17th Century Colonial Life
I. To Be Chosen in the
Chesapeake
Ch. 4
A.Three out of every four English migrants in
the Chesapeake area came as
indentured servants.
B.After their freedom was gained, most
indentured servants faced bleak futures.
C. Two out of every five servants in the
Chesapeake died.
D. Males died earlier than females.
E. Marriages in the Chesapeake would
probably not last beyond 7 years due to
the death of one of the partners.
F. So women were widowed at younger
ages and would often remarry, sometimes
days later.
G. Since women were in short supply, they
were able to negotiate favorable land
deals with their new spouses.
H. Many women gained wealth here; but
they also tended to have fewer children
and had fewer family members with them
for support----weaker family bonds.
I. By 1650, men outnumbered women by 6
to 1; by 1700 the ratio was down to 3 to 1.
J. As a result of Bacon’s Rebellion, imported
Africans began to look more suitable,
especially with fewer whites leaving
England for the colonies.
K. Most of these workers came from Africa,
and historians estimate that from 10MM to
20MM Africans made the Middle Passage
to the New World
L. Over 400,000 were shipped to North
America.
M. In 1662, Virginia passed slave codes in
the colonies.
N. By 1670, there were 2,000 in Virginia.
O. By 1750, they made up half of Virginia’s
population and outnumbered whites in
So. Car. 2 to 1.
P. Slaves were considered essential to the
plantation economy.
II. No Nonsense in New England
A. Fabulous Families
1. Better Conditions
a. Fewer diseases to deal with
b. Ten year longer life span
(70)average
c. Families/villages moved there
together, providing support systems
B. Marriage and Children
1. On average, a married woman gave birth
to 10 babies
2.More stability in family structure
3. Initially, women had fewer rights here
than in the Chesapeake area
4. Divorce happened infrequently
C. Tangy Towns In N.E.
1. Most lived in small villages or farms
2. Homogeneous settlements
3. Whole community’s morality was a
concern
4. Planned development
5. Town meetings crucial
6. Education highly valued
III. Ample Activity in Economics in N.E.
A. Yankee geography/climate forced
economic diversification
B. Timber, Fish, Subsistence Farming