Literacy in colonial america

In colonial america, reading was not regarded as an elitist activity. What was the average literacy rate in the colonies during the. The literacy rates during the colonial period and the early history of the united states indicate that literacy was steadily growing during that time period to rather high levels. Literacy rates during the 18th century were quite good comparatively.

American and european populations to assess the contribution of immigrants to the general superiority of colonial literacy visavis the rest of europe. Pdf this article compares literacy in colonial and contemporary america along four dimensions. In 1776, one book, written in complex language, sold over 120,000 copies in colonial america. Were colonial americans more literate than americans today.

Video created by university of pennsylvania for the course american education. She pioneers in exploring the implications of the separation of. The literacy rates during the colonial period and the early history of the united states indicate that literacy was steadily growing during that time. What was the average literacy rate in the colonies. Longitudinal patterns, economic models, and the direction of future research volume 14 issue 4 f. Literacy was higher in new england and the midatlantic colonies than in the south. Literacy in colonial america no country on the face of the earth can boast of a larger proportion of inhabitants, versed in the rudiments of science, or fewer, who are not able to read and write their names, than the united states of america.

Only about onethird of english men could read, compared with about half of. Learning to read and write in colonial america university of. The following is my brief research on literacy rates in early america, per a discussion that began on the open thread earlier this morning. Education in the thirteen colonies during the 17th and 18th centuries varied considerably. The sales figure of 500,000 copies thus underestimates the number of people who attended to its message. Jennifer monaghan brings to vibrant life the process of learning to read and write in colonial america.

Literacy rates were as high or higher than they are today. In 1772, jacob duche, the chaplain of congress, later turned tory, wrote. The puritans in america laid the foundation for the religious, social, and political order of new england colonial life. It also holds many american firsts, including the first female pharmacist, first woman to contribute a. Therefore, many colonial americans had the book read to them. While numerous studies have shown that colonial america participated in this expansion of literacy, the common longitudinal patterns of literacy growth across the various regions and populations of colonial america have received less attention. An experienced teacher of reading and writing and an awardwinning historian, e. Samplers produced by girls generally included bible verses, by the way. Puritanism in colonial america helped shape american culture, politics. There was a great emphasis on universal literacy in the early colonial era of the 17th century largely based on the puritan belief in the importance of bible reading. Schooling, education, and literacy, in colonial america \ town school at dedham massachusetts, built in 1648 map of colonial educational institutions the hornbook basic facts about the hornbook. While much has been written on the history of literacy, the subject of learning to read and write during america s colonial era has not received indepth treatment.

As she tells these stories, monaghan clears new pathways in the analysis of colonial literacy. Education in colonial america foundation for economic. In the 18th century, the puritan emphasis on literacy largely influenced the. Literacy rates among the 18th century colonist were answers.

Table i studies of colonial adult male literacy, 16501840. Articles, interactive activities, booktalks, and more to help students understand colonial life and times. Literacy estimates numerous studies have measured literacy in selected areas of colonial america and europe during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Schooling, education, and literacy in colonial america. Literacy was also higher in cities than in more rural areas.