Genry and Townspeople

Lives of Gentry vs. those of Artisans and Townspeople

The Colonial Society in America was not that different than in Europe. When the colonists came over, they kept many of their beliefs and customs. They accepted the fact that society was made up of ranks, with certain groups having more power and wealth than others. The lifestyles of the gentry differed from the artisan and the tradespeople, for example. These differences could be seen in clothes, houses, and manners.
The gentry were the most important members in colonial society. To be a part of the “gentle” folk, one had to be wealthy. The gentry set themselves apart from the other classes in that they were able to hire people to work for them, and they would just supervise. They also wore wigs and other fashion...