Patterns of Societyp. 84-91

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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??)

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

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!!