Colonial Society

People of the English Colonies

Various people in the English colonies came from England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Holland, Sweden, Finland, France, and countries of west Africa. The people of different backgrounds settled in respective colonies.

English

English settled along the Atlantic coast.

Scots

Scots settled in Pennsylvania and in the Appalachians.

Germans

Germans settled in Pennsylvania.

Other European Settlers

Dutch settled in New York.
Swedes and Finns settled in the Delaware Valley.
French settled throughout the colonies.

Africans

Africans "settled" throughout the colonies.
The black's trip to the New World differed from that of whites in that slave ships were greatly crowded, slaves were poorly fed, and thousands died.

Life in the English Colonies

Work Roles

Land was the economic base of colonial America.
Cities were important to colonial America as centers of trade.
Merchants: brought in goods the colony needed and sold what the colony produced.
Indentured Servants: were bound to work for someone in America, usually from five to seven years, to pay for their voyage from Europe. They were important in the English colonies as they provided a large work force.
Slaves: the first Africans to come to the English colonies came as indentured servants, not slaves. Later laws made their terms of service continuous. They were important in the English colonies as they provided a large work force.

Colonial Life

The family was the cornerstone of colonial society.
Social Activities: reading, music, games, hunting, fishing, and celebrations.
Women's Rights: women had few political or civil rights; however, they took on great responsibilities in caring for homes, farms, and businesses.
Religion: was one of the important influences on colonial life.

Regions in the Colonies

Geographic regions of the colonies were different from one another in climate, soil, land formation, political system, economic system, and social patterns.
Early colleges established in each region during colonial times include: Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth established in New England; the College of New Jersey (Princeton), Philadelphia College (University of Pennsylvania), Columbia, and Rutgers in the Middle Colonies; William and Mary in the Southern Colonies.

New England Colonies

Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, including Maine.
Education: Massachusetts had a tax-supported school system.
The Economy: most people had small farms, shipbuilding and fishing were important industries, molasses was brought from the West Indies to make rum (this and manufactured goods were traded for slaves: triangular trade).

Middle Colonies

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware (also called the "Bread Colonies").
Education: public education was not widespread.
The Economy: farming (especially grains), manufacturing done in homes, sawmills, flour mills, and brick mills (for building homes).

Southern Colonies

Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Education: children taught at home, most received little formal education.
The Economy: farming, exporting and importing, large plantations.
Colonial products in demand in England were tobacco, rice, and indigo.
Southern planters were able to make large profits because they did not pay the slaves.

Western Frontier

Life on the frontier was rugged, with no luxuries, manners, or fancy clothes. Settlers lived isolated lives and supplied their own material, educational, and spiritual needs.

From Conflict to Unity

Colonists and Indians

There was conflict between Indians and colonists because the settlers were taking Indian land.
New England Confederation: was formed to protect its members from hostile actions by the French and Dutch as well as by the Indians.
King Philip's War: several Indian groups in New England joined together with this Wampanoag chief to drive settlers from the land. Their actions made longtime enemies of the northeastern Indians and the New England colonists.
Relations in Pennsylvania: The relations were good at the beginning; however, as the Scots began moving into western lands conflicts between settlers and Indians became frequent.

Colonists and the Crown

Differences that developed between the colonies and the king of England include: English government set up stricter regulations on the colonies, but colonial business leaders looked for ways to avoid them.
Mercantilism: affected the colonies as it hurt the economy, but created colonial monopolies on the sale of tobacco, rice, and indigo.
Mercantile Laws: mercantilism was a means for England to make a profit from its colonies, and the laws made this possible.
Benefits: some colonists were able to monopolize the economy, and many who traded overseas were protected by the powerful English navy.

The British and the French

Intercolonial Wars: both countries wanted to extend their empires, and sometimes claimed the same lands in North America. The British and French engaged in a series of wars around the world to see who would be the leading European power. Each side had several Indian allies who aided them in their efforts. In 1754, the two nations fought over who controlled the Ohio Valley. A British commander, George Washington, was sent with a force to stop the French from building Fort Duquesne. He was driven off and this began the Seven Years War (also known as the French and Indian War).
A Plan of Union: Under this plan, the colonies would join together under a president general named by the king. A grand council would also be created, elected by the colonial assemblies. Together with the king and the president general, it would make laws for the colonists. The colonial governors and the king rejected Benjamin Franklin's Plan of Union because neither wished to give up or share power.
French and Indian War: The French were successful at the beginning of the war; however, the British, under the leadership of General Pitt, used their money and army wisely. The British went on the offensive and defeated the French in many battles. The French encouraged the Spanish to help them defeat the British in 1762. Nevertheless, France also suffered defeats in Europe, India, and the West Indies and agreed to surrender. In 1763, a treaty was signed ending the war. The results of the Treaty of Paris were: Britain received Canada and the lands east of the Mississippi River from France, and Florida from Spain.

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