Life in the New England Colonies
Colonists' homes were very plain. They had a fireplace, a simple couch, and they had a table where they ate. Many families slept near the fireplace to keep warm in the winter. A few wealthy families had two story homes. Men and boys farmed and did work that required physical power, while women and girls did most of the mental work, which included cooking food, making rice, washing clothes, and planting and harvesting.
Life in the Middle Colonies
People of the middle colonies were generally grouped into three social classes: the gentry, the rich people and best educated; the middle class, basically farmers and small merchants; and the lower class, sailors and apprentices. The people in the middle colonies lived in houses that were used for everything like work, play and visiting places. Families usually contained at least seven children, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Slaves rarely live with the families. The father was the head of the household and the mother was considered to be his helper. The houses that they lived in were made mainly out of wood and mud. These houses usually didn't have any windows and if they did they were considerably small. The colonists wore clothes that also showed their status in the colony. Most people wore clothes of cotton or linen. The people that were considered to be in the in the gentry class could afford imported materials for better clothes. The other clothes were made by the woman of the household.
Life in the Southern Colonies
In a plantation, the wealthy planters’ children were educated at home by teachers that their parents hired. The children had easy lives. They learned reading, writing, dancing, and music. Boys learned to ride horses and hunt, spending lots of time outdoors. Older boys were ready to learn how to run the plantation. Girls were taught to sew and sing, and when they got older, they were taught to run a household full of servants. In the backcountry, life was different. Children could only learn to read and write if their parents taught them. At an early age, they were taught to run the house and farm. While doing this, they developed skills like hunting, plowing, sewing, and cooking.
Enslaved Africans were treated with cruelty. Their families were not together and husbands and wives were separated. Slaves were like laborers in the farm or as house servants. Young children had to work too. Whether the climate was hot, cold, or rainy, the Africans were forced to work almost 24 hours a day. Overseers whipped them and punished them if they didn’t like what they were doing. Because of this harsh cruelty, many slaves died early. The remaining slaves kept their culture together to survive. They sang spirituals, songs reminding them of their traditions. Many slaves became Christian, though. Soon, Africans created a culture that also had American customs in them. This was so the Africans now could sing of the past.
Enslaved Africans were treated with cruelty. Their families were not together and husbands and wives were separated. Slaves were like laborers in the farm or as house servants. Young children had to work too. Whether the climate was hot, cold, or rainy, the Africans were forced to work almost 24 hours a day. Overseers whipped them and punished them if they didn’t like what they were doing. Because of this harsh cruelty, many slaves died early. The remaining slaves kept their culture together to survive. They sang spirituals, songs reminding them of their traditions. Many slaves became Christian, though. Soon, Africans created a culture that also had American customs in them. This was so the Africans now could sing of the past.