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The Changing Face of theAmerican Family: Early History

work,discipline,andself-denial—all
embracedbyreligiousbeliefs—were
positiveaspectsof Coloniallife.TheBible
wasoftenusedasthebasisforregulating
thebehaviorandmoralityof thepeople.
Asthecoloniesbegantoformfledgling
governments,religionwasindispensable
formaintainingorder.
Freefamilieswerefamiliesof
“production.”Afamilyofproductionwas
responsibleforprovidingforitsownneeds.
Inthisearlytime,therewerenostoresfrom
whichafamilycouldpurchasewhatit
needed.Allfamilymemberswere
involvedinprovidingforthefamily.
Inthisendeavor,itwasnotunusual
forprepubescentchildrentobe
placedasservantsinother
households.Inadditiontobeingthe
mainunitofproduction,families
werealsoprimarilyresponsiblefor
theirowneducationandreligious
teaching.Thesizeandcomposition
ofthefamilydetermineditsneeds,
especiallyitseconomicneeds.Alarge
familyrequiredmorefoodandother
essentials.However,alargefamily
couldalsoallowforagreaterdivision
oflabor,especiallyifthechildrenwereold
enoughtocontribute.
The Puritans and Patriarchal Authority.
The early settlers of the NewWorld
brought with them their European
customs of family life.While families
tended to be large,their houses were
small.Often,these houses consisted of

only one room,and were situated close

together for protection.Furniture was

practical,but not comfortable—most

often this included a chair for the man

and sometimes a bench or stools for the

others.The father was expected to teach

the children to read and write,to lead

prayers,and to carry on the bulk of

correspondence with extended family

members.He was considered the legal

parent and was responsible for the actions

of his wife and children.In a divorce

situation,he would receive custody of the

children.He was authorized to punish an

insubordinate wife or unruly child and

could be punished himself if he did not

“keep his family in line.”

Fathers also bore the responsibility for

placing children in their occupations and

consenting to their marriages.Love and

physical attraction were not prerequisites

Pioneer families tended to be large and their houses small,

often consisting of only one room.

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