Final answer:
In colonial times, customs and transitions were defined by social class and consumer behaviors, with elite and colonial women at the forefront of a consumer revolution. European goods changed native cultures, while slavery and indentured servitude shaped labor systems. Mercantilist policies linked colonies to the British Empire but also fueled political consciousness among colonists.
Step-by-step explanation:
During colonial times, customs and transitions were heavily influenced by class distinctions and the consumer revolution. The elite in colonial society set the standards of polite society, which included a rising tea culture to showcase their status and distance themselves from the lower classes. Luxury items became a mode of displaying wealth and social standing.
On the other hand, individuals from the lower economic strata also aspired to blur the class lines by spending their disposable income on similar goods. Colonial women played a pivotal role in the consumer revolution as the importation of household items eased their domestic burden and served as symbols of family status in American society.
Economic and cultural exchanges were also prominent during this period. The introduction of European goods such as copper kettles, knives, and guns changed the material culture of native peoples. These items, along with diseases and plants, altered indigenous lifestyles, making them increasingly dependent on European trade.
Moreover, the plantation system and the influx of African slaves significantly impacted the ethnic makeup of the colonies' populations. In response to labor demands, indentured servitude also prevailed before transitioning to chattel slavery as the more common labor source, particularly in agriculture.
The British mercantilist policies, including a series of Navigation Acts, linked the colonies to the mother country economically and politically, promoting trade and enhancing colonists' standards of living. However, these policies also led colonists to reaffirm and protest for their political rights when disagreeing with imperial control, which set the foundations for an emerging American identity.