LIFE IN THE THIRTEEN COLONIES

NEW ENGLAND
Food, Clothing, & Housing
The rocky soil common in the New England colonies were
unsuitable for farming, so many families had small gardens near
their homes instead. Houses were generally very small and were
made of wood or stone with thatched roofs. They were built near
a common green space where animals grazed. Food typically
included fish or small game, raised animals, vegetables or other
produce grown in the garden; bread, and water to drink. Clothing
in New England was very simple, usually consisting of a dress for
girls, a dress with a petticoat for women, and breeches, a hat, and a
coat for boys and men. The weather was very cold in the
winter, so the colonists dressed warmly.

Religion
The New England colonies were not religiously
tolerant; the only religion they allowed was Puritanism.
Puritans wanted to "purify" the Anglican Church, the
official church of England, and make it less Catholic.
Church often took up the entire day on Sunday and was
very serious. Because of how big a role religion played
in the colonists lives, the church also served as a
meeting house for the government in many towns.

School, Work, & Play

Children were taught prayers, reading, writing, and manners by

memorization in a one-room house they knew as school. Some
children learned at home. A few wealthy children could afford a
private tutor and sometimes even college back in England. Men and
boys worked in the garden, took care of the animals, fished, hunted,
fixed things, made tools, and chop firewood. Women and girls had to
cook, clean, and take care of children; make butter, candles, soap, and
clothes; and spin wool and thread and dye the cloth. For fun, women
quilted and had corn husk weaving contests.

MIDDLE
Food, Clothing, & Housing
The land in the Middle Colonies was very fertile and
many types of crops and food could be grown. Many
colonists lived on small farms and produced crops
(wheat was abundant) to sell and to eat. Many families
planted and ate wheat, corn, barley, pumpkins, rye,
flax, potatoes, and peas. They also ate lots of bread,
small game, and raised animals. Richer families could
afford larger brick houses whilst others lived in simple
log houses. The colonists here dressed similarly to the
New England colonists with breeches and boots for
men, dresses and petticoats for women.

Religion

Unlike the New England Colonies, the Middle

colonies were very religiously tolerant, mainly due
to the many diverse cultures found there. There
were many religions such as Mennonite, Dutch
Calvinist, Jewish, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and
Quaker, just to name a few. In rural areas, it would
be common to not leave the farm or see other people
until Sunday at church.

School, Work & Play

The daily live here was very much the same as in
the New England Colonies. Girls and women
learned to cook, clean, sew, and make butter,
soap, and candles. Boys and men had to build and
fix things, work in the garden, hunt, make tools,
and raise the animals.

SOUTHERN
Food, Clothing, & Housing
In the Southern Colonies, women wore
petticoats and cotton dresses and girls, just the
latter. Men and boys wore breeches, a shirt, a
hat, and boots or shoes. Southern Colonists often
had wild game, fish, raised animals, rice, fruits,
vegetables, bread to eat and water to drink. In
the back country, yeomen, or poor to middle
class farmers, grew food to support their
families. Most yeomen and back country
settlers lived in log houses.

Religion
The Southern Colonies were not dominated by any
single religion which meant there existed religious
freedom for Baptists, Anglicans, Puritans, and more.

School, Work, & Play

In the Southern Colonies, all family members worked
together to survive. Men spent most of their time
working on farms whilst boys and girls would be taught
manners, reading, writing, and prayers until age twelve
or thirteen at home. After that, boys would help on the
farm or be sent to college. Girls could only learn to sew
and sing. or entertainment, men had shooting contests;
women, sewing and quilting; and children, hopscotch,
kite flying, and marbles.