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ver the next year, the 13 colonies met and debated over whether they should declare their independence from Britain.

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Two hundred British soldiers died at the hands of the colonists. The battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775 signaled the start of the Revolutionary War

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People had to pay extra taxes on basic goods like sugar, tea, and paper.

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Throughout the 1600s, British influence in North America continued to grow as more and more colonists flooded the region. American colonists liked having fairly

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The colonization of America and the fascinating events that led colonists and patriots down the Road to Revolution

American Colonial Life

Learn about the history and day to living of American colonial life in the late 1700s. Gain an insight into the clothing, food and daily lives of the men, women and children who were the first settlers and colonists in the 13 British American colonies during the 1600 and 1700's. The first section details Early Colonial Life, the population growth and American Colonial life in the 3 Regions and 13 Colonies and the next section details daily life in Colonial America.

The Powhatan became unhappy with the colonists encroaching on their homelands and stopped trading with them in an attempt to starve them out and the Surviving Early American Colonial Life - Starving Colonists and Hostile Indians
Daily American Colonial Life was extremely harsh for the first settlers and colonists. They were faced with a new country, unknown territory and no friends, relatives or neighbours to help them. Some of the Native American Indians, like the Powhatan Native Indians, saved the lives of the first colonists and pioneers such as Captain John Smith. John Smith was captured by Chief Powhatan but was saved by his daughter, Pocahontas which led to the colonists receiving help from the Native Americans. First Powhatan War erupted. The first colonists endured a terrible period between 1609-1610 that would become known as the ' Starving Time'. The Powhatan Wars continued until the defeat of the Powhatan Confederacy in 1646. The very survival of the first colonists of Virginia was due to the rule of Thomas Dale and Good Order in which he organised the colonists to work, ensuring that crops were planted and seeds sown. Wars with the Native American Indians continued throughout the period of Colonialism - American colonial life was harsh indeed requiring determination and strong work ethics to succeed in American Colonial Life.

on the . In the spring of 1630, Early American Colonial Life - The Great Migration
The had strong work ethics and were determined to overcome all odds to achieve their quest for religious freedom in North America and sailed 3000 miles Mayflower Ship and established the Plymouth Settlement John Winthrop led a fleet of 11 vessels and 700 passengers to the Massachusetts Bay Colony and other colonists and settlers followed. Between 1620 and 1640 twenty thousand English men, women, and children crossed the Atlantic Ocean to settle New England in the Great Migration. The lands occupied by the new Americans expanded and 13 colonies were established. By 1775 there were 2.5 million people who had travelled to North America to enjoy the colonial life.

American Colonial Life in the 3 Regions and 13 Colonies
There were 3 main regions in Colonial America. They were the New England colonies, the Middle colonies and the Southern colonies. American Colonial life varied between the three regions and their lifestyles were based on:

Colonial Life dictated by Climate: The hottest colonies were in the South

Colonial Life dictated by Geography: Rivers and waterways, mountains, soil

Colonial Life dictated by Natural Resources: Timber, iron, copper, fish, whales, coal, furs - Refer to Colonial Food

Colonial Life dictated by Industries: Dictated by natural resources

Colonial Life dictated by Government: Charter Colonies, Royal Colonies or Proprietary Colonies

Colonial Life dictated by Religion: Regions and colonies were at first dominated by a specific religion such as the Puritans

Colonial Life dictated by Wealth in Colonial Society : Status dictated lifestyles including the clothing and dress of colonists, their food, their education and their occupations

The three regions and the names of the first 13 colonies are detailed in the following chart and map of the British American colonies - click any of the links for articles about American Colonial life and lifestyles in each of the three regions and 13 colonies.

American Colonial Life
The history of American Colonial Life moved away from the early struggles and survival for life, to making a good living and a good life in the colonies. America was a land of equality and opportunity - with the exception of slavery. The numbers of poor people in North America remained tiny compared to the numbers of impoverished people in England. The majority of Americans in the Middle Colonies worked on, and many owned, small farms. The plantations dominated in the Southern colonies but were owned by a privileged few and worked on by slaves. American colonial life in the New England colonies focussed on town life and people worked in industries like ship building - refer to Colonial Trades and Occupations. American Colonial Life revolved around the various occupations and this is how people made a living. But what about the daily activities of the colonists? What was Daily American Colonial life really like? The following fact file provides a fast insight into many day to day elements of Colonial Life.

Daily Colonial Life Fact 3

Rights: Women could not vote. Men of the wealthy upper class could vote and hold public office. Men of the middle class could also vote but few held public office. Men of the lower classes could not vote and most were illiterate. Indentured servants and slaves did not have the right to vote.

Daily Colonial Life Fact 9

Diseases: There were no cures for deadly diseases such as typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, smallpox, measles, whooping cough and influenza.

Daily Colonial Life Fact 20

Colonial Food: Food in Colonial America was plentiful and included a lot of meat, although the diet could be coarse and monotonous

Daily Colonial Life Fact 21

Heating and Plumbing: Heating was basic via a fireplace and houses were drafty. There was no plumbing or running water.

Daily Colonial Life Fact 22

Leisure: Men enjoyed themselves with card playing, horse racing, cockfighting, and fox hunting. Women occupied themselves with useful indoor activities including sewing, quilting and embroidery. Dancing was seen as a joint leisure activity

Daily Colonial Life Fact 23

Colonial Religion: The American colonies adhered to all denominations of the Christian religion and many people were expected to say daily prayers and always attend church on Sundays. Rich people sat at the front and poor people sat in the back benches.

Colonial Life

Interesting Facts and information about American Colonial Life

Fast Facts and info about American Colonial Life

American Colonial Life article is great resource for kids

Social Studies Homework help for kids on Colonial Life

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The colonization of America and the fascinating events that led colonists and patriots down the Road to Revolution Learn about the history and day to living of American colonial life in the late 1700s.

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In the 1600s and 1700s, Great Britain held a vast empire with colonies all over the world