Chapter 3
Section 2: Life in
Colonial America
Colonial Society
A person’s wealth, gender, or race
went a long way toward determining
their place in society
Belief that people aren’t equal
Gentry- set themselves apart by
clothing
Wigs, silk stockings, lace cuffs, etc
“Gentle folk”
Wealth in Land
Adult, single women & free
African Americans could own
land but very few did
Small group of elite
landowning men dominated
politics
Trade & Occupations
Artisans
At a young age boys
become apprentices to learn a
trade
Provided silver goods,
furniture, tin ware, pottery, &
glassware
Printers
Gathered & circulated
local news & information
Had to be cautious or
could be arrested
Almanacs
Farmers & Fisherman
New England farmers
worked the thin, rocky soil
Many earned a living
through the sea- haddock,
bass, clams, mussels, &
crabs
Colonial Women
Status was determined by their men
(under husband’s control)
Women & the Law
Men had unlimited power
Women’s duties
Cooking, gardening, washing,
cleaning, weaving cloth, & sewing
The Nature of Work
Colonists ate better, lived
longer, & had more children
More opportunity to advance
in wealth & status
Everyone work to maintain
the household by producing
food & goods
Goals of the household
was to be self sufficient
Colonial Education
School attendance was not
mandatory & most children received
little education
New England colonies became
early leader because of the Puritans
Believed everyone should be
able to read the Bible
1674- Massachusetts required
towns with at least 50 families to
have a school master to teach
Reading, writing, & arithmetic
100 families had to have a
grammar school with instruction in
Greek & Latin
Girls didn’t go
Colonial colleges training ministers
& lawyers
Only wealthy attended
3 colleges by 1740’s
Harvard 1636, William & Mary,
VA 1693, & Yale, Connecticut
1703
By 1769- 5 colleges were in the
Middle & New England colonies