Colonial People
Just as life in the three colonial regions was varied, life for the different social groups in
colonial America differed as well. Let’s investigate the lives of large landowners, farmers,
artisans, women, indentured servants, free African Americans and enslaved African
Americans (slaves) in the colonies.
LARGE LANDOWNERS
One of the wealthiest social positions in colonial America was held by large landowners
called planters. These powerful men lived predominantly in the southern colonies and were
sometimes well educated. They owned huge farms called plantations. These impressive
places were filled with barns, stables, gardens, wells, workshops, kitchens, mills and slave
quarters. The plantations owned by these large landowners produced crops such as
tobacco, rice, cotton, and indigo. A planter’s home was just as impressive as the property
around it. It’s many bedrooms, dining rooms, drawing rooms and offices were usually filled
with delicate china, elaborate furniture, expensive paintings, busy servants and wealthy
visitors. To keep these large
farms running smoothly,
planters need huge numbers of
low cost laborers to work in the
fields that stretched as far as
the eye could see. The
cheapest labor came from
indentured servants and slaves.
Large landowners enjoyed a
rich social culture that included
music, dancing and many
parties.
FARMERS
Farmers held another social position in colonial America. These men, though not wealthy like
the planters, were often respected members of the community. They farmed the land
according to their region and usually depended on family members for labor. Some even
owned a few slaves. The poorer farmers were often indentured servants who
had completed their contracts and had just enough money saved to buy a small
piece of land.
ARTISANS
Artisans were another social class in colonial America. These skilled craftsmen
included silversmiths, carpenters, masons, shipwrights, coopers, bakers, butchers,
blacksmiths, tailors and shoemakers. Artisans often lived above their shops
which were located in villages, towns, cities and even plantations. Although not
as wealthy as the large landowners, these men held respectable positions in
colonial society.
WOMEN
Another social class included women. In colonial America a woman’s main roles were
house-worker, homemaker or caretaker. A woman’s days were filled difficult and exhausting
work such as cooking, cleaning, laundering,
and making clothing and household goods
like soap. Additionally, women were
responsible for caring for children, doctoring
the sick and tending livestock and kitchen
gardens. Few women worked outside the
home, but those that did were employed as
house workers or seamstresses. Wealthy
women were also responsible for the same
household chores but often had servants to
help them. Colonial women, whether rich or
poor, had few privileges. They were often
not given the opportunity to go to school
and get an education and were not allowed
to vote.
INDENTURED SERVANTS
A less respected social class in colonial America consisted of
indentured servants. Indentured servants were usually young
men and women in their teens and early twenties who wanted
to go to the colonies. Not having enough money to buy
passage to North America on a ship, they were allowed to
borrow the money and sign a contract. These contracts stated
that a young man or woman would work without pay for the
person who paid for their passage. Contract periods usually
were between three to five years. Indentured servants often
worked as laborers, field hands, craftsmen and housekeepers.
At the end of their contract period they were free and often
given some money called “freedom dues.”
ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS
The least respected social class in colonial times consisted of enslaved African Americans
(slaves). These men and women were captured in the native Africa and sold to slave
traders. They were then shipped from Africa to the colonies. Once in America, they were
sold into slavery. Unlike indentured servants, slaves were owned for life. Even children born
to slaves would be slaves forever. Slaves were not seen as human beings and were
considered the property of their owner, or master. They were given no rights or opportunities
for an education and were often mistreated.
FREE AFRICAN AMERICANS
The final group of people in colonial America was free African Americans. These free African
Americans were able to own land. In addition, they had more economic freedom and
could work for pay and decide how to spend their money. However, like women in colonial
America, free African Americans were not allowed to vote.
Use your notes to complete the following:
1. One of the wealthiest social positions in colonial America was held by large landowners called
__________________________.
2. These powerful men lived mainly in the _________________________and were usually well
educated.
3. They owned huge farms called ___________________________.
4. To keep these farms running smoothly, planters needed huge numbers of low cost
________________ to work in fields that stretched as far as the eye could see.
5. ______________________________ servants and _______________________________African
Americans provided the cheapest labor.
6. Farmers, although they were not wealthy like the planters, were often _________________
members of the community.
7. They farmed the land of their region and often depended on ________________ members for
labor.
8. ______________________, which included silversmiths, carpenters, masons, shipwrights, coopers,
bakers, butchers, blacksmiths, tailors, and shoemakers, often lived above their _______________.
9. These ___________________ were located in villages, towns, cities, and even plantations.
10. Although not as wealthy as the large landowners, artisans held ______________________
positions in colonial society.
11. In colonial America a woman’s main roles were ___________________ and ____________________.
12. Colonial women, whether rich or poor, had few _______________________.
13. Women were often not given the opportunity to go to ____________________ and were not
allowed to _________________.
14. ____________________ African Americans made up a smaller social group in Colonial America
and had more economic freedom than both the indentured servants and the enslaved
African Americans.
15. They were also allowed to own _____________________.
16. Free African Americans, however, were not allowed to _____________________.
17. Indentured servants would agree to work without pay for the person who paid for their
______________________________.
18. They often worked as laborers, field hands, craftsmen, and housekeepers and were given their
____________________ at the end of their contract.
19. The least respected social class was the ________________________ African Americans.
20. These men and women were ____________________ in their native country and
_______________________ to slave traders.
21. Unlike indentured servants, enslaved African Americans were owned for _____________.
22. They were considered the property of their owner and were given no _________________ or
opportunities for an _______________________.
23. Children of enslaved African Americans were also born into ____________________.