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The New England merchants, southern planters, and royalists made up the colonial elite and, at first, generally cooperated with each other. After 1750, changes in tax and trade policies split the colonial elite, permitting the radical elements of colonial society to cause a revolution.

○Percentage of the population

○Role in society

○Their rights or lack thereof

○Position in the social hierarchy

○Literacy levels

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Transatlantic Immigration and the Social Origins of Elites in Late Colonial Spanish America

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The pervasive problem of social inequality in Latin America, manifested in a huge chasm between immensely wealthy elites and poor masses, has its origins in the colonial era. For three hundred years, Spanish American economic elites were made up of immigrants from the Iberian peninsula who got rich by entering the highly lucrative enterprises of wholesale commerce and the production of export goods, such as silver and sugar.

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in 1790, 18% of the colonial population was enslaved, roughly 1 in 6 people.

slaves were 'owned' and 'sold' by masters of plantations and the like. they weren't seen as humans as such by their masters but rather an asset that worked the land as a lesser human.

slaves had little to no rights often being treated very poorly by their masters. they were often pushed to their limits being made to do hard labour on little food. many dying working on cotton fields and such

in most societies especially american colonies, slaves were the lowest class of people.

it is estimated that only 10% of slaves were literate .

zeke taydyn ryan matt connor

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Women in colonial America were a distinct minority compared to the men, 33% of American colonists were women, equating to 530,000 women in 1760.

Women often married for social and economic purposes, rather than for the sake of romance. They became legal property of their husbands, and had no control over their finances, property, and could not be involved in politics, appear in court, and had limited voting rights. Women were responsible for maintaining the household and raising children. Some women were also able work jobs, such as working on plantations, running their own businesses, or as prostitutes to help support them of their families.

Most women had expected roles in society, like being good wives and mothers. However, their experiences varied based on factors like race, class, age, and geographic region.

48% of women had literacy skills, such as being able to read or write.

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The percentage of the colonial elite in the total population was minuscule as many people immigrated over after America was colonized.

Their role in society was to establish colonies in these new societies.

They claimed many natural and civil rights such as the right to life, liberty, property, and to defend themselves, as well as the right to claim and collect taxes from the population.

The elite colonialists had a high status in society as they had a type of self-proclaimed claim on the land over everyone else, and they had an abundance of wealth because of this.

As they are of high status they had the education to gain a high literary level, being able to read and write letters/notes/maps, as well as having a good English vocabulary in speech.

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In 1800 every 90 out of 100 people lived on a farm and produced fresh foods for themselves and others to eat. Their role in society was to make sure that people had all their necessities for their everyday life. From meat and vegetables to wool and leather, they produced it all. They had all the rights of every other person in the country, although their slaves, people who did majority of the work. had none and were owned. Even though farmers had slaves, they were still considered peasants and nearly at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Most farmers were farmers because they were unable to have access to education and had very low literacy levels.

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The University of Wisconsin estimates that the Native American Population was just under 6 million as of 1650 and continued to decrease to to foreign illness's brought by the European colonies and violence with the colonies.

The Native Americans traded goods and ideas with the Colonies that weren't raping and pillaging them, primarily trading extremely valuable furs for things such as guns, ammunition, tools, cloth, brass kettles ect.

The way different colonies treated and respected their new neighbours varied with some being approached and treated with respect whilst other where subject to violence, raids, rape and kidnapping.

Native American were not literate until the early 1800's

Charlie, Brodie, Kade

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Indentured Servants are white people that took out loans but couldn't pay them back, so they had to work off their debt.

48% of European immigrants in 1775 were indentured.

Their role is society was working to pay off the money they owe. The jobs they normally did cooking, gardening, housekeeping, field work or general labour.

They had little rights but were still able to have the right to trail, an impartial injury, to call witnesses. They also had the right to access court and were entitled to own land. They didn't have the right to marry or sell them off to other masters.

On the hierarchy they are 2nd to the bottom above slaves. The only difference between slaves and indentured slaves are that slaves have to work their whole lives were indentured slaves once they work off their debt they can choose to stop work.

Their literary levels depend of the person itself. Some indentured slaves learnt literary as they were a kid.

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Limerick Ireland, 29th of January, 1812. Edmond Ryan is a wanted man. One could not legally employ Edmond, nor give him shelter. His crime? Edmond, an indentured apprentice, quit his job without his employer's permission. Edmond's employer, or his temporary owner, George Hickey, threatened to prosecute anyone who helped Edmond.

Two hundred years ago in 1812 Limerick, there were documented accounts of indentured servitude still in practice. Although at the time in Limerick it was apparently referred to as "indentured apprentice". This indicated that these boys would, after serving their time, have the ability to escape poverty and be skilled in a trade. Even so, the life of a full time unpaid servant was not for everyone and runaways were common. These runaways were reported in the local newspapers in a very amusing fashion. This can be seen in two separate classified ads that were submitted to local the local newspaper, The Limerick Evening Post, in 1812.

First, on 29 January 1812:

It is interesting to note how George Hickey, the author of the classified, ended his report with a want advert for another apprentice; "one who can procure good bail", which at the time meant a good reference from a previous employer. It seems as if George Hickey's experience with indentured servitude just might have turned him off the practice.

Second, on 5 February 1812:

This particular classified is interesting as James Regan, the author, can't seem to understand why someone, who was no better than a slave, would have any reason to not like the situation they find themselves. While yes, this indentured servant Samuel Monsell was most likely paying dues for some crime, he was still legally bound to work for, and be subject to his "owner" and it can be assumed that these servants would feel obligated to do anything requested of them for fear of legal repercussion.

History of Indentured Servitude

The historical practice of indentured servitude is one in which a person is legally contracted to work for a specific period of time in exchange for transportation to foreign soil, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of indenture. Indentured servants contracts could be bought and sold, could not marry without the permission of their owner, were subject to physical punishment and realised their obligation was legally enforced. Transportation as an indentured servant, served as both a punishment for both major and petty crimes in Ireland from the 17th century until well into the 19th century. This exile was an essential component and thought to be a major deterrent to crime, though the numbers of those transported would dispute this claim. Transportation was also viewed as a humane and productive alternative to execution, which would most likely have been the sentence for many if this practice had not been introduced.

Indentured servitude was non-discriminatory, including both men and women, though usually confined to those under the age of 21. Many of these servants came from workhouses and were the poorest on the social ladder for whom a life with guaranteed food though no pay would have been a light at the end of a bleak tunnel. The lucky ones were indentured to tradesmen as apprentices, similar to Oliver Twist in Charles Dickens' classic novel; these would have the skills at the end of their term to find their way out of poverty. A large number were used as farm labourers and domestic servants, manual menial labour with little or no opportunity to escape from the serving class. Others who were in the penal system required the convicts to work on government projects such as road construction or building works and mining.

Fortunately for some, a servant who had served part of their time might apply for a "ticket of leave", permitting some freedoms, such as the right to marry and raise a family. Indentured servitude continued until the early 20th century though at a vastly reduced number than in the century before.

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Indentured Servitude in 19th century Limerick

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Limerick Ireland, 29th of January, 1812. Edmond Ryan is a wanted man. One could not legally employ Edmond, nor give him shelter. His crime? Edmond, an indentured apprentice, quit his job without his employer's permission. Edmond's employer, or his temporary owner, George Hickey, threatened to prosecute anyone who helped Edmond.

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Around 90% of American colonists were farmers.

Colonial farmers were typically able to produce everything they needed for their survival including food, clothing, house furnishings, and farm implements.

Middle-class

probably like 90% literacy rates