Colonial Times for Kids | Learn about the colonial America

Summary

The video explores life during the colonial era in America, highlighting the challenges faced by both adults and children. Colonists, particularly those living on farms, worked long hours without modern machines, relying on manual labor. Children, often educated at home, helped with farm duties. In cities, opportunities for education were greater, but still limited for girls. The video discusses various jobs, including farming, trades, and professional roles like merchants and lawyers, as well as the harsh realities of slavery. It concludes by explaining how the colonies eventually gained independence, forming the United States of America.

Takeaways

• 😀 Life during colonial times was tough, with long work hours for both children and adults, typically working 16-hour days, six days a week.
• 😀 Most colonists lived on farms, where daily work began early and involved various tasks like planting crops, caring for livestock, and performing repairs without modern machinery.
• 😀 Some children could attend school, but most received their education from their family members or ministers, especially on farms where children worked alongside adults.
• 😀 Children in the city had more educational opportunities, with boys attending grammar schools, while girls had limited or no access to formal education.
• 😀 In colonial times, men and women had different roles, with men often working as farmers or tradesmen, and women handling household chores, making clothing, and caring for children.
• 😀 Tradesmen, such as blacksmiths, cabinet makers, and shoemakers, learned their trades at an early age as apprentices and later became journeymen, a system still reflected today in various professions.
• 😀 Professional roles in the cities included lawyers, doctors, and merchants who owned stores and sometimes traded goods internationally.
• 😀 Religion played a central role in colonial life, with everyone expected to attend church every Sunday regardless of their occupation.
• 😀 The 13 colonies, which were ruled by Britain, eventually rebelled and fought in the Revolutionary War, leading to the formation of the United States of America.
• 😀 Slavery was common in the colonies, with many African people being forced into lifelong unpaid labor, a practice that grew as the colonies expanded.

Q & A

What were the main responsibilities of colonists during colonial times?

Colonists were responsible for farming, caring for livestock, chopping wood, mending fences, and making repairs to their homes and barns. Many worked long hours to grow crops such as wheat, corn, barley, oats, tobacco, and rice, and they also took care of animals like sheep, hogs, and chickens.

How did the daily life of children differ on farms compared to in the city during colonial times?

Children on farms were expected to work alongside adults, helping with farm chores. They had little time for formal education and usually learned to read and write from their parents or a minister. In contrast, children in the city had more access to schools and could attend classes, especially boys, who learned subjects like Latin, Greek, and basic math.

What was the role of women and girls during colonial times?

Women and girls were responsible for managing households, taking care of children, making clothing, soap, candles, and other essential items, as well as preparing meals. They also tended to small gardens to help provide food for the family.

What were apprenticeships, and how did they work during colonial times?

Apprenticeships were a way for young boys, often as young as six or seven, to learn a trade. They worked under a master for several years, learning a specific skill such as blacksmithing, tailoring, or shoemaking. After completing their apprenticeship, they became journeymen and began earning wages for their work.

What types of jobs did men in colonial cities typically hold?

In colonial cities, men typically worked as tradesmen or professionals. Tradesmen included blacksmiths, cabinet makers, shoemakers, and carpenters, while professionals could be lawyers, doctors, or merchants who owned and ran businesses.

How did education differ between boys and girls during colonial times?

Boys were more likely to attend school and receive formal education, with opportunities to learn subjects like reading, writing, and Latin. Girls, however, had fewer educational opportunities and were often taught domestic skills at home, such as cooking, cleaning, and sewing.

What was the significance of religion in colonial times?

Religion played a central role in the lives of colonists. Everyone was expected to attend church every Sunday, regardless of their occupation. The church served as a community gathering place and was an important part of daily life.

How did the 13 colonies eventually gain independence from Britain?

The 13 colonies revolted against British rule due to increasing dissatisfaction with British governance. The revolt escalated into the Revolutionary War, where the colonies fought against England and eventually won, leading to the establishment of the United States of America.

What was the role of slavery during colonial times?

Slavery was a significant part of colonial life, especially in the Southern colonies. Africans were brought to the colonies and forced into slavery, providing labor for farming and other industries. Slavery grew as indentured servitude declined, and many African slaves worked on plantations under harsh conditions.

How did colonial homes differ from those we live in today?

Colonial homes were much smaller and simpler, often with dirt floors, paper-covered windows, and basic furnishings. In contrast, modern homes have wood or carpeted floors, larger living spaces, glass windows, and are equipped with amenities like running water, electricity, and telephones, which were not available during colonial times.