2. Social Mobility
England: land was scarce, population large, a small
but powerful group of landowners existed
America: land was abundant, population small
Relied less on land ownership than on control of a
large workforce
Social mobility was more possible in America
3. The Plantation
First plantations emerged in VA and MD: tobacco
Most were actually rough and small estates
Indentured servants worked in tough conditions
where daily deaths were common
Workforce of a plantation was usually under 30
people
4. Plantation Economy
Unstable economy: if markets were good, they
could make profit
If crop prices fell (tobacco in 1660’s), it could
destroy the plantation
Residents lived in a cluster of buildings since cities
were sparse
Wives of plantation owners relied on servants, they
could then spend time on family
5. Plantation Slavery
Smaller farms: not a rigid social separation between
whites and blacks
Larger plantations: ¾ of all blacks lived with at least
10 slaves, ½ with 50 or more to a plantation
Africans developed a society and culture of their
own
6. Plantation Slavery
Slaves attempted to create nuclear families
Could at times build stable households
Problems:
Any family member could be sold at any time
Surrogate families were created to those sold
7. Slave Culture
Slaves developed languages of their own
Gullah: a hybrid of English and African
Done to communicate so English masters couldn’t
understand what they said
Religion was blended as well: Christianity and
African folklore were blended
Treatment of slaves was very mixed; some were
treated well, others brutally
8. Stono Rebellion
Symbolizes the most important slave revolt
SC in 1739
100 Africans rose up, seized weapons, and killed
several whites
Attempted to escape to FL
Uprising quickly crushed, most were executed
9. Other Facts:
Some slaves worked in the fields
Others cooked for and raised the whites’ children
Some learned trades such as blacksmithing,
carpentry, shoemaking, spinning, weaving, sewing,
etc…
Craftsmen (and women) could be hired out to other
planters
Some could even buy freedom, but this was rare
10. Puritan Community
Each settlement drew up a covenant among its
members
Bound all residents in a religious and social
commitment to unity and harmony
Towns had houses and a meeting house arranged
around a central pasture or common
Divided up the fields and woodlands among the
residents
11. Puritan Community
Size and location of a family’s field depended on the
family’s numbers, wealth, etc…
Families generally lived in the village with their
neighbors close by
Strong sense of community
12. Puritan Democracy
A town was able to run its own affairs with little
interference from the colonial gov’t
Yearly town meetings were held
Decided on important issues
Chose “selectmen” who governed until the next
meeting
Adult males only allowed
Church membership was required for full
participation
13. Puritan Democracy
Primogeniture-the passing of all inherited property
to the firstborn son-did not take root in N.E.
Fathers would divide land among all of his sons
This control of inheritance was one of the most
effective means of exercising power over male
members of the family
14. Puritan Democracy
Sons usually stayed close to their fathers after
moving
Women were more mobile, as their dowries were
moveable objects (furniture, household goods,
money, etc…)
Population growth become the major issue with the
Puritans, as it compromised their tight-knit
community
15. Population Pressure
As towns grew, residents cultivated land further
from town centers
Farmers wanted to be close to their land
Some would ask to build a church out of town,
which created new towns
This led to conflict
16. Population Pressure
As generations increased in number, inherited land
was smaller and smaller by sons
Other towns sprouting up limited the land available
on edges of towns
Sons had to leave the family to find enough land
Fathers needed their sons income as much as the
sons needed land: big problem!
Family structure was weakened over time
17. Salem Witch Trials
This is on pages 88-89. We will be going over this on
Tuesday.
Witchcraft spread through many N.E. towns in the
1690’s
Most were middle-aged women with few or no children
Most were of low social position
Frequently accused of other crimes
Witchcraft was a common feature of Puritan religious
conviction
18. Growth of Colonial Cities
See charts on p. 89!
Growth of cities started slowly
By 1770’s, Philly had 28,000 and NY had 25,000
people; Boston, Charleston, Newport
Served as trading centers for farmers
Leaders were mostly merchants
In cities, social distinction was very evident
19. Commercial and Cultural Importance
Cities were centers of industry
Ironworks, distilleries for molasses
What schools existed were in cities, as were shops
and cultural activities
Social problems existed:
Crime, vice, pollution, epidemics, traffic (what kind
of traffic??)
20. City Structure
Set up constables offices, and fire dept’s
Effects of prices on goods affected merchants and
could be severe
Newspapers were available, as were books
Taverns and coffee houses provided a forum for
people to discuss issues
21. Inequality
John Winthrop: “Some must be rich, and some
poor”
Wealthy families had many more privileges in all
areas of life
Unlike any other time in history, the wealthy were
actually the largest group of people in cities like
Boston: this does not last!!