United States history overview and key developments

This is a 3 page paper that compares life in the Southern Colonies of the Chesapeake Bay and those in the "deep south" with that of the Colonies of New England and the Middle Colonies. There are 3 references used. Introduction The Early American Colonist faced different challenges and led a different lifestyle depending on where in the country they lived. These variances ranged from schooling, to terrain, to the crops they planted and the climate they endured. The Farming Communities Farming was essential to all of the regions. Large-scale farming was better for the South. The climate there was warmer and the soil was richer. Tobacco and rice were grown on large plantations to be exported to Britain. Each plantation was like a small village. The owners of the plantations were the "mayor, judge, sheriff, preacher, doctor, lawyer and storekeeper (unknown, 1996)." There was a blacksmith, cobbler, tanner and carpenter on each plantation. The wood used by the carpenter and blacksmith came from the trees on the plantations. The wood was used by the blacksmith to make hot coals necessary in making horseshoes and ironware. Thread for weaving cloth was made from the cotton and flax grown on the plantations. Cattle and sheep were raised for wool, milk, meat and leather (unknown, 1996). Some plantation owners became so rich they didn't wear homemade clothes, but imported fine clothes from Britain. In contrast to the rich soil of the South, New England had rocky, poor soil. Here the farms were small. Instead of growing crops to export, each family grew just enough food for it's needs. The houses here were built in a square, facing a common area of shared land where the livestock grazed. The houses were made of wood or stone. New Englanders rarely bought British goods. The North had great forest and thus the colonist there became fine furniture makers. They also made all of their own tools and clothing. Most of the northern colonist money came from "fishing, shipbuilding, shipping and whaling (unknown, 1996)." Voyages were made up and down the Atlantic coast by trading ships. From the New England ports, whaling ships left for journeys that could last 2 or 3 years. The most important export for the middle colonies was wheat and thus they became known as the "bread" colonies. The farms here were run by single families. Along with wheat, the farms produced pork, lamb and beef (unknown, 1996). The merchants who lived in the city, along with the farmers who lived in the Hudson River Valley became as wealthy as their counterparts on the southern plantations. Early schools The first public schools were in New England and only boys were allowed to attend. The three R's were taught by every schoolteacher. They were "Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rithmetic (unknown, 1996)." There were "dame" schools that both girls and boys could attend and these were taught by a woman in her home. Here the children learned around a kitchen fire with pens they'd made from goose quills and ink made from boiled bark. In the South, a schoolmaster who lived with the family for several months every year, taught the plantation owner's children. Some children were sent to private schools in Europe. A grammar school at the College of William and Mary in Virginia was the South's first free school (unknown, 1996). Characteristics The New Englanders were an independent, self-reliant group of people. This came from building gristmills and sawmills that used water power, and sharing hardships such as short summers and long winters. The Southerners had the warm climate and mainly dealt with their land and farming (United States Information Service, 1991). Politics Another difference in the regions was the way officials were chosen. In New England, the officials were elected, but in the South the officials were appointed . In the South the day-to-day politics took place in town meetings and county courts (Wood, 2000). In New England, however, most of the politics were handled at the "provincial assembly (Wood, 2000)." Church Church was an important to colonial life because it figured prominently in the colonists community life. Even the way the colonists worshipped was different in the North and South. The Southerners would stay after church and while the adults chatted, the kids would play games. In New England, the Puritans felt the Sabbath was a time to be serious. Playing was not permitted and sermons could last for three hours in the morning as well as three hours in the afternoon (unknown, 1996). Conclusion The early colonist were hardy souls who had very different lifestyles depending on where they lived. The Northern colonies were a serious, independent group of people, who combined work and play. Their neighbors to the South were fun loving, attending horse races, fox hunts and having long parties. Each of these cultures lead to what is now the diverse country we called the United States.