Living in the Colonies

Have you studied Colonial times in school? It is the period of time (1607-1776) during which people from Europe sailed across the sea to America, which then was known to them as the “New World.” Some people were looking for things that would make them powerful – land or gold. Others wanted freedom to live and worship as they chose.

Of course, Native Americans were already living here. Can you imagine how they must have felt when ships came to their land and strange people built homes and forts on it?

How did Colonial America start? Read these clues to find out:

1. Members of the Virginia Company sailed to the

New World to claim __________ for England.

2. They wanted to make lots of __________ by finding silver or gold, so they quickly landed to start a settlement before other people could.

3. They founded the first settlement, called __________ , in Virginia.

4. Some others who traveled to the New World were called __________. They sailed on a ship called the Mayflower and landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

5. They came to the New World because they wanted religious __________.

6. Most settlers had to grow their own fruits and __________.

7. Settlers built __________ to protect against attacks from some native tribes.

8. Such attacks could last for weeks or months, trapping settlers inside. When food ran out, many people __________.

9. There were few doctors, so many settlers died due to simple _______.

10. Eventually the English government placed very heavy __________ on the colonists for tea, food and other goods. land

11. This was one 10 of the main causes of the ________ Revolutionary War.

12. In 1776, the 13 Colonies declared themselves

“Free and Independent ________ ” that no longer were part of Great Britain.

At this time, most families had to provide their own food. They grew turnips, pumpkins, potatoes, wheat and corn. They kept pigs, chickens and cows. Men hunted for deer, turkeys or rabbits. Families fished or searched for clams. A pot of stew was kept hot on the fire all week. Some sugar and spices were brought from England, but were still scarce. To keep foods longer, they were dried, smoked, canned, salted and pickled.