Paper About Colonial America

Hardships in Colonial America

Devin P. Bates

History 17A Online

February 15, 2005

Although America presented many opportunities for English colonists, it was not a land without many hardships and dangers. The winters were often severe and many of the early immigrants suffered greatly due to insufficient food or shelter. Native Americans were a constant threat to colonists, as they often raided small parties of white settlers. Due to the fact that the European settlers were usually taking over what had been Native American territory, conflicts between the two groups often occurred, and occasionally escalated into wars. Disease was a problem for colonists. Epidemics often ran rampant among the settlers, and this, among other things, greatly lowered the average life expectancy. For many settlers, life consisted of constant work and struggle, with few opportunities for amusement or entertainment.

Because the lives of most colonists revolved around agriculture, the changing of the seasons played a major role in Colonial America, especially during the harsh winters in the northern colonies. Most of the year was spent growing and harvesting crops in preparation for winter. Not being able to readily preserve foodstuffs, colonists cured or smoked meats, pickled some kinds of vegetables, and stored other types of vegetables and fruits in cool, dry cellars. But during the winters many colonists lived mainly on a diet of meat and bread.

Though some settlers (especially in the Pennsylvania) tried to live in harmony with Native Americans, the majority of colonists saw them merely as an obstacle between themselves and the land that they desired. “For a brief period, Pennsylvania seemed the promised land of amicable Indian-white relations. Some southern tribes even migrated there, seeking the Quaker haven” (Kennedy 39). Though there was conflict with Native Americans in New England and the Middle...