American Life in the 17 th Century ( ) Chapter 4

A. Beginning of Century Colonials becoming permanent Europeans, Africans, Indians adapting to each other Religious zealots, calming down All colonies tied to Atlantic Trade

B. The Chesapeake At first, high casualty rates due to disease Not a lot of families Single men with very few women By 18 th Century however, Va largest population, Md 3 rd largest Grew tobacco like crazy, ruined the land, needed more Need labor that was cheap and could survive (Identured Servants) – Servants usually given freedom dues (a little food, clothing, and maybe land) Used the Headright System – Whoever paid passage of a servant got 50 acres

Thus, people that paid passage for laborers became wealthy planters (upper class) Servants’ lives were difficult and most after being released worked for their masters for low wages

C. Bacon’s Rebellion 1676 VA. Governed by William Berkley (wealthy, upper class) Nathaniel Bacon and followers angry about life in general, but specifically about Indian Raids Thinking Berkley too friendly to Indians, attacked all Indians in area Also ran Berkley out of J-Town Ultimately put down, important b/c it shows discontent btwn landless farmers and upper class Causes upper class to look for less rebellious workers (African Slaves)

D. Colonial Slavery Initially, slavery too expensive for most First slaves arrived J-town 1619 After Bacon’s rebellion, planters want reliable work Also, Royal African Co. lost monopoly on slave trade, so colonies began to get involved By 1750, nearly ½ of population of VA were slaves Slaves were bought in Africa from tribal people Once purchased, they journeyed in the middle passage – Horrible journey from Africa to America – Crowded, disease-filled ships – 20% died on journey Early slave codes in VA marked slaves as property

E. Africans in America Slavery in the southernmost colonies like Carolinas was brutal Rice plantations, very spread out, not a lot of contact Tobacco plantations in Va. Much easier to work one, closer allowing slaves contact w/ each other African slaves eventually able to have families Slave culture contributed much to U.S., especially in religion and music Slaves longed for freedom, but not many revolts (NY 1712, and SC in 1739)

F. Southern Society Top of southern society Wealthy Planters – Owned huge tracts of land, dominated gov’t – VA’s First Five Families made up 70% of House of Burgesses – Hardworking, businessmen Next down were small farmers – Owned a little land, a few slaves – Hard life – Lived “hand to mouth” Next down were landless whites – Mostly former Ind Serv. At the bottom were slaves

H. Transportation Transportation in colonies were slow by any means Waterways were the principle means of travel Roads were horrible

I. The New England Family Compared to Chesapeake, NE’s had it good – Cooler temps, cleaner water, less disease – Longer lifespan – Larger families – Low unwed births Women’s rights, southern colonies had it better – High death rate among men meant women had to take care of things – Women in southern colonies had property rights – In NE, Puritan ideals stressed women’s obedience to husband – Widows in NE did have property rights

NE sought to uphold marriages, divorce was rare Adulteress women whipped in the streets, forced to wear a scarlet “A”

J. Life in New England Towns Life organized around Puritan ideas In Chesapeake, towns laid out haphazardly NE towns laid out with a purpose – Proprietors would start towns – Each town had a meeting house, families received houses – Each family got land for fuel, crops, and animals – Towns > 50 families = education – Over ½ adults literate in NE – Harvard College est. 8 years after NE founding – Jamestown took 83 years to make William and Mary College – Town meetings VERY important to NE (democracy)

K. The Halfway Covenant and the Salem Witch Trials In NE, preachers upset about waning church participation Began to preach Jeremiads, (scary sermons) Came up with a new way to get more members Halfway Covenant – Allowed baptism, but not “full communion” to unconverted children of existing members – This allowed more people into exclusive Puritan churches – Eventually, ideas about the elect and predestination began to fade

In Salem, Mass., a witch hunt hysteria took place Accused witches mainly came from wealthier merchant class Accusers were usually small farmers Showed the growing stratification btwn classes in NE Also showed the fears Puritans had of greed for money

L. New England Way of Life Mostly rocky/stony soil in NE, thus less plantations and more industry Also had unpredictable weather, so couldn’t grow tobacco and little or no slaves Indians in NE had shaped the land Lots of cattle in NE NE excellent ship builders, fisherman