In comparison, Native American children lived a childhood that was relatively free and happy. They were also loved much more affectionately than were their Puritan counterparts. In fact, Mintz starts off chapter one by telling the …show more content…
In this region, family life was characterized by instability and indentured servitude. They had a very high mortality rate in comparison with their New England neighbors, as well as a short life expectancy. Despite the harsh conditions they faced, Mintz writes that African American families during this time worked hard to instill “a strong sense of family identity in their children”. Between 1680 and 1720, indentured servitude in the Chesapeake area began to decline for white children as the sex ratio equalized and more stable family patterns