ABSTRACT
The early colonies in what is now the United States were mostly made up of people from Great Britain, a large number having been driven out as a result of their religious beliefs, many seeking wealth, some exiled as criminals or individuals who had fallen into disfavor with the authorities. Still, however, they were British and brought with them the British tradition. One example of this was the caste system. Society in the colonies was divided roughly into five castes. The clergy along with those wealthy enough to own land constituted the upper, governing class. The next level included skilled artisans; then unskilled laborers; then indentured servants; and, finally, the lowest class, slaves.
