1. Putting Down Roots Opportunity and Oppression in Colonial Society CHAPTER 3

2. Life Expectancy in the Colonies New England Came over in families which led to a high reproduction rate and low mortality rate that strengthened social stability Church membership and education was highly valued Chesapeake Came over with mostly males (sex ratio was 6 to 1) High death rate and lack of nuclear families led to a social instability Mortality rates so high that without immigration, population would have declined

3. Women New England Women’s roles – Farm labor, although not necessarily same tasks as men – Went to church more then men (2 to 1) Women could not control property Divorce difficult Both genders accommodated themselves to roles they believed God ordained Chesapeake Scarcity gave some women bargaining power in marriage market Female indentured servants vulnerable to sexual exploitation Childbearing extremely dangerous (shorter life expectancy by 20 yrs compared to NE)

4. Social Structure New England Absence of very rich created a new social order New England social order: – Large population of yeomen loyal to local community – Small population of landless laborers, servants, poor – Local gentry of prominent, pious families Only moderate disparities of wealth Servitude was more an apprenticeship Chesapeake Tobacco based economy led to Large landowners who controlled much of labor Great planters create social order: – Invested in workers – Amassed huge tracts of land – Gentry become colony’s elite leaders Greater disparities of wealth Servitude was more like slavery

5. Race and Freedom in British America Indians decimated by disease European indentured servant pool waned after 1660 Planter class in Chesapeake and Carolina’s need labor Enslaved Africans to fill demand for labor

6. Origins and Destinations of African Slaves, 1619-1760

7. African American Identities All Africans participated in creating an African American culture (part African + part American) Widespread resentment of debased status Armed resistance such as South Carolina’s Stono Rebellion of 1739 a threat – This led to slave owners to increase their power over their slaves

8. Rise of a Commercial Empire “Mercantilism” – One country’s gain is another country’s loss English leaders ignored colonies until 1650s Navigation Acts passed in 1660 – Generated revenue for the crown – Planters hurt by Navigation Acts (Increased prices of goods) – New England merchants skirted laws – After revisions, Navigation Acts eventually benefited colonial merchants

9. cotton iron lumber furniture tools textiles I’m bloody filthy rich! Navigation Acts ex: sugar, tobacco, indigo Most products could be sold only to England.

10. All products going to the colonies had to first go through England where the products were taxed spices tea spices tea

11. Effects of the Navigation Acts Increase in smuggling and avoiding Navigation Acts

12. Civil unrest in the Colonies English colonies experienced unrest at the end of the seventeenth century Winners gained legitimacy for their rule Examples – Bacon’s rebellion – King Philips War – Glorious Revolution The American colonies were all part of Great Britain but had little to do with each other