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Daily Life in the Middle Colonies

Page history last edited by Grace Anderson 12 years, 6 months ago

 

Daily Life in the Middle Colonies

 

 

Religion 

     The Middle Colonies were the most diverse ethnically and therefore culturally.  The nationalities one could find in the Middle Colonies included English, Dutch, Swedish, German, Scots-Irish, and French.  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. They were very religiously tolerant.  

Housing, Food, and Clothing 

     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.  Other colonists lived in big cities, such as New York or Philadelphia.  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. They also drank water.  Houses were made of wood and were generally very small.  Richer families could afford larger brick homes.  Some colonists lived in log homes.  Middle Colony men wore shirts, breeches, and boots.  Women wore dresses, aprons, bonnets, petticoats, and shoes.  Children under the age of five usually dressed like their parents but simpler and with slippers instead of shoes.

Chores, School, and Recreation

     In the Middle Colonies, girls and women had to cook, clean, make clothing, soap, butter, and candles, take care of children, and make cloth.  Boys and men had to build and fix things, work in the garden, hunt, make tools, and raise the animals.  Like in New England, children attended a one-room school house where they were taught religion and prayers, reading, writing, and manners.  When their work was done, women sewed, had corn husk weaving contests, or quilted, and men had shooting contests, foot races, and horse races.  Children played marbles and hopscotch and made kites to fly.  The Middle Colonies led very diverse and interesting daily lives.

     

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