Life and Labor in Colonial America

In colonial America, families worked hard to meet their needs without modern conveniences. Men and women had distinct roles, with women managing the household and men working the farms. Social classes included the middle class, gentry, and indentured servants. Colonists practiced self-governance, but British trade laws impacted their economy. The Triangular Trade involved trading goods and slaves, with Africans contributing to cultural influences. Despite challenges like weather and disease, colonists laid the foundation for a new nation.

What was a common responsibility for women in colonial America?

• Cooking and cleaning

• Plowing fields

• Building homes

• Hunting animals

Which class did most people in colonial America belong to?

• Indentured servants

• Middle class

• Gentry

• Enslaved Africans

What was the role of older boys in colonial families?

• Attending school

• Assisting their fathers in the fields

• Helping their mothers with household work

• Managing family finances

What was a common task for young children in colonial America?

• Plowing fields

• Building homes

• Gathering wood and water

• Cooking meals

What did indentured servants receive after completing their service?

• A share in the plantation profits

• Freedom and a ship back to Europe

• A position in the government

• Land, tools, and supplies

Who were the Burgesses in colonial Virginia?

• Elected representatives

• A group of wealthy landowners

• British governors

• Indentured servants

What was the main reason Britain passed trade laws affecting the colonies?

• To support the American Revolution

• To encourage colonists to return to Britain

• To ensure financial gain

• To promote cultural exchange

What was the purpose of the Triangular Trade Network?

• To trade goods and slaves between continents

• To promote religious freedom

• To establish new colonies

• To exchange cultural traditions

How did Africans maintain their culture despite being enslaved?

• By forming their own governments

• By influencing language, cooking, and music

• By refusing to work

• By escaping to Europe

What was a major challenge faced by farmers in colonial America?

• Lack of land

• Competition from European farmers

• Bad weather and drought

• High taxes