Value of work a gift from colonists

The work habits of Americans came directly from the colonies where man had to work to survive. The future of the settlement often depended on each man, woman and child pulling together in raising crops, using skills for the benefit of each other and protecting property through a joint effort. The co-called "American work-ethic" dates to the colonial period of history.

     From early colonial times Americans have valued work. At Jamestown those who would not work would starve; the Pilgrims believed idleness was a sin and that hard work was a way of serving God.
     Because there were so few people, every man, woman and child was considered important - for the work he could do, for the assistance he could give his neighbor and for his part in defending the settlement.
     In Europe class difference separated wealthy from poor. In America emphasis on individual worth was new.

Determined by birth

     In Europe a person's position in life was determined by birth; but in America a person could improve his life by his own efforts. Americans believed that by hard work and good planning anyone could improve his life.
     Benjamin Franklin was an example of how a hard-working colonist could get ahead. Coming to Philadelphia as a poor boy, Ben Franklin worked hard and used his intelligence and imagination to become a newspaper owner and make it one of the most influential ones in the colonies. In addition, he became a civic and national leader.
      Although there was no aristocracy in America, an upper class composed of great landowners, wealthy merchants and educated people such as ministers and lawyers exercised political and economic power. These people provided the majority of representatives elected to colonial assemblies. In a society where land titles and boundaries were important, lawyers were of great value. ministers not only shaped religious attitudes, but often introduced new ideas to the colonies.

Classes worked together

     The large middle class was composed of small merchants, shopkeepers, skilled craftsmen and self-reliant farmers. The farmers grew wheat, tobacco, rice and indigo and relied heavily on trade with British. Because of importance of trade, their economic interests were similar to those of the upper class, so little conflict between the two groups occurred.
     The lower class included farm laborers, unskilled farm workers, indentured servants and slaves. most of the immigrants arrived in the colonies as indentured servants. Usually after seven years' work, the period of indenture terminated and the servants were provided with tools, clothing and some money to buy land.
     Except for slaves, people in the colonies had a chance to improve their economic and social standing more than people in other nations at this time.

Social mobility possible

     Social mobility was possible in this society. A person who gained wealth was likely to be accepted as a social equal by those already rich. Their children soon thought of themselves as born aristocrats. The lack of defined aristocratic lines made the colonists feel they could better themselves if they had the will and talent.

Women more respected

     Women were more respected and had greater freedom in the colonies than in England. However, they had much less freedom than colonial men. Single women were supposed to obey their fathers or brothers and married women were supposed to obey their husbands.
     Women did not generally have the same opportunities to improve their economic or social standing. A woman's place in society depended on that of her father or husband. Unless she was a widow, she could not own property or sign contracts. many widows carried on their husband's businesses, so there were female planters, printers and shipowners.
     Because it was believed that a woman's place was in the home, women had few opportunities to work outside the farm or family business, except as servants, governesses or seamstresses. Divorces were rare.

Children had a definite place

     Children had a definite place in society also, depending on their age and their family's social standing. Only a few spent much time in school. Some boys were especially valued on the farm. They churned butter, ground grain, hoed the garden, fed livestock and carried lunch to field hands. During harvest they helped gather crops.
     Colonists valued the right to participate in government and the right to vote. These values were beliefs or ideals, and not always practiced. For example, only landowners could vote.
     English traditions made colonists desire "rights of Englishmen" - the right to elect representatives to pass laws and decide taxes; the right to control the armed forces, and the right of everyone accused of a crime to have a trial by jury.

Diverse values created

     Different ethnic origins, religious beliefs, political ideals and geographic conditions helped create diverse values. These different characteristics were present in varying degrees in New England colonies, middle colonies and southern colonies.
     Of all three, new England was the most homogeneous. Land was expensive and generally Englishmen settled there.
     From England came the idea of the established church. In much of New England the church ruled men's lives. At first the official church collected taxes from all who lived in a town for its support. Even if one was not a member of the Congregation (Puritan) church one had to pay taxes.

Generally intolerant

     The Puritans were generally intolerant of other religious beliefs and morality; manners and lifestyles were quite uniform. Since New England was made up of many small towns, social control was achieved by community opinions.
     It was mandatory that everyone attend church and in Massachusetts it was against the law to do any work on Sunday.
     In many communities the church was in charge of education. The Puritans taught their children to read so that they could read and understand the Bible. Young children attended "dame schools" in a woman's house where they learned the alphabet by reciting and reading sentences about what was good and evil.

Ignore some codes

     There was a tendency to ignore legal codes that might be enforced in neighboring colonies.
     Politically, colonists believed in philosophies of their English heritage, particularly those of John Locke. The ideas of English theorists and philosophers John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon were also widely read. These Englishmen espoused the social-compact theory of government.
     This theory stated that before organization of society men lived in a natural state where they enjoyed unlimited freedom.
     Sometimes, though, the strong took advantage of the weak and no property was safe. Therefore, when men voluntarily agreed to form a society to protect themselves, they surrendered much of their freedom.

Retain certain rights

     However, certain "natural rights" could not be surrendered, such as the right to life and the right to own property.
     According to the social-compact theory, men were also entitled to civil liberties which were to be protected from arbitrary powers of the state.
     These liberties included: freedom of the press, religious toleration, trial by jury, habeus corpus and taxation only with elected representation.

-- Kathy Gjesfjeld, Eau Claire Elementary teacher

Extracted from the Eau Claire Leader Telegram
Special Publication, Our Story 'The Chippewa Valley and Beyond', published 1976
Used with permission.