LIFE IN PROVINCIAL

AMERICALife in the colonies was not easy for anyone, but as the

settlements became more permanent and prosperous

the situation improved for both men and women.

Women

- began to marry later and live longer

- had between 5-10 children (high infant

mortality rate, needed workers)

- had no real rights in society (more

rights if unmarried or widowed)

Men

- average life expectancy was around 65

- seen as head of household, held voting

rights, served as elders in the church

- Law of Coverture said that male head of

household had jurisdiction over any

female family members (could verbally

or physically punish for wrongdoing)

- abuse was common, divorce was difficult to obta

obtain but certainly not all relationships were

abusive or unhappy

In general, with the success of the colonies colonists were:

- living longer

- better nourished

- had a healthier environment

Eventually every colony overcame the limited supplies,

difficulty of defense and losses due to illness and demoralization

during the “starving times”.

Education

Education in the colonies was affected by the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment.

- formal education widened gap between rich and poor

- poor and middle class didn’t take more challenging

courses (geometry, cartography, anatomy)

- popularized ideas about the duty of rulers to conform to

public will, rather than the public conforming to the will

of the ruler

- promoted the belief that individuals could overcome

difficulties of social class through hard work (Ben

Franklin)

- promoted a greater degree of social equality (among

white men)