preview

New England Of The Nineteenth Century

Decent Essays
New England in the Seventeenth Century All colonies developed in different ways New England colonies settled by Puritans Puritans believed God ordained the family and viewed family as essential to colony Reproduced English customs and traditions mainly because of family structure Key to growth - Huge population growth caused by long life expectancy good health - more than high fertility Longevity resulted in invention of grandparents multigenerational families strengthened social stability Most New Englanders married neighbors with similar values Households produced their own needs and surpluses most farmers New England towns were collections of interrelated households Church membership associated with concept of predestination - freeman status Form of Church Government - Join church in order to vote twice as many women in church as men but couldn’t vote Education provided by the family/Harvard “Half-Way Covenant” lessened requirements for baptism and for joining Church New England social order: Local gentry of prominent, pious families Large population of independent yeomen landowners loyal to local community land ownership is widespread Small population of landless laborers, servants, poor Moderate disparities of wealth Apprenticeships Despite similarities in background and timing with New England, Chesapeake settlements were very different Normal family life impossible in Virginia much fewer families than New England Mostly young male
Get Access