What Systems Developed in the

Colonies?Unit 4, Lesson 5

AGENDA

•Vocabulary

•Free Market Economy

•Child’s life

•Apprentices

•Slaves

artisan

• (noun) a skilled worker who makes thing by hand

apprentice• (noun) a person who learns

a skill or trade from an experienced worker

journeyman• (noun) a trained worker

who is employed by someone else

town common• (noun) an open space in the

center of a town where cattle and sheep could graze

free-market economy• (noun) a system in which

prices are not controlled by the government

Free-Market EconomyThe colonies are a free-market system. This means that the king had little to no control over the economy

in the colonies.*Each colony has its own government and they make everyday decisions*Conflicts between the English and colonists don’t begin until later when the English begin trying to control the finances of the colonists (taxes, fees, etc.)

Children

*1 in 10 children die at birth

*1 in 4 children won’t make it past their 21st birthday (war,

disease, accidents)

*Families were large, often with 6-10 children

A Child’s DayChildren ages 2-7 are expected to work around the house doing chores, learning farming techniques (boys), or homemaker skills like knitting, weaving, sewing (girls).

They are also expected to go to school at the same time. Children would often be left

alone for long periods of time while their parents were away working. They would do their chores, play, or hunt.

Children had to have strong legs... they often stood to eat and stood for hours at a time at church.

A Child’s Day

Children would often be left alone for long periods of time while their parents were away working. They would do their chores, play, or hunt.

Children had to have strong legs... they often stood to eat and stood for hours at a time at church.

ApprenticesChildren would go to school until the age of around 7. Then they worked on the family farm, or become an apprentice, learning a trade and

working for free. *Room, clothing, and food paid for

*At 21 you could work as a journeyman or try to start your own business

Indentured-ServantsA person that could not pay for

their trip to America would have his or her voyage paid for

and then be indentured to a family or master

for several years.

SlavesSlavery Begins:The growth of the tobacco

industry creates the need for slave labor

*Plantations system begins (crops such as rice, indigo, and cotton required cheap labor also)*Were often taught a trade, but never had the opportunity to run their own business

Slaves

In 1640 there are less than 200 slaves in Virginia, but

by 1700 there are more than 28,000 slaves in Virginia.