Lesson 4: Life in the Colonies

Key Idea

Life in the American colonies created a new kind of society. For some European settlers, it offered a chance to climb the social ladder in a way that was nearly impossible in Europe. This new social structure was more open for some, but it was built on deep inequalities.

While some people arrived as indentured servants, working for a set number of years to earn their freedom, millions of Africans were enslaved. They were considered property and forced into a brutal system of labor with no hope of freedom. This contrast between opportunity and oppression defined colonial life.

Key Idea

The Southern colonies' plantation economy depended on a large, cheap labor force. In the beginning, some enslaved Africans were treated like indentured servants, who had a chance at freedom after working for a set number of years.

Soon, colonial laws changed this. They established chattel slavery, a system where enslaved people were legally considered property. This became a permanent, inherited condition, meaning children born to enslaved mothers were automatically enslaved for life.

Key Idea

During the 1700s, a powerful intellectual movement called the Enlightenment spread from Europe to the American colonies. This movement encouraged people to use reason and science to examine the world, including ideas about government and society.

One of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers was John Locke. He argued that every person is born with natural rights, including the rights to life, liberty, and property. These rights were not gifts from a king or a government.

Key Idea

Although Britain was officially in charge, its day-to-day control over the American colonies was often distant and limited. Colonists grew accustomed to managing their own local problems and making their own rules.

This led to a strong tradition of self-government. Colonists elected their own assemblies to pass laws and decide on taxes. In New England, citizens gathered at town meetings to vote directly on local issues, giving them hands-on experience with democratic decision-making.