The first colonial settlers were mainly composed of Puritans escaping religious persecution in England. During the 17th and 18th centuries, many different people traveled to America and settled in one of the thirteen colonies. The original colonies consisted of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. While the people of the colonies came from different areas of Europe, there was a consensual way of life lived by the colonists of the 1700’s.
- The TimePage gives a general history of the 13 colonies.
- Archiving Early America offers portraits of important colonists and what role they played in colonial history.
- Colonial Currency is a site maintained by the University of Notre Dame that explores the currency used by colonists.
- 1727: Colonial America gives a brief overview of colonial life, with a focus on Benjamin Franklin.
- Women in Colonial America , research provided by Northern Virginia Community College, discusses a woman’s experience during colonial times.
The early colonists built basic houses from timber and the community worked together to build homes. The roof was made from strong grasses and it sloped to prevent snow from falling into the home. As colonists built up wealth, homes began resembling the homes settlers were familiar with in England. The northern colonists built homes from stone or brick in an architectural style that resembled their homelands. The traditional Cape Cod style is a style originated during colonial times. Colonial families lived together and usually had many children.
- Boston College has a slideshow of 18th century architecture.
- Yale provides research that discusses how as the colonies changed the architecture did, too.
- University of Illinois offers information about colonial log house construction.
- Victorian Preservation Association has a listing of colonial homes available for tourists to visit.
When colonists weren’t busy building homes, they spent much of their time working and worshipping. Some trades practiced during colonial times included the apothecary, brick maker, cabinet maker, blacksmith, carpenter, cooper, silversmith, farming, weaver, and wig maker. Rural colonists spent the majority of their time farming, hunting, and sewing.
- Colonial Williamsburg is a site that discusses what life was like in this colony, including religion and work.
- Grosse Pointe Public Schools lists the trades and tools needed for working during colonial times.
- Colonial Tradesmen is a page put on by a public school that gives descriptions of colonial trades.
Religion was also a large part of colonial life. By the latter part of the colonial period, there was a range of religions practiced in colonial America. Some of the religions included Baptist, Anglican, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Episcopalian, Quakers, Presbyterians, and Puritans. Colonists worshipped on Sunday and spent several hours in church. Children were expected to sit in the same church service as their parents and behave demurely during the service.
- University of North Carolina discusses the role of religion in colonial America.
- Religion and the Founding of the American Republic is maintained by the Library of Congress and discusses religion’s role in the founding of the American Republic.
- Passport to Colonial Times discusses work and religion of America’s earliest settlers.
Colonial clothing helped showcase the status of colonists. Wealthy landowners and politicians had dressier clothes than farmers and blacksmiths. Rural colonists saved their best clothes for church, while wealthier colonists had dressy clothes for special occasions. Men typically wore breeches, which were pants that reached mid-calf, with long stockings, a billowy shirt and a waistcoat. Women frequently wore long gowns with hoops, which helped create a wide circumference. Corsets were worn under the dresses and the sleeves usually had ruffles. For dressy occasions, colonists usually sported wigs.
- Dress Up - Clothing from the Past leads website visitors on a clothing tour of 1700s fashions.
- African American Clothing is a photographic tour of what 18th century African Americans wore.
- Creating and Repairing Clothes in the 18th Century has information and pictures of authentic clothing tools used in colonial America.
Colonial entertainment consisted of balls and formal affairs held by the wealthy. Rural colonies had fewer social engagements as life was much harder for these colonists. Children made their own toys and dolls and used sticks and rocks to play outside games. Colonial children also played with kites, marbles, and bean bags. Board games such as checkers and chess were common, as were winter sports such as sledding and snowball fights.
- Holliston Historical Society gives background information on colonial kids and the games they played.
- Noah Webster House gives a basic rundown of the games and toys colonial kids played with.
Colonial children received a very basic education. Many women had basic literacy rates because men believed women did not need advanced education. Women taught to read were taught so they could teach children to read the Bible. Many children went to a one room school house where reading from the Bible, basic writing, and basic computation skills were taught. Most children did not receive an education beyond seventh or eighth grade. Only the wealthy could afford to send their children to boarding schools.
- The History of Education in America discusses educational law and practice of colonial America.
- American Education provides information about colonial education, specifying the educational differences among the colonies.
Early colonists had to learn to hunt and plant for food. Meal times were different then they are today, with a midday meal being the largest meal of the day. Breakfast was usually something light, such as a beverage and porridge. The wealthier colonists ate meat and fruit pies. Lunch was a large meal that consisted of meats, breads, and desserts. A late night meal may consist of beer or ale with bread or leftovers from lunch. For rural colonists, a lean hunting or harvesting season meant they must make do with less food in the winter.
- Colonial Food gives an in-depth look at colonial foods and mealtimes.
- Food Preparation is a paper from the University of Pennsylvania that discusses food preparation of colonial America.
Besides a lack of food, colonists had to worry about disease that spread rapidly and could takeout a large number of people. Smallpox, fever, flu, and malaria were all diseases that caused suffering and death in the colonies. Childbirth was also a dangerous situation, with many women dying during childbirth or giving birth to stillborn babies. Most colonists weren’t expected to live past their mid-twenties. No matter the trials and tribulations migrating to America brought colonists, many of them preferred the freedom that came with moving to America.
- Colonial Diseases lists all of the diseases experienced during colonial times.
- Digital History discusses the dangers of colonial childbirth