The Middle Colonies

New York Started By: Dutch. Taken over by England’s Duke of York – King Charles’ brother Why?: Economic reasons (resources and trade) Year Founded: 1624 Other Information: New York City originally named New Amsterdam Peter Stuyvesant “Peg Leg Pete” (Dutch Governor) Manhattan Island was bought from Native Americans for a small amount of beads & other goods

New Jersey Started By: Lord John Berkeley & Sir George Carteret Why?: Economic reasons Year Founded: 1638 Other Information: Very Diverse ; Offered freedom of religion, Free land, self-government

Pennsylvania Started by: William Penn & Quakers (Society of Friends) Why?: Religious Freedom Year Founded:1682 Other Information: Quakers-a religious group who were persecuted-believed in equality (did not bow to lords) and pacifism, established Philadelphia “City of Brotherly Love” Penn sent pamphlets to other countries to advertise his colony

Delaware Started by: Swedish settlers Why?: Economic reasons Year Founded:1638 Other Information: Broke off of Pennsylvania; “Three Lower Counties” of Pennsylvania

Economy Wheat and other grains Cash crops “bread basket” Shipping Iron Manufacturing

Climate Mild winters Hot summers

Geography Rich soil – NJ & Delaware, Swampy in the East Wooded Mountains in the West (NY & PA) Good land for farming grains

NEW YORK Taken from the Dutch because of the excellent harbor for trade. The Dutch called NY: New Netherlands New Amsterdam was renamed New York City. Manhattan Island was bought from the Native Americans for trinkets worth about $24.

Pennsylvania William Penn advertised his colony throughout Europe. Many Germans settled in PA and became successful farmers. Philadelphia (city in PA) means “City of brotherly love.”

Religion To escape religious persecution in Massachusetts, many left to live in the Middle colonies where there was religious tolerance.

Diversity Cultural diversity: variety Because of its tolerance, immigrants from many countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden and Germany, settled in the Middle Colonies.

Economy The Middle Colonies were known as the “Breadbasket Colonies” because of their widespread grain farming. Cash crop: farm crop raised to be sold for money