. Social Classes • Social status = building successful life in the wilderness • 3 social classes • Top = Aristocracy (wealthy) • Middle = Farmers / Shop-keepers • Bottom = Servants / Slaves • Slavery in the South = an established institution

13. Life on the Frontier • Frontier: sparsely populated areas on the fringe of settlement • Appalachian Mtns. were natural barrier to the West • Daniel Boone • Discovered Cumberland Gap – a natural pass through the mtns. • Explored Kentucky and Tennessee • His trail is known as “The Wilderness Road”

14. The Advance of Learning • Grammar School • New England • Dame School – conducted by widow or single lady • Hornbook = paddle-shaped book with alphabet, Lord’s prayer, or scripture verse • New England Primer = most widely used textbook in Colonial America

15. Middle Colonies • Latin Grammar Schools • Philadelphia Academy= founded by Benjamin Franklin • Southern Colonies • Private tutors • Old-field schools • Apprentices = boys placed under the authority and care of a master craftsman in order to learn a trade

16. Higher Education • Harvard – Puritans • College of William and Mary – Anglicans • Yale – Congregationalists • Princeton University – Presbyterians • Brown University – Baptists • Philadelphia Academy – nonsectarian (not founded by a specific religious denomination)

17. Spread of Knowledge • Boston News Letter – 1st regularly published weekly newspaper in colonies • Benjamin Franklin • encouraged the founding of public libraries • Wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac – contained meteorogicaland astronomical info (also told proverbs)

18. Arts • Paul Revere – renowned Boston silversmith • William Billings • 1st professional musician and composer born in America • Started singing schools • Science • John Winthrop Jr. – 1st American member of Royal society of London (1st scientific society) • Benjamin Franklin – best known colonial man of science • Benjamin Banneker – built a clock made entirely of wood • Cotton Mather – smallpox vaccine

19. Government in the Colonies • Colonial Government • 3 types of government (*Essay Question*) • Royal Colonies – under direct authority of king • Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North and South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, and Georgia • Proprietary Colonies – granted by king to individual proprietors (noblemen) • Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware • Self-governing – granted charters allowing them to rule themselves • Rhode Island, Connecticut • Governor – chief executive officer of each colony

20. Local Government • Followed England’s pattern of strong self-government • (New England) “town” was the basic unit of local gov. • (Southern Colonies) “county” was the basic unit of local gov.