The social structure of the eighteenth cerntury was not so different from the one which we live in today.
By 1775 2.5 million people inhabited the thirteen colonies of whom about half a million were black. White immigrants made up nearly 400,000 of the increased number, and "forced immigrants" accounted for almost as many. The colonist were doubling every twenty-five years.
The majority of people in colonial america looked to farming as a way of supporting themselves. Most white americans and even some free blacks were small farmers. In cities, however, there was a small class of skilled artisans as well as a few shopkeepers and tradesmen. Also there was a handful of unskilled casual laborers. The colonial social pyramid consisted of slaves(at the very bottom), indentured servants, and jailbirds. Next to last were the lesser tradesmen, farmers, lesser professional men, and at the very top of the pyramid were the leading planters, lawyers, officials, and clergymen.
Unlike the poor and more less important people the aristocrats of colonial america lived very well and healthy lives. The sported imported clothing and dined at tables laid with English china and gleaming silverware. Prominent individuals come to be seated in churches and schools according to their social rank.
Unfortunetly then the poorer class was treated unfairly, while the rich aristocrates of society lived in the lap of luxury. Even today the middle class society has to look up to those who are "superior". In conclusion we can see that sometimes things never change and the history can and will eventually repeat itself.
