Life in the Colonies (Part II)
Class Differences
In Colonial America there were three social classes. The highest class was the gentry, who were rich. They were the governors, judges, and plantation owners. They lived in big houses and are treated with respect. They did no work with their hands and had a good education.
The next class was the middle class, or middlin' sort. They were the silversmiths, ironsmiths, and anybody who works a trade. They lived in nice homes, and were treated with some respect.
The last class was the lower class. They were treated with no respect because they are the slaves, Indians and poor whites. The slaves lived in little one room houses and worked in the fields or homes of their masters . Indians lived small villages and had to protect their land from farmers who wanted it for their crops. Poor whites couldn't even vote because they didn't own land. All groups had a poor education. This is how the people of Colonial America were split into classes.
Kalman, Bobby. Colonial America . New York: Kalman Corporation, 1992.
By: Alex P.
A slave home
Death and Funerals In Colonial America
Come with me to an 18th century funeral. Death is very sad but is common in this century. Children die of diseases such as diphtheria, yellow fever, scarlet fever and smallpox. Families start out large but don’t usually stay that way. This is because one in every four children die. By the time most colonial children are 13 years. old, at least one of their parents are gone, sometimes both. By the time most colonial children have reached adulthood, it is common that both parents are gone-unless they are lucky. Because of this children are forced to do many more chores and be responsible at a very young age.
Funerals are attended by close friends and family. It is a chance for the gentry class to show off their wealth with lavish gifts and food, as well as to grieve. After the funeral important, or wealthy people are usually buried under the church floor, and less important people are buried in orchards or gardens. The rule is pretty that the more important you are in society the closer to the church you are buried. Even though the wealthy brought gifts and food, for most people it was a time to grieve and show pity for the dead. Funerals are a sad but necessary affair.
Barrett,Tracy. Growing Up In Colonial America .Brookfield CT.: Millbrook Press,1995.
By:Meredith K.
LEISURE TIME
What was leisure time like in the English Colonies? Leisure time was rare. On holidays peole would get together with their families. At Christmas they would have a feast and exchange gifts at dinner. They would have husking bees, greased pole climbing, greased pig chasing, hopscotch, jump rope, marbles , or tag. Leisure was a time that everyone enjoyed.
They were very superstitious too! On Halloween they would walk out the door backwards, pick up a piece of grass, wrap it in a paper towel and put it in a pillow. If it rained on Easter, it would rain for seven Sundays after, and if a cat sat next to you, it’s giving you peace.
Kalman, Bobby . Early Pleasures and Pastimes. New York: Crabtree, 1992.
By Kathy K.
Life on the frontier
Colonist moved west to get away from big crowds and taxes. On the move many people died from starvation, and Indian and animal attacks.
The survivors had a harder time in their homes. Their houses were poorly built and couldn’t stand up to rough weather. The farmers had trouble with locusts and other bugs. They eat the farmers crops.
The farmers only protection was their muskets. They use it for hunting and protection against varmints. Cooking was another problem. They didn’t have the right utensils. One utensil they didn’t have was tongs to get the musket ball out of an animals body. This is why it was so hard to live on the frontier.
Gunby, Lise. Early Farm Life. Toronto: Crabtree, 1983.
By Ryan W.
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