Life in Colonial American Cities and Towns

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Questions and Answers

What was the ratio of city dwellers to the total population in a colonial American city during the 1750s?

1 out of 20 (correct)

1 out of 15

1 out of 25

1 out of 10

Which of the following goods was NOT typically brought in by ships at the waterfront?

Books

Clothing (correct)

Paint

Furniture

What type of service was offered at local shops in colonial American cities?

Navigation

Spice trading

Clockmaking (correct)

Animal husbandry

What types of products were available in the market place?

Fresh farm products Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following establishments primarily provided food and drinks in the city?

Taverns Signup and view all the answers

What was a common form of punishment for theft in Colonial America?

Whippings or branding Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary construction material used for homes in the described 19th-century town?

Wood Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the role of Colonial Assemblies in the context of crimes and punishments?

They created their own laws and penalties for various crimes. Signup and view all the answers

Which feature contributed most to the noise level in Shelly Place?

Church bells Signup and view all the answers

Which event exemplified the fear of witchcraft among the New England Puritans?

The Salem Witch Trials Signup and view all the answers

What was a common health issue indicated by the town's sanitation conditions?

Malaria Signup and view all the answers

What consequences did individuals face for lesser crimes such as drunkenness in New England?

Stocks – wooden frames Signup and view all the answers

What method of lighting was primarily used in the homes of the town?

Torches and candles Signup and view all the answers

What was a key characteristic of the Puritan moral code in Colonial America?

Mandatory attendance at Sunday Worship Signup and view all the answers

How did the townspeople address fire safety concerns?

Bucket system Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental concept did the Magna Carta introduce regarding the power of the monarch?

The monarch's power is subject to the law. Signup and view all the answers

What key power regarding taxation was affirmed by the English Bill of Rights of 1689?

Only the people elected representatives have the power to impose taxes. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following rights was explicitly granted to the people by the English Bill of Rights?

The right to trial by jury. Signup and view all the answers

What was one expectation of the colonists regarding their role in government?

They were expected to elect some representatives in the government. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the rights granted by the English Bill of Rights is incorrect?

It restricted the right to trial by jury. Signup and view all the answers

What defines the upper class in Colonial America?

Wealth, occupations, and inherited titles or honors. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is associated with the middle class in Colonial America?

The ability to vote and business ownership. Signup and view all the answers

What was a major component of the lower class in Colonial America?

Indentured servants and slaves. Signup and view all the answers

What proportion of New England settlers was considered to be part of the middle class?

Around one-third. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a typical feature of the upper class attire in Colonial America?

Plain or colorful clothing. Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant factor that contributed to the expansion of slavery in Colonial America during the 1700s?

The increasing demand for labor in cash crop production Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the Middle Passage?

It was the voyage across the Atlantic with appallingly poor conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What type of tasks were slaves commonly expected to perform on plantations?

Field work, crop raising, and skilled labor Signup and view all the answers

Where did the majority of slaves in Colonial America originate from?

West Africa Signup and view all the answers

In the social hierarchy of Colonial America, where did slaves position themselves?

At the bottom of the social hierarchy Signup and view all the answers

What were the potential consequences faced by individuals who rebelled or ran away?

Execution or severe punishment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following actions represents a response to rebellion documented in the notes?

Implementing severe punishments Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the severity of consequences for rebels based on the notes?

They often included capital punishment or physical abuse. Signup and view all the answers

How does the content categorize the fate of those who attempted to rebel?

Endured dangerous repercussions including death Signup and view all the answers

What implication does the mention of 'Killed/Hang' and 'Beaten' suggest about societal attitudes toward rebellion?

There was a tendency to view rebellion as a serious threat. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Life in a Colonial American City (1750s)

Only 1 in 20 people lived in a city during this time period.
Ships brought news from England and goods like furniture, paint, carpets, and books.
Fresh farm products such as eggs, milk, and cheese were available in the market place.
Taverns provided food and drinks.
Shops offered services like blacksmithing, shoemaking, clockmaking, silversmithing, tailoring, barbering, and wig-making.

19th Century Town

Shelly Place was described as a noisy environment.
The weather was noted as being hot.
Sounds from church bells and carts were common.
Mosquitoes and flies were prevalent pests.
Rotten garbage was found in the streets.
Cobblestone streets were present.

Homes

Homes were built close together.
They were constructed with wood and thatched roofs.
Small windows were common, as glass was expensive.

Lighting

Torches, "betty lamps," both grease, and candles were used for lighting.

Fire Safety

The town relied on a bucket system to combat fires, with everyone participating.
The river or pond served as the water source.

Political Rights of the Colonists

The Magna Carta established that the monarch's power was limited.
The English Bill of Rights (1689) established that taxing power belonged to elected representatives.
This document granted rights like the right to petition the King and the right to trial by jury.
Colonists expected to have a voice in government and expected to elect some representatives.

Colonial American Crimes and Punishments

Colonial assemblies were responsible for creating their own laws and penalties for crimes.
Death was a punishment for serious crimes.
Crimes like theft, forgery, and highway robbery could result in jail time, whippings, or branding.
Drunkenness and Sabbath breaking were considered lesser crimes, with punishments like stocks.

New England Puritans

Puritans had strict moral codes and emphasized religious conformity.
Sunday worship was mandatory.
"Blue Laws" were enacted to regulate social behavior based on religious or moral principles.
There was a fear of witchcraft and evil.
The Salem Witch Trials took place in 1692 where 29 women were falsely accused of witchcraft.

Colonial American Class Differences

Upper-class individuals were defined by wealth, occupations, and inherited titles or honors. They often wore gold and silver clothing, wigs, boots, and breeches.
The middle class consisted of farmers, artisans, craft people, or those who owned their own land or business. They could vote and wore plain or colorful clothing.
The lower class included farm laborers or workers with little or no property. They were wage earners and did not have the right to vote.
A significant portion of the lower class was made up of indentured servants and slaves.
Approximately one-third of New England settlers were of the middle class.
In the middle colonies, roughly half of the population belonged to the middle class.

Slavery in Colonial America

Africans first arrived in Virginia in the 1700s.
The practice of slavery expanded rapidly.
Increased plantation development and the growth of cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo created a greater need for slaves.
Slaves originated from West Africa and were traded for goods like cloth, guns, and rum.
The "Middle Passage" was the brutal journey across the Atlantic.
Conditions were horrific, crowded, and lacked food and warmth.
Diseases spread rapidly, leading to high death rates among slaves on board the ships.
Slaves worked in the fields, raising crops, and performing various other labor.
Some specialized jobs included caring for horses, carpentry, blacksmithing, gardening, and midwifery.
Slaves were located at the bottom of the social hierarchy.
Some slaves rebelled or ran away. Consequences for these actions could include death, hanging, or beatings.

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Description

Explore daily life in Colonial American cities and 19th-century towns. Discover how residents interacted, the types of goods available, and the challenges they faced, from pests to street conditions. This quiz delves into the living environment, architecture, and socio-economic dynamics of the era.