Patterns of Society

1. Patterns of Society p. 84-91

2. Social Mobility • England: land was scarce, population large, a small but powerful group of landowners existed • America: land was abundant, population small • Relied less on land ownership than on control of a large workforce • Social mobility was more possible in America

3. The Plantation • First plantations emerged in VA and MD: tobacco • Most were actually rough and small estates • Indentured servants worked in tough conditions where daily deaths were common • Workforce of a plantation was usually under 30 people

4. Plantation Economy • Unstable economy: if markets were good, they could make profit • If crop prices fell (tobacco in 1660’s), it could destroy the plantation • Residents lived in a cluster of buildings since cities were sparse • Wives of plantation owners relied on servants, they could then spend time on family

5. Plantation Slavery • Smaller farms: not a rigid social separation between whites and blacks • Larger plantations: ¾ of all blacks lived with at least 10 slaves, ½ with 50 or more to a plantation • Africans developed a society and culture of their own

6. Plantation Slavery • Slaves attempted to create nuclear families • Could at times build stable households • Problems: • Any family member could be sold at any time • Surrogate families were created to those sold

7. Slave Culture • Slaves developed languages of their own • Gullah: a hybrid of English and African • Done to communicate so English masters couldn’t understand what they said • Religion was blended as well: Christianity and African folklore were blended • Treatment of slaves was very mixed; some were treated well, others brutally

8. Stono Rebellion • Symbolizes the most important slave revolt • SC in 1739 • 100 Africans rose up, seized weapons, and killed several whites • Attempted to escape to FL • Uprising quickly crushed, most were executed

9. Other Facts: • Some slaves worked in the fields • Others cooked for and raised the whites’ children • Some learned trades such as blacksmithing, carpentry, shoemaking, spinning, weaving, sewing, etc… • Craftsmen (and women) could be hired out to other planters • Some could even buy freedom, but this was rare

10. Puritan Community • Each settlement drew up a covenant among its members • Bound all residents in a religious and social commitment to unity and harmony • Towns had houses and a meeting house arranged around a central pasture or common • Divided up the fields and woodlands among the residents

11. Puritan Community • Size and location of a family’s field depended on the family’s numbers, wealth, etc… • Families generally lived in the village with their neighbors close by • Strong sense of community

12. Puritan Democracy • A town was able to run its own affairs with little interference from the colonial gov’t • Yearly town meetings were held • Decided on important issues • Chose “selectmen” who governed until the next meeting • Adult males only allowed • Church membership was required for full participation

13. Puritan Democracy • Primogeniture-the passing of all inherited property to the firstborn son-did not take root in N.E. • Fathers would divide land among all of his sons • This control of inheritance was one of the most effective means of exercising power over male members of the family

14. Puritan Democracy • Sons usually stayed close to their fathers after moving • Women were more mobile, as their dowries were moveable objects (furniture, household goods, money, etc…) • Population growth become the major issue with the Puritans, as it compromised their tight-knit community

15. Population Pressure • As towns grew, residents cultivated land further from town centers • Farmers wanted to be close to their land • Some would ask to build a church out of town, which created new towns • This led to conflict

16. Population Pressure • As generations increased in number, inherited land was smaller and smaller by sons • Other towns sprouting up limited the land available on edges of towns • Sons had to leave the family to find enough land • Fathers needed their sons income as much as the sons needed land: big problem! • Family structure was weakened over time

17. Salem Witch Trials • This is on pages 88-89. We will be going over this on Tuesday. • Witchcraft spread through many N.E. towns in the 1690’s • Most were middle-aged women with few or no children • Most were of low social position • Frequently accused of other crimes • Witchcraft was a common feature of Puritan religious conviction

18. Growth of Colonial Cities • See charts on p. 89! • Growth of cities started slowly • By 1770’s, Philly had 28,000 and NY had 25,000 people; Boston, Charleston, Newport • Served as trading centers for farmers • Leaders were mostly merchants • In cities, social distinction was very evident

19. Commercial and Cultural Importance • Cities were centers of industry • Ironworks, distilleries for molasses • What schools existed were in cities, as were shops and cultural activities • Social problems existed: • Crime, vice, pollution, epidemics, traffic (what kind of traffic??)

20. City Structure • Set up constables offices, and fire dept’s • Effects of prices on goods affected merchants and could be severe • Newspapers were available, as were books • Taverns and coffee houses provided a forum for people to discuss issues

21. Inequality • John Winthrop: “Some must be rich, and some poor” • Wealthy families had many more privileges in all areas of life • Unlike any other time in history, the wealthy were actually the largest group of people in cities like Boston: this does not last!!