Outline Of Colonial Society In The Mid-18th Century
Colonial Society in the Mid-Eighteenth Century
I. Social Structure/Family Life A. South – gap wide between rich and poor – hierarchy of wealth and status 1. Planter aristocracy w/ slaves mimicking feudalism of Europe 2. However, these planters were hardworking, involved in day-to-day affairs 3. Few cities – poor transportation 4. Women more powerful – men die leaving property to widows a. Weaker gender – see Eve’s failure b. Divorce rare – courts could order you to reunite B. North– not as much disease due to weather, reproduction high – fertile people/not soil 1. Early marriage = high birth rates, several mothers – death during childbirth a. Habits of obedience, strong links to grandparents b. Women’s …show more content…
role not as powerful – no property rights
II. Farm and Town Life A. Towns in New England united – geography/fear of Indians force close relations 1. Puritanism makes unity important 2. More than 50 families in town requires education 3.
Puritans ran churches democratically – led to democratic government 4. New England way of life – climate, bad soil, Puritanism made people touch, self-reliant a. Seasons led to diversified agriculture and industry to survive b. Dense forests led to shipbuilding c. Not diverse at first – immigrants not attracted B. Southern settlement random by independent individual
III. Immigration – melting pot from the beginning A. Germans – left for war, religion, bad economy – settle in Pennsylvania – not pro-British B. Scotts-Irish – Scottish kicked out of Ireland because not Catholic – settled in mountains 1. Lawless, individualistic – lived in Appalachian hills – whiskey making 2. Not wanted by Germans or New Englanders – forced to hills C. Other groups embraced – French, Dutch, Swedes, Jews, Irish, Swiss D. Largest immigrant group – slaves
IV. Economy – triangle trade in South – natural resources to England > weapons/textiles to Africa >slaves to Indies/South > sugar to America > England A. Economy – Agriculture #1 but, putting out system at home – manufacturing/lumbering B. South – staple crops of indigo, rice, tobacco
V. Great Awakening – people swaying from the lord – God all powerful – must return to
church A. Started by Jonathan Edwards – Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” B. Powerful, angry, animated speaking spread across colonies – United colonies ***
VI. Education – New England – colleges for lawyers, priests – theology and dead languages A. Independent thinking not encouraged – discipline severe – stuck in the classics
VII. Colonial Folkways – life not romantic, pretty boring A. Food pretty high protein, homes poorly made B. pleasure came from working together – quilting, raising barn, painting, funerals, weddings C. Lotteries, horse racing, holidays celebrated, but not Christmas in New England
I. Social Structure/Family Life A. South – gap wide between rich and poor – hierarchy of wealth and status 1. Planter aristocracy w/ slaves mimicking feudalism of Europe 2. However, these planters were hardworking, involved in day-to-day affairs 3. Few cities – poor transportation 4. Women more powerful – men die leaving property to widows a. Weaker gender – see Eve’s failure b. Divorce rare – courts could order you to reunite B. North– not as much disease due to weather, reproduction high – fertile people/not soil 1. Early marriage = high birth rates, several mothers – death during childbirth a. Habits of obedience, strong links to grandparents b. Women’s …show more content…
role not as powerful – no property rights
II. Farm and Town Life A. Towns in New England united – geography/fear of Indians force close relations 1. Puritanism makes unity important 2. More than 50 families in town requires education 3.
Puritans ran churches democratically – led to democratic government 4. New England way of life – climate, bad soil, Puritanism made people touch, self-reliant a. Seasons led to diversified agriculture and industry to survive b. Dense forests led to shipbuilding c. Not diverse at first – immigrants not attracted B. Southern settlement random by independent individual
III. Immigration – melting pot from the beginning A. Germans – left for war, religion, bad economy – settle in Pennsylvania – not pro-British B. Scotts-Irish – Scottish kicked out of Ireland because not Catholic – settled in mountains 1. Lawless, individualistic – lived in Appalachian hills – whiskey making 2. Not wanted by Germans or New Englanders – forced to hills C. Other groups embraced – French, Dutch, Swedes, Jews, Irish, Swiss D. Largest immigrant group – slaves
IV. Economy – triangle trade in South – natural resources to England > weapons/textiles to Africa >slaves to Indies/South > sugar to America > England A. Economy – Agriculture #1 but, putting out system at home – manufacturing/lumbering B. South – staple crops of indigo, rice, tobacco
V. Great Awakening – people swaying from the lord – God all powerful – must return to
church A. Started by Jonathan Edwards – Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” B. Powerful, angry, animated speaking spread across colonies – United colonies ***
VI. Education – New England – colleges for lawyers, priests – theology and dead languages A. Independent thinking not encouraged – discipline severe – stuck in the classics
VII. Colonial Folkways – life not romantic, pretty boring A. Food pretty high protein, homes poorly made B. pleasure came from working together – quilting, raising barn, painting, funerals, weddings C. Lotteries, horse racing, holidays celebrated, but not Christmas in New England