About Colonial Life
Colonial life in North America was a mix of various conditions and nationalities. The aims of each mother country were different, and the geography of North America also shaped colonial life. There are also a number of myths about life in the colonies.
Other People Are Reading
-
History
-
When Columbus landed in the West Indies, forming colonies was not one of his priorities. He was more interested in trade and resources; the idea of establishing colonies would not truly take hold until the English started their explorations and settlements. Of the three colonial powers in North America, the English were the most focused on establishing colonies for the expansion of the empire. The French were more concerned with trade for natural resources, such as fur. Spain's interest in North America was almost exclusively for wealth.
Geography
-
Settlement of North America was largely confined to the coastal regions. Waterways were crucial to inward exploration, so rivers became both highways and points of settlement. This is why there were settlements along the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, among other places. The Appalachian Mountains provided a natural barrier, beyond which the settlers were reluctant to venture. Likewise, the swamps of the southern regions limited development into much of the interior. The great distances between settlements meant trade and transport took time, and it was often faster to deliver by water than by land.
-
Time Frame
-
The Colonial period for North America starts with the first permanent settlements established in the beginning of the 17th century. While American independence occurs with the Revolutionary War, this does not apply to the French holdings in Louisiana or Canada. Even after Canada passed into English hands, it would not sever most of its formal ties to the crown until the 20th Century. In general, however, the Colonial period can be considered to run between the early 1600s to the mid-1800s for the majority of North America.
Features
-
Colonial life differed, depending on where settlers lived. The more northern English colonies, such as Massachusetts and New York, tended to revolve around towns and then cities. Towns would engage in limited agriculture, primarily for their own subsistence. Areas farther south offered a more agrarian lifestyle, with an emphasis on farming for export. None of the colonies were entirely self-sufficient, relying heavily on trade with the mother country for various sundries. Transportation was accomplished via horse or boat, though most colonists stayed primarily within their own town.
Misconceptions
-
English colonists did not always regard themselves as independent. They were subject to the British Crown, an arrangement which worked well for them up until the mid- to late 1700s. Slavery, too, was less widespread than it would become, largely because of the type of farming practiced in the south. Large-scale plantations, which required massive quantities of labor, developed later. The northern Colonies were the first to introduce slaves, specifically indentured servants, most of whom came from Europe. Moreover, colonists generally identified themselves according to their specific state or city (Virginians, Bostonians), and there was no common sense of being "Americans."
-
