ifestyle and culture of the American Revolution and Colonial time period included music, recreation, religion, and professions.
he music sounded simple with relatively no complex chords or rhythms. The instrumentation was limited to such instruments as the fife, drum, fiddle, and squeeze box (primitive accordian). In Europe, the harpsichord and clavier were often played. Only the wealthy could afford such an instrument, so not many colonists owned one. However, many musical scores were written for the harpsichord by Mozart, Bach, and other European composers. During the latter part of the American Revolution symphonies began to develop and spread across Europe and New England.
Below are music samples that may be played using a midi player.
Revolutionary WEBQUEST Jig by Team 11683
Minuet in G by Johann Sebastien Bach
Mozart Quartet in C by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Brandenburg Concerto by Johann Sebastien Bach
Bach Concerto by Johann Sebastien Bach
The Devil's Dream - Traditional American
Country Gardens - Traditional English
Soldier's Joy - Traditional American
Rondo alla Turca by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart K.478 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart Menuet by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Concerto for Clarinet by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
here were many ways to entertain oneself in the colonies
but entertainment was usually combined with work. The entire community would gather to "raise houses"
for newly weds. This provided an opportunity to hold foot races, shooting competitions, and wrestling
contests. The women held quilting contests, and everyone entered the spelling bees, ate, drank, and shared
gossip. Weddings and holidays were very important to the colonists. These celebrations often lasted several days, during which
people played cards and danced.
orse racing, fishing, hunting, and fighting were popular. Men gathered at taverns, sometimes called "ordinaries". There they drank,
smoked, played cards, and sometimes chewed on a flat strip of green grass.
he children played with toy balls, dolls and marbles. They flew kites, spun tops, and played with rolling hoops and jump ropes. Rich kids often
had expensive tin soldiers, or fancy porcelain dolls imported from Europe.
eligion during the Revolution included such denominations as Protestant, Puritans, Quakers, Baptists, and Huguenots.
Church officials cared for the poor, supervised education, kept records of baptisms, marriages, and deaths. (Today, these public services are performed by our national government.)
Strict laws required everyone to observe Sabbath from Saturday afternoon to Sunday sunset and spend time in prayer.
he church was used for community gatherings as well as worship. The churchyard served as an area of gossip for the town citizens.
rofessions and monetary system of the Revolutionary time period included many types of jobs and industries. Professions included (ordered by Job- Industry):
Farmer- Farming Merchant- Trade Fisherman/Whaler- Fishing/Whaling Lumberjack- Lumbering Shipbuilder- Shipbuilding Iron maker- Ironshaping/Ironworking Cooper- Barrel making Blacksmith- Blacksmithing (making and repairing of tools) Brewer- Brewing (mixing of alcoholic beverages) Brickmaker- Brickmaking Glassmaker- Glassmaking Papermaker- Papermaking Ropemaker- Ropemaking Gunsmith- Gunsmithing (making and repairing of guns) Craftsmen- used leather to make saddles, harnesses, and boots
he government of England prohibited the colonists to mint their own coins.
Massachusetts disobeyed the law and created their own mint. They issued paper money
and distributed various coins. Most of the coins, though, were spanish coins
made from gold or silver imported from the west Indies.
obacco, a crop used by the southern colonists, brought in most of their income.
The northerners used cattle and grain to make a living. Several different crafts
were created by the colonists, such as furniture, ironwork, silverware, pewter,
and glass.
[ Music ] [ Recreation ] [ Religion ] [ Professions ]
