Making a Living in Colonial America

In colonial America, people earned their livings through various occupations such as large landowners, farmers, artisans, homemakers, indentured servants, and slaves. Large landowners, mainly in the South, were wealthy plantation owners who relied on indentured servants and slaves. Small farmers worked their own land with family labor. Artisans were skilled craftsmen in towns and cities. Women, often homemakers, managed household duties and sometimes worked on farms. Indentured servants worked without pay for passage to the colonies, while slaves, mostly from Africa, were forced into labor with no rights. Each group played a crucial role in the colonial economy.

What were some of the main occupations in colonial America?

How did large landowners in the South earn their wealth?

What roles did women typically have in colonial households?

What was the difference between indentured servants and slaves in colonial America?

Describe the living conditions and rights of slaves in the colonies.