What defined a person's social class in the colonies? How was a person's social status determined in the English colonies?

Colonial Society

The structure of Colonial Society was determined by the social class of each colonist. The early American colonists had immigrated from Europe where strict social classes were in place, and despite America being a land of opportunity, these class-ridden social structures were imported to America and determined Colonial Society.

The most important factor that determined which class a person belonged to in America was wealth. The people that you might mix with, as in Europe, was also initially determined by class, education, family background (power and influence) and social standing. There was a strong tendency, especially amongst those in the Southern Colonies to emulate British society. In Colonial Society your social life and contacts would all be with people from a similar social class.

Colonial Society - Social Classes

Colonial Society was determined by social classes and much like a pyramid shape. The top consisted of just a tiny number of people who were the most powerful and wealthy people in the colonies. The lower down the pyramid, the more number of people there were and the lower their status. Just as Europe there were several social classes in the colonies of 18th century North America as depicted in the following chart - also refer to Colonial Work and Colonial Trades:

Upper Classes: These men were the elite, wealthy, well bred and well educated minor aristocrats. Men of the Upper class could vote and held high public office

Middle Classes: Men of the middle class could vote but few held public office. These men owned small farms, ran stores or small businesses, were skilled tradesmen or belonged to professions such as ministers, doctors and lawyers

Lower Classes & 'Poor Whites': Men of the lower class could not vote, none held public office, few owned property and most were illiterate. These were manual workers, servants, apprentices, sailors and hired hands but also included semi-skilled tradesmen. "Poor whites" were increasingly forced to become tenant farmers

Indentured Servants & Convicts. Indentured Servants: Indentured servants (who included about 50,000 convicts) were were not paid any wages for up to 7 years. Indentured servants had few rights, they could not vote, they were not allowed to marry or to leave their houses and travel without permission and were not allowed to buy or sell anything

Slaves: 20% of population of North America were slaves and had no rights