1.

Introduction

In1723,atiredteenagersteppedoffaboatontoawharfinPhiladelphia.Hewasan
oddlookingsight.Nothavingluggage,hehadstuffedhispocketswithextra
clothes.TheyoungmanfollowedagroupofcleandressedpeopleintoaQuaker
meetinghouse,wherehesoonfellasleep.
ThesleepingteenagerwiththelumpyclotheswasBenjaminFranklin.Hehadrecently
runawayfromhisbrotherJamessprintshopinBoston.Whenhewas12,Franklinhad
signedacontracttoworkforhisbrotherfornineyears.ButafterenduringJamess
nastytemperforfiveyears,Franklinpackedhispocketsandleft.
InPhiladelphia,Franklinquicklyfoundworkasaprintersassistant.Withinafewyears,
hehadsavedenoughmoneytoopenhisownprintshop.Hisfirstsuccesswasa
newspapercalledthePennsylvaniaGazette.
In1732,readersoftheGazettesawanadvertisementforPoorRichardsAlmanac.An
almanacisabook,publishedannually,thatcontainsweatherpredictions,plantingadvice
forfarmers,andinformationonotherusefulsubjects.Accordingtothead,Poor
RichardsAlmanacwaswrittenbyRichardSaundersandprintedbyB.Franklin.
Nobodyknewthenthatauthorandprinterwerethesameperson.
Franklinalsoprintedproverbs,orwisesayings,inhisalmanacs.Some,likethese,are
stillrememberedtoday:
Apennysavedisapennyearned.
Earlytobed,earlytorise,makesamanhealthy,wealthy,andwise.
Fishandvisitorssmellinthreedays.
PoorRichardsAlmanacsoldsowellthatFranklinwasabletoretireatage42.Amanof
manytalents,hespenttherestofhislonglifeasascientist,inventor,politicalleader,
diplomat,andnationalpostmaster.
Franklinsrisefrompennilessrunawaytowealthyprinterwasoneofmanycolonial
successstories.Inthischapter,youwilllearnwhatlifewaslikeforpeoplethroughout
thecoloniesinthe1700s.
2.LifeonaFarm
Thecolonistsdevelopedaneconomybasedonfarming,commerce(buyingandselling
goods),andhandcrafts.Nineoutoftenpeoplelivedonsmallfamilyfarms.Mostfarm
familiesraisedormadenearlyeverythingtheyneeded.Onefarmerwrotewithpride
aboutatypicalyear,Nothingtowear,eat,ordrinkwaspurchased,asmyfarmprovided
all.
Thefirstandhardesttaskfacingfarmfamilieswastoclearthelandoftrees.The
colonistshadonlysimple,basictools.Theycutdowntreeswithaxesandsaws.Then
theyusedthesametoolstocutsquaretimbersandflatplanksforbuildinghouses,
barns,andfences.
Imaginelivingonacolonialfarm.Yourhomeisasinglelargeroomwithafireplaceat
oneend.Inthisroom,yourfamilycooks,eats,andsleeps.Yourparentssleepinalarge
bedbuiltintoonecorner.Youryoungerbrothersandsisterssleepinasmallertrundle
bed,abedthatcanslideunderthebigbedduringtheday.Atbedtime,youclimba
laddernexttothechimneytosleepinanatticoraloft.Asyourfamilygrows,youhelpto
buildanotherroomontheothersideofthechimney.
Thefireplaceistheonlysourceofheatforwarmthandcooking,sokeepingasupplyof
firewoodisimportant.Thefireiskeptburningallthetimebecause,withoutmatches,itis
verydifficulttolightanewone.
Cookingisoneofthemostdangerousjobsonyourfarm.Foodiscookedinheavyiron
potshungoveranopenfire.Whileliftingorstirringthesepots,yourmothermightburn
herhands,scorchherclothes,orstrainherback.
Yourdayonthefarmstartsbeforesunrise.Everyonewakesupearlytosharethework.
Choresincludecuttingwood,feedinganimals,clearingland,tendingcrops,building
fences,makingfurnitureandtools,gatheringeggs,spinningthread,weavingcloth,
sewingclothes,makingcandlesandsoap,cooking,cleaning,andcaringforbabies.
3.LifeinCities
In1750,onecolonistoutof20livedinacity.Comparedtothequietfarmlife,citieswere
excitingplaces.
Theheartofthecitywasthewaterfront.There,shipsbroughtnewsfromEnglandas
wellaseagerlyawaiteditemssuchaspaint,carpets,furniture,andbooks.
Justbeyondthedocks,amarketplacebustledwithfisherssellingtheircatchand
farmerssellingfresheggs,milk,andcheese.Closebyweretaverns,wherefoodand
drinkwereserved.Peoplegatheredtheretoexchangegossipandnewsfromother
colonies.
Thenearbystreetswerelinedwithshops.Sparksflewfromtheblacksmithsblockashe
hammeredironintotools.Shoemakers,clockmakers,silversmiths,tailors,andother
craftspeopleturnedoutgoodsbasedonthelatestdesignsfromEngland.Therewere
barberstocutcolonistshairandwigmakerstomakeitlooklongagain.
Citieswerenoisy,smellyplaces.Churchbellsrangoutseveraltimesaday.Carts
clatteredloudlyoverstreetspavedwithroundcobblestones.Theairwasfilledwiththe
stenchofrottinggarbageandopensewers,butthecolonistswereusedtoit.Animals
ranlooseinthestreet.Duringhotweather,cloudsoffliesandmosquitoesswarmed
about.
Cityhomeswereclosetogetheronwindingstreets.Mostwerebuiltofwoodwith
thatchedroofs,likethehousesthecolonistshadleftbehindinEurope.Theirwindows
weresmall,becauseglasswascostly.
Forlighting,colonistsusedtorchesmadeofpinethatburnedbrightlywhentheywere
wedgedbetweenhearthstonesinthefireplace.Colonistsalsoburnedgreaseinmetal
containerscalledbettylampsandmadecandlesscentedwithbayberries.
Withtorchesandcandleslightinghomes,firewasaconstantdanger.Colonistskeptfire
bucketshangingbytheirfrontdoors.Whenafirebrokeout,thewholetownhelpedto
putitout.Grabbingtheirbuckets,colonistsformedadoublelinefromthefiretoariver,
pond,orwell.Theypassedthebucketsfullofwaterfromhandtohanduponelinetothe
fire.Thentheemptybucketswentbackdowntheoppositelinetoberefilled.
4.RightsofColonists
ColonistsinAmericasawthemselvesasEnglishcitizens.Theyexpectedthesamerightsthat
citizensenjoyedinEngland.Themostimportantofthesewastherighttohaveavoiceintheir
government.
MagnaCartaTheEnglishpeoplehadwontherighttoparticipateintheirgovernmentonlyaftera
longstruggle.Akeyvictoryinthisstrugglecamein1215,whenKingJohnagreedtosignMagna
Carta,orGreatCharter.Thisagreementestablishedtheideathatthepowerofthemonarch,or
ruler,waslimited.Noteventhekingwasabovethelaw.
ThenextmajorvictorywasthefoundingofParliamentin1265.Parliamentwasmadeupof
representativesfromacrossEngland.Overtime,itbecamealawmakingbodywiththepowerto
approvelawsandtaxesproposedbythekingorqueen.
In1685,James,theDukeofYork,becameKingJamesII.Thekingdidnotwanttosharepower
withanelectedassemblyinNewYork.Nordidhewanttosharepowerwithanelected
ParliamentinEngland.WhenhetriedtorulewithoutParliament,Jameswasforcedoffhis
throne.Thischangeinpower,whichtookplacewithoutbloodshed,isknownastheGlorious
Revolution.

TheEnglishBillofRightsIn1689,ParliamentofferedthecrowntoPrinceWilliamofOrangeand
hiswife,Mary.Inexchange,theyhadtoagreetoanact,orlaw,knownastheEnglishBillof
Rights.Thisactsaidthatthepowertomakelawsandimposetaxesbelongedtothepeoples
electedrepresentativesinParliamentandtonooneelse.Italsoincludedabill,orlist,ofrights
thatbelongedtothepeople.Amongtheseweretherighttopetitiontheking(requesthimto
changesomething)andtherighttotrialbyjury.
EnglishcolonistssawtheGloriousRevolutionasavictorynotonlyforParliament,butfortheir
colonialassembliesaswell.Theywantedtochoosethepeoplewhomadetheirlawsandset
theirtaxes.Afterall,thiswasacherishedrightofallEnglishcitizens.
CrimeandPunishmentEachcolonialassemblypasseditsownlawsdefiningcrimesand
punishments.However,mostcrimesweretreatedsimilarlyinallthecolonies.
Certainveryseriouscrimescouldbepunishedbydeath.Theseincludedmurder,treason(acts
ofdisloyaltytowardthegovernment),andpiracy(robberyatsea).PuritansinNewEngland
addedothercrimestothislistbasedontheirunderstandingofGodslawintheBible.InNew
England,colonistscouldbeputtodeathfordenyingthetrueGodorforstrikingorcursingtheir
parents.
Crimessuchastheft,forgery,andhighwayrobberycarriedharshpunishmentsineverycolony.
Forthesecrimes,peoplemightbejailed,whipped,orbrandedwithhotirons.
Lessercrimes,suchasdrunkennessandbreakingtheSabbath(workingortravelingon
Sunday),werepunishedwithfines,shortjailterms,orpublichumiliation.Acolonistcaught
breakingtheSabbath,forexample,mightbelockedinthetownstocks.Thestockswereaheavy
woodenframewithholesforapersonsneck,wrists,andankles.Lawbreakerswerelockedfor
hoursinthisdeviceinapublicplacewhereotherscouldridiculethem.
NogrouphadfirmerideasaboutrightandwrongthanNewEnglandsPuritans.ThePuritans
requiredeveryonetoattendchurchonSundays.Theyalsoforbadeanyonetoworkorplayon
thatday.ThePuritanswrotetheirSundaylawsinbookswithbluepaperbindings.Forthis
reason,theserulescametobeknownasbluelaws.Somebluelawspersisttothisday.In
Connecticut,forexample,itisstillillegalforstorestosellalcoholonSundays.
ThePuritanswereconstantlyonthewatchforsignsofSatan(believedtobeanevilangelwho
rebelledagainstGod).Satanwasthoughttoworkthroughwitches.In1692,fearofwitchcraft
overtookresidentsofSalem,Massachusetts,whenseveralgirlswereseenactingstrangelyin
church.Thegirlsaccusedtheirneighborsofbeingwitchesandputtingspellsonthem.Nineteen
accusedwitcheswereputtodeathduringtheSalemwitchtrialsbeforecalmwasrestoredand
thetownspeoplerealizedthatthegirlsaccusationswereuntrue.

5.LifeforAfricanAmericans
SlaveryinthecoloniesbeganinVirginia,withtobaccoplanters.Fromthere,itspreadbothnorth
andsouth.Bytheearly1700s,enslavedAfricanswerelivingineverycolony.EvenBenjamin
Franklinownedslavesforatime.ButlikemostpeopleintheNewEnglandandMiddleColonies,
Franklinfoundthathiringworkerswhenheneededthemcostlessthanowningslaves.
IntheSouthernColonies,however,slaveryexpandedrapidly.FromVirginiatoGeorgia,slaves
helpedraisetobacco,rice,indigo,andothercashcrops.
TheAtlanticSlaveTradeMostoftheslaveswhowerebroughttothecoloniescamefrom
WestAfrica.Yearafteryear,slaveshipsfilledwithcloth,guns,andrumsailedfromthecolonies
tothecoastofWestAfrica.There,thesegoodsweretradedforAfricans.Theshipsthen
returnedtotheAmericascarryingtheirhumancargo.
FortheAfricanspackedontoslaveships,theoceancrossingknownastheMiddle
Passagewasanightmare.Accordingtohisautobiography,OlaudahEquiano(ohLAUduh
ekweeAHnoh)wasjusttenyearsoldwhenhewasputontoaslaveship.Heneverforgotthe
closenessoftheplace...whichwassocrowdedthateachhadscarcelyroomtoturnhimself.
Nordidheforgettheshrieksofthewomen,andgroansofthedying.Theterrifiedboyrefusedto
eat,hopingforthelastfriend,Death,torelieveme.
AlthoughEquianosurvivedthevoyage,manyAfricansdiedofsicknessordespair.Evenso,the
Atlanticslavetradewasveryprofitable.Manycolonialmerchantsbuiltfortunestradinginhuman
beings.
WorkWithoutHopeTheslavesmastersinAmericademandedthattheAfricansworkhard.
MostenslavedAfricanswereputtoworkinthefieldsraisingcrops.Othersworkedasnurses,
carpenters,blacksmiths,drivers,servants,gardeners,andmidwives(peoplewhoassistwomen
givingbirth).Unlikeothercolonists,slaveshadlittlehopeofmakingabetterlife.Theirposition
wasfixedatthebottomofcolonialsociety.
Someslavesrebelledbyrefusingtoworkorrunningaway.Butmostadaptedtotheirunhappy
conditionasbesttheycould.Slowlyandpainfully,theybegantocreateanewAfricanAmerican
wayoflife.
6.Religion

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Religionwasanimportantpartofcoloniallife.Mostcoloniststriedtoleadgoodlivesbasedon
theirfaith.ChildrengrewupreadingtheBiblefromcovertocoverseveraltimesover.
PuritanChurchServicesInNewEngland,thesoundofadrumorhorncalledPuritansto
worshiponSundaymorning.Captainsofthewatchmadesureeveryonewasa
Sabbathkeeper.Sometimeshousesweresearchedtoensurethateveryonewasatchurch.
Churchserviceswereheldinthetownmeetinghouse.Thiswasthemostimportantbuildingin
thecommunityandwasusedforallpublicmeetings.Insidewererowsofwoodenbenches,
calledpews,andapulpit(aplatformwherethepreacherstood).Aseatingcommitteecarefully
assignedseats,withthebestonesgoingtoolder,wealthypeople.
Servicescouldlastaslongasfivehours.Atmidday,villagerswouldgotonoonhousesnear
thechurchtowarmthemselvesbyafire,eat,andsocialize.Thentheyreturnedtochurchforthe
longafternoonsermon.
TheGreatAwakeningBeginninginthe1730s,areligiousmovementknownastheGreat
Awakeningsweptthroughthecolonies.Thismovementwasspurredbyafeelingthatpeople
hadlosttheirreligiousfaith.Theformsofreligionwerekeptup,aPuritanobserved,butthere
waslittleofthepowerofGodinit.
Torevivepeoplesreligiousspirit,preacherstraveledfromtowntotownholdingoutdoorrevival
meetings.There,theydeliveredfierysermonstohugecrowds.Theirwordstouchedthehearts
andsoulsofmanycolonists.BenjaminFranklinwroteaboutthechangeheobservedin
Philadelphia:Itseemedasifalltheworldweregrowingreligious,sothatonecouldnotwalk
throughthetowninaneveningwithouthearingpsalms[Biblesongs]sungindifferentfamiliesof
everystreet.
TheGreatAwakeninghadapowerfuleffectonthecolonies.Ithelpedspreadtheideathatall
peopleareequalintheeyesofGod.OrdinarypeoplecouldunderstandGodswilliftheyhadan
openheartandadesiretoknowGodstruth.Byencouragingideasofliberty,equality,and
selfreliance,theGreatAwakeninghelpedpavethewayfortheAmericanRevolution.

7.Education
ExceptinNewEngland,mostchildreninthecoloniesreceivedlittleformaleducation.Neitherthe
MiddlenortheSouthernColonieshadpublicschools.
IntheSouthernColonies,mostfamilieswerespreadoutalongrivers.Afewneighborsmightget
togethertohireateacherfortheirchildren.Wealthyplantersoftenhiredtutorstoeducateyounger
childrenathome.Olderchildrenweresenttoschoolsindistantcities,orevenEngland,to
completetheireducation.
IntheMiddleColonies,religiousdifferencesamongQuakers,Catholics,Jews,Baptists,and
otherreligiousgroupsslowedthegrowthofpubliceducation.Eachreligiousgrouporfamilyhad
todecideforitselfhowtoeducateitschildren.Somegroupsbuiltchurchschools.Otherswere
contenttohaveparentsteachtheirchildrenathome.
OnlyinNewEnglandweretownsrequiredtoprovidepublicschools.ThePuritanssupportfor
educationwasinspiredbytheirreligiousfaith.Theywantedtheirchildrentobeabletoreadthe
Bible.
Toencourageeducation,Massachusettspassedalawin1647thatrequiredeverytownwith50
familiesormoretohireaninstructortoteachtheirchildrentoreadandwrite.Townswithmore
than100familieswererequiredtobuildaschool.SimilarlawswerepassedinotherNew
Englandcolonies.

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Parentswereaskedtocontributewhatevertheycouldtothevillageschool.Contributionsmight
bemoney,vegetables,firewood,oranythingelsetheschoolneeded.Often,landwassetaside
asschoolmeadowsorschoolfields.Thislandwasthenrentedouttoraisemoneyfor
teacherssalaries.
Schoolswereoneroombuildingswithachimneyandfireplaceinthecenter.Therewereno
boardstowriteonormaps.Pencilsandpaperwerescarce.Studentsshoutedoutspelling
wordsandwrotesumsininkonpiecesofbark.Therewasusuallyonebook,theNewEngland
Primer,whichwasusedtoteachthealphabet,syllables,andprayers.
Mostcolonistsbelievedthatboysneededmoreeducationthangirls.Femaleeducation,inthe
bestfamilies,wroteFirstLadyAbigailAdams,wentnofurtherthanwritingandarithmeticin
somefewandrareinstances,music,anddancing.
8.ColonialFamilies
Theconceptoffamilyhaschangedoftenthroughouthistory.Today,mostpeoplethinkofafamily
asbeingmadeupofparentsandtheirchildren.Incolonialtimes,however,familiesmightinclude
grandparents,auntsanduncles,cousins,andstepchildren.
MarriageColonialmenandwomengenerallymarriedintheirearlytomid20s.Thosewho
arrivedinAmericaasindenturedservantswerenotallowedtomarryuntiltheyhadgainedtheir
freedom.
Menoutnumberedwomenthroughoutthecolonies.Asaresult,almosteverywomanwas
assuredofreceivingamarriageproposal.Maidservantsofgoodhoneststock[family],wrotea
colonist,couldchoosetheirhusbandsoutofthebettersortofpeople.Forayoungwoman,
though,lifeasawifeandmotheroftenprovedtobeevenharderthanlifeasanindentured
servant.
LargeFamiliesColonialfamiliesweregenerallylarge.Mostfamilieshadbetweensevenandten
children.(BenjaminFranklinhad16brothersandsisters.)Farmfamilies,inparticular,neededall
thehandstheycouldgettohelpwithchores.
Religiousandculturalbackgroundsinfluencedcolonistsideasaboutraisingchildren.Butalmost
everywhereinthecolonies,childrenwereexpectedtobeproductivemembersofthefamily.
Marriedwomengavebirthmanytimes,butnearlyhalfofallchildrendiedbeforetheyreached
adulthood.ChildhooddeathswereespeciallyhighintheMiddleandSouthernColonies,where
thedeadlydiseaseofmalariaraged.Adultsoftendiedyoungaswell.Afterthedeathofawifeor
husband,menandwomenusuallyremarriedquickly.Thus,householdsoftenswelledwith
stepchildrenaswellasadoptedorphans(childrenwhoseparentshaddied).
Whethercolonistslivedincities,invillages,oronisolatedfarms,theirlivesfocusedontheir
families.Familymemberstookcareofoneanotherbecausetherewasnooneelsetodoso.
Youngfamiliesoftenwelcomedelderlygrandparents,aunts,uncles,andcousinsintotheir
homeswhentheycouldnolongercareforthemselves.Itdidntmatteriftherewasbarelyenough
roomforeveryone.Noonewouldturnawayaneedyrelative.
9.Leisure
Whilemostcolonistsworkedhard,theyenjoyedtheirperiodsofleisure(timeawayfromwork).
Theyalsotookadvantageofgatherings,suchastownmeetingsandSundayservices,totalk
withneighborsandmakefriends.

BeesandFrolicsWhenpossible,colonistscombined
workandplaybyorganizingbeesandfrolics.New
settlersmightholdachoppingbeeinwhichallthe
neighborshelpedclearthetreesofftheirland.Otherfrolicsincludedcornhuskingbeesformen
andquiltingbeesforwomen.Sharingtheworkmadeitfasterandmorefun.
TheGermansintroducedhouseandbarnraisingstothecolonies.Attheseevents,neighbors
joinedtogethertobuildtheframeofahouseorbarninoneday.Themenassembledthefour
wallsflatonthegroundandthenraisedthemintoplace.Meanwhile,thewomenpreparedahuge
feast.Attheendoftheday,everyonedancedonthebarnsnewfloor.
ToysandSportsColonialchildrenhadafewsimpletoys,suchasdolls,marbles,andtops.
Theyplayedtag,blindmansbluff,andstoolball,whichwasrelatedtotheEnglishgameofcricket
(agamelikebaseball).ChildreninNewEnglandalsoenjoyedcoastingdownsnowyhillson
sleds.Adultsmusthavethoughtcoastingwasdangerous,becauseseveralcommunities
forbadeit.
Adultsenjoyedseveralsports.Almosteveryvillagehadabowlinggreen.Here,menrolled
eggshapedballsdownalaneofgrasstowardawhiteballcalledajack.Colonistsalsoplayeda
gamesimilartobackgammoncalledticktackandaformofbilliards(pool)calledtrock.
IntheSouthernColonies,foxhuntingwithhorsesandhoundswasapopularsport.Cardplaying
wasanotherfavoritepastime,onethatNewEnglandPuritansdisapprovedofstrongly.Horse
racing,cockfighting,andbullbaitingwerealsopopularintheSouth.
Fairswereheldthroughoutthecolonies.Attheseevents,colonistscompetedincontestsofskill
andartistry.Therewerefootraces,wrestlingmatches,dancecontests,andwildscramblesto
seewhocouldwinaprizebycatchingagreasedpigorclimbingagreasedpole.
Summary
n
Inthischapter,youreadaboutvariousaspectsoflifeintheAmericancoloniesduring
theearly1700s.
FarmsandCitiesThecolonistsdevelopedaneconomybasedonfarming,commerce,and
crafts.Farmfamiliesproducedmostofwhattheyneededforthemselves.Inthevillagesand
cities,manytradesandcraftsdeveloped.
RightsofColonistsAmericancolonistsexpectedtoenjoyalltherightsofEnglishcitizens,
especiallytherighttohaveavoiceintheirowngovernment.Colonialassembliesdefinedcrimes
andpunishments.Punishmentswereoftenharsh,butformostofthe1700s,thecolonistswere
contenttoberuledbyEnglishlaws.
LifeforAfricanAmericansEnslavedAfricanAmericanshadalmostnorightsorevenhopefor
liberty.AfterbeingbroughttoAmericainchains,theyfacedalifeofforcedobedienceandtoil.
ReligionReligionwasveryimportanttothecolonists.TheGreatAwakeningrevivedreligious
feelingandhelpedspreadtheideathatallpeopleareequal.
EducationMostcolonialchildrenreceivedlittleeducation,exceptinNewEngland.Instead,they
wereexpectedtocontributetotheworkofthefarmorhome.
FamilyandLeisureMostcolonialfamilieswerelarge.Theyoftenincludedmanyrelativesin
additiontoparentsandtheirchildren.Muchofcoloniallifewashardwork,butcolonistsalso
foundtimetoenjoysportsandgames.