American Life In the 17 th Century

Regional Differences Become Pronounced – Chesapeake Plantations  Indentured Servants  Slavery – More permanent settlements emerge in both regions – families and communities in New England – Distinctive ways of life – economies

Life in the Chesapeake Region – Plantation Economy - Tobacco Hard work – Muggy hot climate – Diseases – malaria, dysentery, typhoid – Life span – Advances economic security of women – particularly property rights. Men often die young leaving widows with small children to support – so southern colonies allow married women to retain a separate title to their property and inherit their husband’s estates. – Men outnumber women 6:1 – not family based

Tobacco and Indentured Servants in the Chesapeake Aristocrats are encouraged to sponsor the voyage of servants making them “indentured” or “under contract” (HEADRIGHT SYSTEM) Chesapeake farmers were greedy, they want more money so they plant more tobacco. – Problem with growing tobacco = exhausts land Land is “running out” for the poor in the region. Dramatic increase in the production of tobacco (1.5 million pounds in the 1630s  40 million pounds by the 1700) resulting in a decrease in prices (supply exceeds demand) Farmers need more laborers to work their fields.

More on Indentured Servants Indentured servants were hopeful – this was a way they could eventually own their own land. As time went on plantation owners didn’t want to give up their servants and would punish them by extending their time owed. Even when they were “granted freedom” if they weren’t given land they didn’t have a choice but to continue to work for their former masters. These servants become frustrated with their dreams of land owning crushed.

Bacon’s Rebellion Poor men had been forced into the backcountry to search for farmable land – Indians are attacking their settlements and the men feel the Governor isn’t doing enough about it. Desire Indian land. – Want Governor Berkley of Virginia to stop “playing nice” with the Indians. – Felt entitled to land – 1,000 men (poor men and servants) led by Nathaneal Bacon (29 year-old planter) take matters into their own hands – Kill lots of Indians – Chase the Governor our of Jamestown – burning the capital – Ransack the town Civil War – fighting with one’s own people Bacon dies. Results – frontiersman vs. wealthy plantation owners, look for “less troublesome laborers”, fear revolt and lawlessness

Slavery Indentured servitude is replaced by African slaves – Wages in England increase  less men come to New World – Fearful of a “Bacon” revolt – Mid-1680s black slaves outnumber white immigrants – By 1750 slaves make up nearly ½ the population of Virginia The majority of slaves came from the coast of West Africa through the “Middle Passage” to the West Indies. Slave trade was lucrative and expanded quickly. At the beginning some Africans gain their freedom – some even have slaves – less about race more about status. There begins to be clear differences between slaves and servants, according to the law. Slaves and their children would become property.

Africans in America Life is rough. Health conditions were very poor – slaves are literally worked to death. Slaves mainly work in fields but some become skilled in a trade. Slave Revolts – small and scattered, nothing like Bacon’s Rebellion – 1712 NYC – slave revolt kills a dozen whites  21 blacks were executed – 1739 – blacks try to walk from South Carolina along the Stono River to Spanish Florida  they didn’t make it

Social Hierarchy in the South Rich-poor gap widens in the South – Virginia was controlled by the “planter aristocracy” or families of the privileged These families owned large amounts of land They dominated politics in the House of Burgesses Described as “hard-working businessmen” but compared to slaves working their land…. – Small farmers – largest social group Held small plots of land and sometimes 1 or 2 slaves. – Landless whites – often freed indentured servants – Slaves – no hope of gaining any rights

Plantation Aristocracy Small Yeoman Farmers Poor Landless Whites Slaves Social Hierarchy in the South (more pronounced as a result of slavery)

The Geography and Economy in New England New England soil is thin and rocky  rely on trade rather than agriculture – Any agriculture was small-scale and diverse (not just one crop) – Slavery was tried but it wasn’t really needed therefore New England wasn’t as diverse. New England’s rivers are short and fast  important in industry to power water mills. Fishing becomes a major industry – New England is found on “God and Cod”

Family Life in New England New Englanders found life in America to be simple and practical – although they worked from dusk to dawn they were better off than they would have been in Europe (for the most part). – Life in New England added 10 years to their lifespan – Average puritan colonists lived 70 years Made up of families – population increases naturally and quickly – New England “invented” grandparents Children in New England grew up learning obedience. Women give up their property rights when they marry - Puritan lawmakers worry that recognizing a women’s separate property rights would undercut the unity of married persons by acknowledging conflicting interests between. However, property rights were given to widows. – Belief that women were morally weaker than men  Adam and Eve – Abuse was not condoned, – Divorce was rare – forced to reunite unless adultery was present