5.2 – Life in New England

A Religious Way of LifePuritans based their lives off of their

religious beliefs.Very concerned with how God and their

community would judge them.

Church ServicesEVERYONE went to church

on Sundays.Service lasted all day, and

missing it or falling asleep resulted in harsh punishments.

Speaking out against the church also resulted in punishment.

Free time was spent fishing or quilting, as they were productive.

Everyday LifeEveryone lived in small, close towns.Towns were built around a common where

animals could graze on grass.The barter system was used, not money.

The Town MeetingAt least once a year, each town held a town

meeting, where new laws would be voted on and leaders would be elected.

Yet again, only white men who owned land could vote.

Some states, like Massachusetts, had a colony-wide court that made the laws.

A Puritan HomeWomen/girls:

Cooked and baked over a large fireplaceDried fruit and vegetables to saveMade clothing, soap and candles

A Puritan HomeMen/boys:

Men would farm and huntChopped firewood and

made toolsRaised livestock and made

leatherEveryone would help

harvest in the fallEveryone would trade

goods for paper, paint, and sugar

Childhood in New EnglandPuritan families were large, so they played

games with each other.School was VERY important! Early laws required

towns to have schools, and New England had the more schools than the other colonies.

Learning to ReadPaper was costly, so

children learned to read from hornbooks.

They would hang the book around their neck to use as reference.

Only went to school for a few years, then would help at home.

In 1636, the Puritans founded Harvard College to train new ministers.