03. Colonial Society in the Mid-Eighteenth Century

I. Social Structure/Family Life
    A. South – gap wide between rich and poor – hierarchy of wealth and status
        1. Planter aristocracy w/ slaves mimicking feudalism of Europe
        2. However, these planters were hardworking, involved in day-to-day affairs
        3. Few cities – poor transportation
        4. Women more powerful – men die leaving property to widows
            a. Weaker gender – see Eve’s failure
            b. Divorce rare – courts could order you to reunite
    B. North– not as much disease due to weather, reproduction high – fertile people/not soil    
        1. Early marriage = high birth rates, several mothers – death during childbirth
            a. Habits of obedience, strong links to grandparents
            b. Women’s role not as powerful – no property rights
    
II. Farm and Town Life
    A. Towns in New England united – geography/fear of Indians force close relations
        1. Puritanism makes unity important
        2. More than 50 families in town requires education
        3. Puritans ran churches democratically – led to democratic government
        4. New England way of life – climate, bad soil, Puritanism made people touch, self-reliant
            a. Seasons led to diversified agriculture and industry to survive
            b. Dense forests led to shipbuilding
            c. Not diverse at first – immigrants not attracted
    B. Southern settlement random by independent individual

III. Immigration – melting pot from the beginning
    A. Germans – left for war, religion, bad economy – settle in Pennsylvania – not pro-British
    B. Scotts-Irish – Scottish kicked out of Ireland because not Catholic – settled in mountains
        1. Lawless, individualistic – lived in Appalachian hills – whickey making
        2. Not wanted by Germans or New Englanders – forced to hills
    C. Other groups embraced – French, Dutch, Swedes, Jews, Irish, Swiss
    D. Largest immigrant group – slaves

IV. Economy – triangle trade in South – natural resources to England > weapons/textiles to Africa >slaves to Indies/South > sugar to America > England
    A. Economy – Agriculture #1 but, putting out system at home – manufacturing/lumbering
    B. South – staple crops of indigo, rice, tobacco

V. Great Awakening – people swaying from the lord – God all powerful – must return to church
    A. Started by Jonathan Edwards – Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
    B. Powerful, angry, animated speaking spread across colonies – United colonies ***

VI. Education – New England – colleges for lawyers, priests – theology and dead languages
    A. Independent thinking not encouraged – discipline severe – stuck in the classics

VII. Colonial Folkways – life not romantic, pretty boring
    A. Food pretty high protein, homes poorly made
    B.  pleasure came from working together – quilting, raising barn, painting, funerals, weddings
    C. Lotteries, horse racing, holidays celebrated, but not Christmas in New England