Life in the 17 th Century

1. Life in the 17th Century

2. From camps to settlements Euros ( and slaves) adapt to American Life. Natives adapting to the Euros. Still strongly tied to Eng. But- regional differences are becoming blatantly apparent. Life In the 17th Century

3. Malaria, dysentery, and typhoid. Half of people in Vir. and Maryland don’t reach 20th birthday. Women- very few, most pregnant before marriage. Early on, “resupplies” of people keep colony a float. But, by 1700’s most populated areas. Virginia 1st Maryland 3rd Sickness and the Chesapeake

4. Tobacco profits keep colonists coming. Overgrowth kills soil Overproduction of tobacco makes prices drop. Farmers respond by planting even more. Tobacco Economy

5. Problem- who works the fields? Slaves- too expensive Children- not being born Natives- diseases, and geographical. Tobacco Requires Labor

6. Unemployed and prisoners Indentured servants – 4 –7 years. White “slaves”

7. Headright system- whoever pays the passage of a laborer received the right to acquire fifty acres of land. 2/3 of the population in Chesapeake region. White “slaves”

8. Many in area- no decent land chances, no women to marry. Vir. Gov. William Berkeley- has friendly policies with natives to takes advantage of lucrative fur trade. Why might this create problems? Discontent and Rebellion

9. Natives attack frontiersmen, Berkeley does not punish them. Nathaniel Bacon leads group of indentured servants (black and white) on a rampage, including burning down Jamestown. Bacon dies, movement dies with him 23 men hung Bacon’s Rebellion

10. Social discontent is obvious. Solution- import African Slaves. Prices have become reasonable. Hope to elevate poor whites status Consequences of the Rebellion

11. 7-11 million depending on source. Only 6-7 % of slaves end up in North America. Royal African Company- lost monopoly on slave trade to the colonies. America (especially RI) enters the lucrative slave trade. Colonial Slavery

12. Most from stretch of West Africa. Route known as Middle Passage 20% death rate Major slave ports, Newport and Charleston 1662- laws enacted to ensure blacks stay slaves. Colonial Slavery

13. Colonial Slavery

14. South- weather and work lowers life expectancy Chesapeake- tobacco makes slave life “better” 1. Less strenuous work 2. Plantations are smaller and more condense, allow some communication. 1720’s- Chesapeake now has self sustaining slave system. Slavery in America

15. Unique slave culture is formed- mix of Africa and America Speech, religion, and music Banjo, bongo drum Slavery in America

16. New York Slave Revolt 1712 23 slaves 9 white dead, 6 injured Problems in NY- cramped plantation life, and slaves communicating with freed men. Result- 70 blacks arrested, 21 executed Long term effects-more restrictive laws passed. Ex 1. Blacks may not have a gathering of three or more. Ex. 2- if owner frees a slave, 200 pound tax, much more than the cost of the slave. Early Slave Rebellions

18. Roughly sixty slaves join in hopes of reaching Spanish controlled Florida. Carried a banner “Liberty” 22-25 whites killed Effect- SC stops slave imports for ten years!, when continues stopped getting slaves from Kongo region. Long term effects 1.Slavery is firmly implanted 2. Slave rebellions don’t come close to Bacon’s rebellion. Stono Rebellion

20. Very rigid social classes. First families of Virginia (FFV) Extended families, streching back to 1690’s. Prior to revolution, 70% of Vir. House of Burgesses are FFV Southern Society

21. Social Ladder 1. Planter class- Large plantations Large amounts of slaves Control politics and economy of the South Very small portion of population about 5% or less Southern Society

22. 2. Small farmers Huge decline in influence and prestige Largest portion of population Small land plot Maybe owned up to 5 slaves Goal- become large land owners. Southern Society

23. 3. Landless whites, usually freed from indenture. 4. Indentured servants- numbers diminish. 5. Slaves Southern Society

24. Few cities or roads Large plantations are spread out and isolated on rivers. Lack of roads also affects development of schools and education Family burial plots. Southern Physical Society

25. Cooler h2o and air temps- less presence of microbes. Lived an average of ten years more than those in south (Chesapeake) Life in New England

26. Came as families, family is the core. Almost from onset, NE is self sustaining population. Married women- have about ten children- usually 8 survive. House mom is full time job Life in NE

27. NE- Women give up property rights upon marriage This is to avoid under cutting of unity by acknowledging conflicting interests between man and wife. South- strict class society, but men die much more earlier. Women of south are allowed in inherit lands after husbands death. Womens’ Rights

28. Can’t vote, seen as morally weak. But- husband doesn’t have absolute power. Most NE laws aimed at preserving marriage. Women’s Rights

29. Tightly knit society South- planters grabbed land NE- towns receive legal charters Family plots include woodlot, plot of farmland, plot for animals. Urban Life in NE

30. Town with more than 50 families must have a school Half of population is literate. 1636- 6 years after landing, Mass. Puritans establish Harvard (took Virginia 86 years) Urban Life in NE

31. Congregational Church government Town meetings- adult males allowed to voice and vote. Early seeds of representational government. Urban Life in NE

32. Population growth pushes puritans away from city, thus away from control of church. Jeremiad- doom saying, scolds people for getting away from God. Evidence- decline in conversions. Religious problems in NE

33. 1662- Church allows baptisms, but doesn’t extend full membership Partial membership- weakened distinction between the “elect” and others. Puritan churches soon open door to all- religious purity is sacrificed for wider religious participation. Half Way Covenant

34. Adolescent girls scream witch More of a class war. Accused- come from market economy Accusers- back country Demonstrates Widening social stratification Religious influence losing to commercialism Salem Witch Trials

35. Poor stony soil- puts emphasis on industry and being frugal Less immigration- who wants to go to bad farm lands and hear intense sermons. Cold weather = less immigrants Slavery- not profitable NE Geography

36. Poor soil- encourages crop diversity Dense forests- shipping building industry and commerce is huge Coast = cod galore- “gold mines of New England” NE Geography

37. Natives- recognize right to use land, but don’t conceptualize individual ownership. Already had many establish trails throughout woods. Draft animals- require land to be cleared Draft animals- pound soil, speed up erosion and flooding. Settlers claim Natives are “wasting” the Earth, for not taking her bounty. Natives, Settlers, Geography

38. Calvinism, soil, climate create stubborn, self reliant, purposeful people. I come from the city of Boston The home of bean and cod Where the Cabots speak only to the Lowells And the Lowells speak only to God. Lose the tude NE

39. Seasons and sun determine colonial life. Most were farmers Spring- Plant crops Summer- Tend crops Fall- Harvest Crops Winter- Prepare for next harvest Women and men have traditional roles. Life in America generally better off then those in Europe. Land is generally cheap and available (less in south) Geography determines all

40. As colonial life becomes “safe”- most immigrants come from middle classes. Some upper class try to reinforce social differences. Leisler Rebellion- lordly land owners vs. aspiring merchants. This is the New World not the Old