Colonial American Culture

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The landscape of colonial America has dramatically changed beginning with the root of the North Eastern Indians and following the routes of the thirteen American English colonies. As American history progresses, we have to put ourselves in the mindset of the past to learn about the past. Our values and beliefs are evidently different, yet similar as we build from our mistakes and acknowledge the accomplishments of America. Given the misunderstanding of the values and beliefs of the Northeastern Indians by early European settlers, stark differences existed like using property for its ecological use and avoiding the accumulation of wealth compared to American English colonies’ use of property for cash crops and acquisition of wealth for political …show more content…
The colonies brought with them an ideology of the protestant work ethic which emphasized hard work, frugality, and discipline. Franklin exemplified this in his work, “Advice to a Young Tradesman”, where he emphasized paying back your debt to creditors. Moreover, the key to wealth is based on two concepts: industry and frugality (Franklin, 18). Franklin showed frugality and industry through his various inventions and good will towards his community in creating a volunteer fire company and an organization that promoted science (Franklin, 17). More importantly, his concept of the time not working is time wasted resonated with the colonies. For example, a man in the colonies believed that the time he spent not working was literally throwing away money for himself and for his family. It was principally an equation of time plus work equaled to happiness and money. The Indians valued time along the same guidelines, excluding money from the equation. Their time consisted of survival because working harder and more efficiently gave them enough time to contribute to the community. While work was similar, the motives were different. Indians did not have to worry about creditors or paying back debts. Therefore, giving someone something of value is not a loan, but more of a gift to extend diplomatic relations. Sachems used this diplomatic exchange as a kinship towards one …show more content…
Social stratification happens when a group of people rank others according to a hierarchy. Governors and sachems in both societies gained their social status by their control of property and wealth. In the 1750s, America made their own two-tier social structure which consisted of gentlemen and common people. This distinction was clear because a gentleman did not work with their hands, which meant they had servants or slaves, which ultimately meant they had wealth. According to Breen and Innes, Virginia during the mid-seventeenth century consisted of a hierarchy of gentlemen, free white planters, free black planters, servants and slaves (48). The gentlemen were at the top of the social, economic ladder because of their acquired wealth from their large estates, which led to political power (Breen & Innes, 48). The division between free white planters and free black planters ensued because free black planters had to climb the ladder higher to obtain property and freedom from their masters (Breen & Innes, 76). Likewise, Free black planters started out as slaves similarly as white planters started off as indentured servants. Indentured servants and slaves were property, even if one was under a contract (Breen & Innes, 62). The Indians had a social hierarchy within their communities. The Indian community gave the power to their leaders. This became the most
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