Ch. 4 Section 5 Life in the Colonies What social classes existed in the colonies? Gentry-at the top of society (wealthy planters, merchants, ministers, successful lawyers, and royal officials). Below the gentry were the middle class-farmers who worked their own land, skilled craftsworkers, and some tradespeople. The lowest social class included hired farmhands, indentured servants, and slaves.

Indentured Servants Indentured servants signed contracts to work without the wages for a period of 4 to 7 years for anyone who would pay their ocean passage to the Americas. When their term of service was completed, indentured servants received “freedom dues”: a set of clothes, tools, and 50 acres of land.

Colonial Women Women and the Law Under English common law, a husband had complete control over his wife. Women could not Own property. Vote. Hold office. Serve on a jury. Husbands were allowed to beat their wives.

Colonial Women Women’s Duties Cooking Gardening Washing Cleaning Weaving cloth Sewing Assisting other women in childbirth Training daughters to do all of the above

Slavery in the Colonies South Carolina and Georgia High temperatures and disease made slave conditions especially harsh in this region. African Americans made up the majority of the population in South Carolina and more than one third of Georgia’s population. Southern slaves kept their culture alive through their speech, crafts, and music. In some areas, enslaved Africans spoke a distinctive combination of English and West African languages known as Gullah.

Slavery in the Colonies Virginia and Maryland Slaves in Virginia and Maryland made up a minority of the population. Few of those slaves came directly from Africa. Slaves had other tasks in addition to growing crops. There was more integration of European American and African American cultures than in South Carolina and Georgia. To save money, slave-owners encouraged slaves to have families.

Slavery in the Colonies New England and the Middle Colonies There were far fewer slaves in New England and the Middle Colonies than in the South. Slaves had more freedom to choose their occupations. Slaves in this region typically worked as cooks, housekeepers, and personal servants. They also worked as skilled artisans, dockworkers, merchant sailors, fishermen, whalers, privateers, lumberjacks, and in manufacturing.

Free Blacks Slaves that earned money as artisans or laborers had the possibility of saving enough to purchase their freedom. Free African Americans did the same kind of work as enslaved African Americans, but were often worse off economically and socially. Free blacks faced poorer living conditions and more discrimination than slaves who were identified with specific white households. Free blacks could not vote, testify in court, or marry whites.

Laws and Revolts Laws Slaves could not go aboard ships or ferries, or leave the town limits without a written pass. Slaves could be accused of crimes ranging from owning hogs or carrying canes to disturbing the peace or striking a white person. Punishments included whipping, banishment to the West Indies, and death.

Laws and Revolts Revolts In the Stono Rebellion, several dozen slaves in South Carolina killed more than 20 whites. The rebels were captured and killed. New York City had slave rebellions in 1708, 1712, and 1741. After the 1741 revolt, 13 African Americans were burned alive as punishment. African Americans undertook almost 50 documented revolts between 1740 and 1800.

Religious Tensions The British colonies were primarily Protestant. Southern planters, northern merchants, and northern professionals tended to belong to the Church of England. Most New Englanders were either Congregationalists or Presbyterians. Quakers, Lutherans, and Mennonites were common in Pennsylvania. The Dutch Reformed Church thrived in the colonies of New York and New Jersey.

The Great Awakening The Great Awakening refers to a revival of religious feeling that began in the early 1700s. These revivals were designed to renew religious enthusiasm and commitment. Jonathan Edwards — Edwards, a Massachusetts minister, is believed to have started the Great Awakening. He called on colonists to examine their lives. His success inspired other ministers to increase their efforts to energize their followers.

The Great Awakening George Whitefield — Whitefield was an itinerant, or traveling, preacher who toured the colonies seven times between 1738 and 1770. The movement began to spread like wildfire. He was enthusiastic and energetic preacher. These ministers preached that any Christian could have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They stated that faith and sincerity, rather than wealth and education, were the major requirements needed to understand the Gospel.

Impact of the Great Awakening How did the Great Awakening affect religion in the colonies? 1). People who supported the movement often split away from their old churches to form new ones. This forced colonists to become more religiously tolerant. 2).It helped spread democratic feelings in the colonies

Education in the Colonies During colonial times, children received very little formal education. Because Puritans believed everyone should be able to read the Bible, the New England Colonies became early leaders in the development of public education. New Englanders were the most concerned about education. Why? so that children could read the bible

Education in the Colonies In 1647, Massachusetts passed a law requiring towns to set up grammar schools for boys. (First public schools supported by taxes). Girls were expected to learn from their mothers at home. Generally, only the wealthy attended college, where they trained to be lawyers or ministers. Harvard, Yale, and William and Mary were the only three colleges in the colonies until the 1740s.

Education in the Colonies In the Middle Colonies, churches and individuals set up private schools. Only the wealthy families could afford to educate their children. In the Southern Colonies, people lived too far from one another to bring children together in one school building. Some planters engaged tutors. Slaves were denied education of any kind.

Spread of Ideas During the 1600s, European scientists began to use reason and logic instead of superstition to understand the world. They developed theories, and then performed experiments to test them. In doing so, they discovered many of the laws of nature.

The Enlightenment Spreads The Enlightenment Movement-a movement in the 1600s and 1700s who proponents believed in reason and scientific methods. John Locke, an English philosopher, wrote works that was widely read in the colonies. He said people gain knowledge of the world by observing and experimenting. In the 13 colonies, the Enlightenment spread among better educated colonists.

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin was the best example of the Enlightenment spirit in the 13 colonies. Although he only had 2 years of formal schooling, he used his spare timed to study literature, mathematics, and foreign languages. How did Franklin reflect the ideas of the Enlightenment? He used reason to understand and improve his world.

The Trial of John Peter Zenger The growth of the colonial newspaper led to a dispute over freedom of press. John Peter Zenger was a publisher whose libel trial strengthened freedom of the press. Libel-the act of publishing a statement that may unjustly damage a person’s reputation.