Nate Jacobson 9/21/15 Ch.4 Outline AMERICAN LIFE IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY The Unhealthy Chesapeake Diseases were widespread and families were few. Disease cut off 10 years of life expectancy. Majority of immigrants were single young men, most perishing after arrival. Men outnumbered women 6 to 1. There were few families because of death of a partner. As the 18th century began Virginia was the most populous colony; Maryland was third after Massachusetts. Main Idea: Disease played a major factor in limiting family size and killing many colonists. The Tobacco Economy To keep the tobacco industry in Virginia going, indentured servants were brought to work More tobacco planting meant more labor