Colonial Society
Colonial Society - The Class System (link)
Colonial Society in North America Colonies were members of the highest social classes. The people from the 'Old World' of Europe were used to a class system - the classification of people based on their status in the community. Colonial Society were extended the highest privileges. The social class of a person determined their legal rights, their political rights and their clothes. Church seating was even arranged according to the importance of the person.
Upper Classes
These men were the elite, wealthy, well bred and well educated minor aristocrats. Men of the Upper class could vote and held high public office.
Middle Classes
Men of the middle class could vote but few held public office. These men owned small farms, ran stores or small businesses, were skilled tradesmen or belonged to professions such as ministers, doctors and lawyers
Lower Classes & 'Poor Whites'
Men of the lower class could not vote, none held public office, few owned property and most were illiterate. These were manual workers, servants, apprentices, sailors and hired hands but also included semi-skilled tradesmen. "Poor whites" were increasingly forced to become tenant farmers
Colonial Society in North America Colonies were members of the highest social classes. The people from the 'Old World' of Europe were used to a class system - the classification of people based on their status in the community. Colonial Society were extended the highest privileges. The social class of a person determined their legal rights, their political rights and their clothes. Church seating was even arranged according to the importance of the person.
Upper Classes
These men were the elite, wealthy, well bred and well educated minor aristocrats. Men of the Upper class could vote and held high public office.
Middle Classes
Men of the middle class could vote but few held public office. These men owned small farms, ran stores or small businesses, were skilled tradesmen or belonged to professions such as ministers, doctors and lawyers
Lower Classes & 'Poor Whites'
Men of the lower class could not vote, none held public office, few owned property and most were illiterate. These were manual workers, servants, apprentices, sailors and hired hands but also included semi-skilled tradesmen. "Poor whites" were increasingly forced to become tenant farmers
Farming Tools Smithing Tools Woodworking Tools
Headright System (link)
As early as 1618, the Virginia Company established a headright to encourage emigration to the new colony. Each free immigrant received 50 acres of land. The system was exploited by the wealthy who amassed large tracts of land based on the indentured servants whose passage they paid. Fraud accounted for even larger tracts of land. Headlights were extended in the other colonies by their holding companies. Later the U.S. government would provide similar incentives for citizens willing to relocate to the western frontier.
Food for Thought
Did the headright system promote or discourage the class system in colonial America?
Our Lino Site (link)
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