17th Century Colonial LifeI. 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