Life in New England Chapter 5 Lesson 3

Using the Sea Most people in New England were farmers. Farmers usually grew enough to feed their families. Because farming in New England was so difficult, some colonists looked for other ways to earn a living. The sea was a good place to make a living. The rocky coast had many good harbors. Boston soon became a center for New England’s growing shipbuilding industry. Industry: All the businesses that make one kind of product or provide one kind of service.

Fishing and Whaling Many people made their living fishing. Merchants sold much of the cod as exports to Europe and the West Indies. Sailors from New England also hunted whales. Products such as oil for lamps were useful. Export: A product sent to another country and sold.

Triangular Trade New England traded fish and lumber for imports brought back to the colonies. The shipping routes between North America, Europe, and Africa formed an imaginary triangle across the Atlantic. These trade routes became known as the triangular trade.

Slavery Africans were bought. Traders chained the Africans together and packed them into crowded, filthy ships for the Middle Passage. Many died of disease or hunger along the way. Those who survived were traded to the colonists and forced to work. The slave trade was the business of buying and selling human beings. Middle Passage: The voyage from Africa to the West Indies.

Home and Community Life Families were large (six or seven children) Lived in small wooden houses with few rooms or windows Light came from lamps or candles

Work in Home Home was also a workshop Everything needed to be grown or made by hand Men and boysWomen and girls Worked in fields Built/repaired buildings Took care of animals Prepared/preserved foods Made soap/candles Helped with planting/harvesting

Education and Recreation Many New England towns had schools 1647, Massachusetts passed a law that said any town with 50 or more families had to build a school Older boys could go on to study at colleges such as Harvard Sports were common (horseracing, bowling, and town ball) Winter sports included ice skating or sledding

The Great Awakening By the early 1700s, the church had become less powerful Few belonged to churches In the 1730s, ministers began speaking throughout the colonies (2 famous Jonathon Edwards and George Whitefield) People were urged to renew their faith Religion became an important part of their life once again This renewed interest in religion became known as the Great Awakening because they felt they were waking up with new faith.

Review What was the Great Awakening? How were the chores New England girls did different from the chores New England boys did?

Idea Web New England Economy Fishing and WhalingFarming Shipbuilding Trade