Equality In Philadelphia

By the eighteenth century Philadelphia had began to look quite enticing. Upon having rich soil, and a good climate the city of brotherly love offered tolerance as well. The large numbers of English, Irish, German and Swiss settlers were attracted to the state because tolerance was something Virginia had yet to offer. People could argue that Philadelphia was a land of equality in the eighteenth century. If anything, though, Philadelphia was a land of opportunity more so than a land of equality.

The colony had been dubbed the "best poor man's country in the world" by William Moraley. He wasn't too far off. In Philadelphia poor people could get three times the wages for their labor than they could in England. A blacksmith and a slave could get fifty shillings in one day. Carpenters, bricklayers would make up to five and six shillings. Shoemakers got two shillings per pair for both woman and men shoes. None of that was out of the ordinary either. For the same labor, there was opportunity to make more money and receive better wages for everyone.

Life on the plantation varied from the way it was in Philadelphia than the way it was in Virginia. Corn was inexpensive and good for trading for silver. In Philadelphia it wasn't uncommon farmers to get twice the income from a bushel of corn than they would in Virginia. Land also was purchased for little to nothing. Men only had to ride about the plantation now and then to see that the overseers had everything under control, which left a big opportunity for free time. Most men would entertain themselves with sports, hunting, and fishing.

The reason that there was little work for a plantation owner to do was because slavery was legal in Philadelphia. By 1750 there were more than one thousand slaves in Philadelphia. Even though there were plenty of slaves, distribution of wealth and equality were irrelevant to them. Slaves lived in harsh conditions from the moment they were