Title: Social Classes In Colonial America
Headings: Social Classes In Colonial America
Social Classes In Colonial America
Content: Since they were the highest class-the top of society, they were usually children born of wealthy parents married to other members of the gentry. They made sure that classes were not intermingled despite feelings toward others in a different class. During the Colonial period, the colonists were rapidly able to move up in social rank. Colonial aristocracy in the south was made up mostly of the larger rice and tobacco planters. In New England, the office holders and rich merchants were the social leaders. Few of the settlers had been aristocrats in England but as they became wealthy they patterned their social lives after the aristocrats of the old country. Even though they were a small group, they controlled the colonial governments and courts, styles of dress, architecture and manners. It was mostly this group who were interested in education and art. The next social class was formed by the middle class. Most colonists were middle class freemen who owned property but were not as rich as the gentry.