Colonial LifeColonial Life

Part 1 - GoverningPart 1 - GoverningEnglish Parliament ReviewEnglish Parliament Review– Magna Carta (1215) – signed by Magna Carta (1215) – signed by

King JohnKing JohnLimited the monarch’s right to levy Limited the monarch’s right to levy taxestaxesOriginally only intended for nobles Originally only intended for nobles but extended to all citizensbut extended to all citizensThe Magna Carta formed The Magna Carta formed Parliament a two-house Parliament a two-house lawmaking bodylawmaking body

– House of Lords - nobles House of Lords - nobles inherited power inherited power

– House of Commons – members House of Commons – members elected by rich men and elected by rich men and landownerslandowners

– Parliament’s Greatest power = Parliament’s Greatest power = approving new taxesapproving new taxes

– English Bill of Rights (1689) – English Bill of Rights (1689) – King William and Queen MaryKing William and Queen Mary

Glorious Revolution removed King Glorious Revolution removed King James from power and invited his James from power and invited his daughter and her husband to rule daughter and her husband to rule since they were more open to since they were more open to expand Parliament’s powerexpand Parliament’s power

Critical Thinking:Critical Thinking:

Name two ideas or parts of Name two ideas or parts of English government that English government that influenced our American influenced our American

government.government.

Part 1 - GoverningPart 1 - GoverningColonial Self-GovernmentColonial Self-Government– Colonists called for a voice in Colonists called for a voice in

government and to rule themselves government and to rule themselves due to the influence of English due to the influence of English laws.laws.

– Colonial LegislaturesColonial Legislatures1619 – Virginia Company allowed 1619 – Virginia Company allowed House of Burgesses to make laws House of Burgesses to make laws for Jamestown Company (1for Jamestown Company (1stst legislature in British North America).legislature in British North America).

1629 – General Court set up in 1629 – General Court set up in Massachusetts where colonists Massachusetts where colonists elected delegates (representatives)elected delegates (representatives)

William Penn given ownership of William Penn given ownership of Pennsylvania by the BritishPennsylvania by the British

– As Royal Governor, only Penn and As Royal Governor, only Penn and his council could make laws, not his council could make laws, not citizens.citizens.

– 1701 – Colonists forced Penn to 1701 – Colonists forced Penn to agree to let the General Assembly agree to let the General Assembly make laws that only the King could make laws that only the King could overturn.overturn.

Part 1 - GoverningPart 1 - Governing1760 – Every British colony in 1760 – Every British colony in North America had some form North America had some form of legislature (law making of legislature (law making body).body).

– Legislatures clashed with Legislatures clashed with the King of England and the King of England and their own colonial governors their own colonial governors who usually supported King.who usually supported King.

– Right to Vote in the ColoniesRight to Vote in the Colonies50% to 75% of all white males 50% to 75% of all white males could votecould vote

Much higher percentage than Much higher percentage than in Englandin England

Africans, Native Americans, Africans, Native Americans, slaves, non-land owners, and slaves, non-land owners, and women could not vote.women could not vote.

Questions:Questions:

Who was given ownership Who was given ownership of Pennsylvania by the of Pennsylvania by the

British?British?

Who could vote in the Who could vote in the American colonies?American colonies?

Part 1 - GoverningPart 1 - GoverningRegulating TradeRegulating Trade– Mercantilism = colonies existed to Mercantilism = colonies existed to

serve the economic needs of serve the economic needs of EnglandEngland

The colonies were sources of raw The colonies were sources of raw materials and sales opportunities materials and sales opportunities for Englandfor EnglandNavigation Acts – Navigation Acts –

– 1) Shipments from Europe to the 1) Shipments from Europe to the colonies had to pass through colonies had to pass through England first.England first.

– 2) Only ships built and owned by 2) Only ships built and owned by England were allowed to import England were allowed to import goods to England from the goods to England from the colonies.colonies.

– 3) The colonists could sell 3) The colonists could sell certain key items (tobacco, certain key items (tobacco, sugar, etc) to England only.sugar, etc) to England only.

– Benefited colonists because it Benefited colonists because it ensured a market for their goods ensured a market for their goods and encouraged ship building.and encouraged ship building.

– Some colonists resented Acts Some colonists resented Acts because they felt they favored because they felt they favored English merchants and restricted English merchants and restricted the amount of money they could the amount of money they could make.make.

Critical Thinking:Critical Thinking:

How did the Navigation How did the Navigation Acts benefit the colonies?Acts benefit the colonies?

Why would the Navigation Why would the Navigation Acts encourage smuggling Acts encourage smuggling

in the colonies?in the colonies?

Part 2 - SocietyPart 2 - SocietyFamiliesFamilies– Very important, included extended Very important, included extended

familyfamily– Farm Families – most colonists Farm Families – most colonists

lived on farmslived on farmsLarge families an advantageLarge families an advantageClosely knit and self-sufficientClosely knit and self-sufficientResponsibilities given to each Responsibilities given to each family memberfamily member

– Examples: Planting, cultivating, Examples: Planting, cultivating, harvesting, houseworkharvesting, housework

Houses were not very comfortableHouses were not very comfortable– Made out of wood, few rooms, Made out of wood, few rooms,

crude utensils, cold during wintercrude utensils, cold during winter

– Town FamiliesTown FamiliesFew cities and townsFew cities and townsEasier for single peopleEasier for single peopleFamily still held in high regardFamily still held in high regardSingles expected to live with Singles expected to live with family or board in someone’s family or board in someone’s homehome

Part 2 - SocietyPart 2 - Society

RolesRoles– MenMen

Controled incomeControled incomeManaged propertyManaged propertyCommanded authorityCommanded authorityRepresented household in Represented household in public lifepublic life

– Voting, officeholderVoting, officeholder

– WomenWomenMarried men chosen by Married men chosen by parentparent

– Based on property, religion, Based on property, religion, and family needsand family needs

Many domestic Many domestic responsibilitiesresponsibilities

– Cooking, laundry, Cooking, laundry, gardening, farminggardening, farming

Little or no public lifeLittle or no public life

Part 2 - SocietyPart 2 - Society– Young PeopleYoung People

Under seven years oldUnder seven years old– Played jump rope, Played jump rope,

hopscotch, marbles, and hopscotch, marbles, and homemade toyshomemade toys

– The wealthier the family, the The wealthier the family, the better the toysbetter the toys

Expected to work by seven Expected to work by seven years of ageyears of age

– If they lived through infancyIf they lived through infancy

Girls = Worked in the homeGirls = Worked in the homeBoys = Worked in the fields or Boys = Worked in the fields or as apprenticesas apprentices

– Apprenticeship – prepared Apprenticeship – prepared boys to work in future boys to work in future professionsprofessions

Adults believed working Adults believed working prepared children for life as prepared children for life as an adultan adult

Questions:Questions:

Why were large families an Why were large families an advantage in Colonial advantage in Colonial

America?America?

What household person What household person managed property and managed property and

controlled income?controlled income?

Part 2 - SocietyPart 2 - Society

Social ClassesSocial Classes– In England, land ownership In England, land ownership

measured wealth.measured wealth.– Land in American colonies Land in American colonies

was plentiful which made it was plentiful which made it appealing to Englishmen.appealing to Englishmen.

– Social status in England Social status in England was determined by birth.was determined by birth.

– American colonies had American colonies had classes but were more classes but were more socially equal than in socially equal than in England.England.

Part 2 - SocietyPart 2 - Society– GentryGentry

Upper class colonialsUpper class colonials– Planters, merchants, Planters, merchants,

ministers, officials, lawyersministers, officials, lawyers

Few in numberFew in numberMost powerful peopleMost powerful peopleGentry often held official jobs Gentry often held official jobs because there was no pay for because there was no pay for those jobsthose jobs

– Considered serving a duty Considered serving a duty and a rightand a right

– Middle ClassMiddle ClassMajority of colonistsMajority of colonists

– Planters, independent Planters, independent farmers, artisansfarmers, artisans

Not rich, not poorNot rich, not poorMainly whiteMainly whiteContinually growingContinually growingGave poor something to strive Gave poor something to strive forfor

Part 2 - SocietyPart 2 - Society– Indentured ServantsIndentured Servants

Contracted workers doing 4 to 10 Contracted workers doing 4 to 10 years work for person who paid years work for person who paid for them to go to the coloniesfor them to go to the coloniesJust above slavesJust above slaves1600s - most came from England1600s - most came from England1700s – growing numbers from 1700s – growing numbers from Germany and IrelandGermany and IrelandFew, if any, rightsFew, if any, rightsBound to obey master who could Bound to obey master who could work them to death and add work them to death and add service time for disobeying or service time for disobeying or committing criminal activitycommitting criminal activityAt end of service, received a set At end of service, received a set of clothes, tools, and 50 acres of of clothes, tools, and 50 acres of land land Only 2/10 became prosperousOnly 2/10 became prosperous

– Free African AmericansFree African Americans60,000 free in 1790 compared to 60,000 free in 1790 compared to 757,000 enslaved757,000 enslavedAllowed to own property and Allowed to own property and slavesslavesHad restricted livesHad restricted lives

Questions:Questions:

How do you feel about How do you feel about Africans in the colonies could Africans in the colonies could

own slaves? Explain.own slaves? Explain.

Would you have been an Would you have been an indentured servant in Colonial indentured servant in Colonial

America? Why or why not?America? Why or why not?