Chapter 4: American Life in the 17 th Century Erin Thompson B2 A.P.U.S.H. Pd. 2

The Unhealthy Chesapeake Malaria, dysentery, and typhoid cut ten years off the life expectancy of English newcomers. Majority of immigrants were young males who died shortly after arrival; The survivors competed for the scarce # of females Most marriages destroyed by the death of partner; Weak families reflected in pregnancies of young unmarried girls

The Unhealthy Chesapeake (cont.) Eventually native-born inhabitants acquired immunity to diseases; by the end of the 17 th century birthrate increased Maryland had the 3 rd largest population at the opening of the 18 th century

The Tobacco Economy By the 1630s ships annually hauled about 1.5 million pounds of tobacco out of the Chesapeake; by the end of the century it was almost 40 million pounds To balance the increase of product, indentured servants were shipped to the Chesapeake for labor

The Tobacco Economy (cont.) “Headright” system established, which gave masters 50 acres of land for paying the passage of servants Some 100,000 servants were brought to the Chesapeake by 1700 When the servants received their freedom they had to hire themselves to their former masters because of lack of land

Frustrated Freeman & Bacon’s Rebellion By the late 17 th century, swelling numbers of young men began to rattle the established planters on the Chesapeake In 1670, the Virginia assembly disfranchised most of the landless men; VA’s governor William Berkeley lamented his lot as ruler In 1676, about a thousand Virginians broke out of control led by Nathaniel Bacon

Bacon’s Rebellion (cont.) Virginians resented Berkeley’s friendly policies toward the Indians Before the rebellion was crushed, Indians were murdered, Berkeley was chased out of Jamestown and the capital was burned

Colonial Slavery About 10 million Africans were brought in chains to the Americas; Only 400,000 ended up in North America By the mid-1680s black slaves outnumbered white servants In 1698 the Royal African Co. lost monopoly on carrying slaves; Americans rush to cash in on slave trade; supply of slaves steeply rose

Colonial Slavery (cont.) By 1750, Blacks accounted for nearly half the Virginia population; South Carolina whites outnumbered 2 to 1 Most slaves came from west coast of Africa: Senegal to Angola Whites threatened by large number of Africans Slave codes developed to decree the conditions of slavery

Africans in America Slave life was hostile to health and labor was life-draining Tobacco was a less physically demanding crop than rice Size and proximity of tobacco plantations permitted more frequent contact with friends and relatives Black population grew through its own fertility and imports

Africans in America (cont.) Native-born African Americans contributed to growth of a slave culture: mixture of African and American elements of speech, religion, and folkways Many African words passed into American speech: goober, gumbo, voodoo Banjo and bongo drum and jazz contributed to American culture

Southern Society Gaps in the South’s social structure widened, defining a hierarchy of wealth and status in the early 18 th century Merchant Planters Ruled the region’s economy & monopolized political power Small Farmers Largest social group; modest plots; ragged existence Landless whites Most former indentured servants Black slavesBottom of the social scale

The New England Family Family remained at the center of New England life; population grew from natural reproductive increase Women wed by their early twenties and had children every two years until menopause Longevity contributed to family stability: up to 3 generations New England women usually gave up their property rights

Life in the New England Towns New England evolved into a tightly knit society based around villages and farms New towns legally chartered by colonial authorities; land distributed by proprietors Towns with more than 50 families required to provide elementary education; majority of adults illiterate Massachusetts established Harvard(1636); Virginia established William and Mary(1693)

The Half-Way Covenant & the Salem Witch Trials A growing New England population dampened religious zeal Mid-17 th century, a new form of sermon began: the “jeremiad” In 1662, the “Half-Way Covenant,” offered partial memberships to people not converted

The Half-Way Covenant & the Salem Witch Trials (cont.) Distinction between the “elect” and others erased; strict religion sacrificed for large participation A “witch-hunt” ensued leading to the lynching of 20 persons(1692); grew from superstitions and unsettled social and religious conditions

The New England Way of Life Characterized by its extreme climate and rocky soil, New England had a major impact on the rest of the nation Repelled by the rocks New Englanders look to shipbuilding and commerce New Englanders scattered from Ohio to Oregon and Hawaii

The Early Settlers’ Days & Ways Early American colonists lived simple, but comfortable lives Women, men, and children performed daily tasks necessary for comfort Most settlers came to America with modest means to enjoy wealth An attempt to imitate English class distinctions failed with resentment against upper-class for example, Leisler’s Rebellion in NYC ( )

Chronology 1619 – First Africans arrive in Virginia 1636 – Harvard College founded 1662 Half-Way Covenant for Congregational church membership established 1670 – Virginia assembly disfranchises landless freeman 1676 – Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia 1680s – Mass expansion of slavery in the colonies

Chronology (cont.) – Leisler’s Rebellion in New York 1692 – Salem witch trials in Massachusetts 1693 – College of William and Mary founded 1698 – Royal African Company slave trade monopoly ended 1712 – New York City slave revolt 1739 – South Carolina slave revolt