Instead, they were expected to contribute to the work of the farm or home.įamily and Leisure Most colonial families were large. The Great Awakening revived religious feeling and helped spread the idea that all people are equal.Įducation Most colonial children received little education, except in New England. Religion Religion was very important to the colonists. After being brought to America in chains, they faced a life of forced obedience and toil. Life for African Americans Enslaved African Americans had almost no rights or even hope for liberty. Punishments were often harsh, but for most of the 1700s, the colonists were content to be ruled by English laws.
Colonial assemblies defined crimes and punishments. Rights of Colonists American colonists expected to enjoy all the rights of English citizens, especially the right to have a voice in their own government. In the villages and cities, many trades and crafts developed. Farm families produced most of what they needed for themselves. In this chapter, you read about various aspects of life in the American colonies during the early 1700s.įarms and Cities The colonists developed an economy based on farming, commerce, and crafts. There were footraces, wrestling matches, dance contests, and wild scrambles to see who could win a prize by catching a greased pig or climbing a greased pole. At these events, colonists competed in contests of skill and artistry. Horse racing, cockfighting, and bull baiting were also popular in the South.Fairs were held throughout the colonies. Card playing was another favorite pastime, one that New England Puritans disapproved of strongly. Colonists also played a game similar to backgammon called tick-tack and a form of billiards (pool) called trock.In the Southern Colonies, fox hunting with horses and hounds was a popular sport. Here, men rolled egg-shaped balls down a lane of grass toward a white ball called a jack. Almost every village had a bowling green. Sharing the work made it faster and more fun.Adults enjoyed several sports. Other frolics included corn-husking bees for men and quilting bees for women. When possible, colonists combined work and play by organizing "bees" and "frolics." New settlers might hold a "chopping bee" in which all the neighbors helped clear the trees off their land.
Among these were the right to petition the king (request him to change something) and the right to trial by jury. It also included a bill, or list, of rights that belonged to the people. This act said that the power to make laws and impose taxes belonged to the people's elected representatives in Parliament and to no one else.
In exchange, they had to agree to an act, or law, known as the English Bill of Rights. In 1689, Parliament offered the crown to Prince William of Orange and his wife, Mary. Over time, it became a lawmaking body with the power to approve laws and taxes proposed by the king or queen. Parliament was made up of representatives from across England. Not even the king was above the law.The next major victory was the founding of Parliament in 1265. A key victory in this struggle came in 1215, when King John agreed to sign Magna Carta, or "Great Charter." This agreement established the idea that the power of the monarch, or ruler, was limited. The English people had won the right to participate in their government only after a long struggle.
Their windows were small, because glass was costly. Most were built of wood with thatched roofs, like the houses the colonists had left behind in Europe. During hot weather, clouds of flies and mosquitoes swarmed about.City homes were close together on winding streets. The air was filled with the stench of rotting garbage and open sewers, but the colonists were used to it. Carts clattered loudly over streets paved with round cobblestones. Church bells rang out several times a day. There were barbers to cut colonists' hair and wig makers to make it look long again.Cities were noisy, smelly places. Shoemakers, clock makers, silversmiths, tailors, and other craftspeople turned out goods based on the latest designs from England. Sparks flew from the blacksmith's block as he hammered iron into tools. People gathered there to exchange gossip and news from other colonies.The nearby streets were lined with shops. Close by were taverns, where food and drink were served. Just beyond the docks, a marketplace bustled with fishers selling their catch and farmers selling fresh eggs, milk, and cheese.