How did colonial life add to the American character

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How did colonial life add to the American
character?
LESSON 4 American Life in the Seventeenth Century
(1607-1692)
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Chesapeake life

• UNHEALTHY CHESAPEAKE
• Families few and fragile
• Dominated by single men
• Nearly 100 years before population grew on its
  own
• Tobacco led economy
• Exhaustion of soil led to push for new land
• More tobacco ? more labor

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What led the drive for new sources of labor?

• INDENTURED SERVANTS Labor traded for
  transatlantic passage and freedom dues
• HEADRIGHT SYSTEM Those paying for labor acquired
  land

4
What led to Bacons Rebellion?

• BACONS REBELLION (1676) Rebel frontiersmen
  struck against wealthy landowners
• Frustration over lack of land
• Lack of protection against Indians
• Signaled downturn of indentured servitude

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Slavery An answer to Bacons Rebellion

• 1680s Importation of slaves grew
• Improved economy in England ended migration of
  landless
• Fear of further rebellion plagued colonial gentry
• 1750 Africans nearly half of Virginian population

Refer to handout on Slavery in the Colonies for
more information
6
How did slavery affect Southern society?

• Early 1800s Hierarchy of wealth and status
  developed
• Most planters were hard-working
• Small farmers ? largest social group
• Landless whites ? greatest threat
• Urban professionals slow to grow ? few cities in
  agrarian South

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How did New England life differ from Southern
life?

• NEW ENGLAND FAMILY DOMINANCE
• Healthier New England helped improve lifespan
• Families migrated, not single men
• Family stability, but not as free
• Early marriages
• Women subservient ? drive for greater rights
  began
• Less economic rights for women

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New England Opposite of Chesapeake?

• Basis of society VILLAGE/FARM
• MEETINGHOUSE Center of town activity
• Elementary education flourished in larger towns ?
  high adult literacy
• Puritan government centered on town meetings

10
Puritans response to secularism

• Religious zeal decreased over time
• Puritans suffered from decline of conversions
• HALF-WAY COVENANT Allowed baptism of children of
  existing members
• Women became majority of church membership

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Witches?

• WITCH HUNTS Persecution of women (prejudice,
  superstitions)
• Accusers from outside village
• Reflected social stratification issues
• Fear of Puritan heritage being swallowed by
  Yankee commercialism