Colonial families had different structures depending on whether they lived on farms or in cities. On farms, extended families worked together and everyone had responsibilities. In cities, it was easier to live alone as a single person in a boarding house or as a servant. Men had authority over the household and women were expected to marry for economic and religious reasons rather than love, taking on domestic duties. Children also had household responsibilities from a young age. Colonial society was stratified, with social class determined mainly by land ownership. The upper class included wealthy landowners while the middle class comprised farmers and artisans. Indentured servants contracted their labor temporarily in exchange for passage to America.

1. Chapter 4 Section 2
Colonial Society
Prentice Hall
America
History of
Our Nation
A. Barnette
2013

2. The Family in Colonial Times
 Farm Life
◦ Extended families
◦ Responsibilities for
each family member
◦ Self-sufficient
◦ Uncomfortable
furnishings
◦ Made their own
entertainment

3. The Family in Colonial Times
 City Life
◦ Easier to live as a
single person
◦ Single people
usually lived as a
servant or in a
boarding house
◦ Family ties still
important

4. Men, Women, and
Children
Each had different important roles in the family.

5. Men, Women, and Children
 Men-had authority
over household
and acted as the
family
representative

6. Women
 A woman was expected to
marry, not because of
love, but because her
parents thought the man
would be the best fit
religiously, socially, and
economically for her.
 She submitted to the
husband’s authority, and
acted as his helpmeet.
 She did household chores
of the time: churning,
spinning yarn, sewing,
cleaning, cooking over an
open fire, tending to the
“close in” needs like
milking, chicken feeding,
garden tending.
 She couldn’t vote.

7. Children
 Unless they were
wealthy, children
usually had
homemade toys.
 By the age of 7, they
had responsibilities
that grew with them.
 Boys might be sent
to live away from the
family as an
apprentice to learn a
trade.

8. Social Classes
 The major
determinant of
social class was
how much land one
owned.
 Social class tended
to be constant for
generations, but
could be improved
in the colonies.

9. The Gentry
 The Upper Class
◦ Wealthy planters
◦ Royal officials
◦ Merchants
◦ Successful lawyers
◦ Extremely
successful artisans
◦ Often felt a great
responsibility to
serve their
community

10. The Middle Class
 Not rich or poor
◦ Small planters
◦ Independent farmers
◦ Artisans
◦ White colonists and
free blacks
◦ Could vote
◦ A growing segment
of society in the
colonies

11. Indentured Servants
 They contracted their
service for a number
of years in order to get
the opportunity to live
in the colonies.
 They were often
treated cruelly.
 If they endured the
contract period, they
might receive little
land and some
essential needs.
 They often remained
poor.

12. Free African Americans
 There were only
about 60,000 free
African American
people, as
opposed to
757,000 slaves.
 Some bought, sold,
and held slaves
themselves.
 They could own
property, but could
not vote.