Road to the Revolution Early American Culture

Women and the Economy Women played an important part in colonial economy. Chores included raising cash crops such as tobacco and indigo; cooking, churning butter, making soap, candles, and cloth, sewing and knitting, tending a garden, looking after farm animals, and working in fields. Women who lived in cities taught handwriting, sold writing paper, and rented rooms. However, women didn’t have many rights such as voting, holding office or preaching; and money earned belonged to her husband, according to the law.

Land, Rights, and Wealth A great deal of cheap farmland and many natural resources gave the colonist opportunities to be land owners. Native Americans had to give up claims to their land. Land ownership gave white males political rights such as voting. Social position was determined by land ownership. Wealthy people were expected to aid the poor.

Young People at Work Many New Englanders had large families with six to eight kids, so even kids as young as 4 helped out; children looked after farm animals, picked berries, and watched younger siblings. Farmer’s sons helped clear land and grow crops. Craftsmen’s sons helped in their fathers’ shops and learned their trade At thirteen, boys apprenticed with experienced craftsmen and left their dads. Girls rarely apprenticed, but helped with traditional women’s chores. Orphans worked as servants in the homes of people who fed and gave them a place to live.

Colonial Schooling Education was important to colonists, especially reading, so children could understand the Bible. Only wealthy children learned arithmetic and writing from tutors in private schools. Textbooks emphasized religion. Colonial America had a higher literacy rate than England. About half of the women received education as compared to men. Teaching a slave to read was illegal and free Africans were not allowed in schools.

Newspapers and Books Printed material brought the colonies together. Colonies went from one local newspaper to 80 over 70 years. Almanacs were popular, in 1732 Ben Franklin wrote “Poor Richard’s Almanac” which contained sayings, advice, recipes, jokes, and proverbs. Colonists also published poetry, histories, and autobiographies.

Newspapers and Books A type of literature unique to the colonies was captivity narratives. In them colonists captured by Native Americans described living among them. The most famous captivity narrative was written by Mary Rowlandson in The Sovereignty and Goodness of God, was one of the first colonial bestsellers.

The Great Awakening In the early 1700’s many colonists thought that they had lost their religious passion, and seemed dry, dull, and distant. Traveling ministers preached that inner emotion was more important than outward religious behavior. Sermons drew large crowds. Ministers such as Jonathan Edwards spoke of God’s anger and scared listeners George Whitefield gave sermons and inspired colonists to raise funds for orphans. Other ministers taught reading and writing to Native Americans. The Awakening encouraged ideas of individual worth, equality, and the right to challenge authority. This was a factor that impacted colonists to declare independence from England in the near future.

The Enlightenment This movement was very different from the Great Awakening. It emphasized science and reason and was considered an “intellectual” movement, and began in Europe, as scientists discovered natural laws governing the universe. Ben Franklin was a famous figure, since it mostly appealed to wealthy, educated men. John Locke said that people have natural rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Locke challenged whether kings had the God- given right to rule. This was another factor which led to colonists rebelling and form a new government.