13 Colonies Life in early America England’s Thirteen Colonies were located on the Atlantic Coast in-between French Canada and Spanish Florida.

Original 13 Colonies

The Colonies All three colonial regions developed with unique characteristics. These characteristics included: people, climate, and resources, and they led to each region’s diverse economic development. New England Colonies Rhode Island Connecticut Massachusetts New Hampshire Middle Colonies Delaware Pennsylvania New York New Jersey Southern Colonies Maryland Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia

New England Colonies Rhode Island Connecticut Massachusetts New Hampshire

New England Colonies People - Colonial officials sold large plots of land to groups of people like Puritan church congregations who settled a town and divided the land among church members - English settlers made up the largest group in this region’s population - People in New England towns lived, worked, and worshiped closely together. - The meetinghouse was the most important building in the town. People

New England Colonies Climate and Resources - Long, cold winters and short growing seasons -Farming was difficult on small farms with rocky soil - Subsistence farming: producing just enough food for the family with only a little left for trade. - Atlantic Ocean provided many types of fish and whale oil. - New England forests provided wood for ship building.

New England Colonies Economy -Farming and fishing communities -Fish, timber, whale oil were valuable trade goods -Boston was the major New England port. -New England colonists traded with other colonies and Europe -Also part of Triangular trade routes: New England’s cargo traded in Africa for slaves which were traded in West Indies Islands for sugar and molasses which was then brought back to New England

New England Colonies New England Colonies made huge profits from trade. England wanted its share - Navigation Acts (1651) : 1. All shipping had to be done in English ships or ships built in English colonies 2. Tobacco, wood, sugar only sold to England and its colonies 3. European goods coming to colonies had to first go through English ports 4. England taxed colonial goods being shipped to other locations

Middle Colonies Delaware Pennsylvania New York New Jersey

Middle Colonies People -Immigrants from all over Europe Different places and backgrounds – Cultural Diversity -Dutch, Swedish, French, German, English, and more! English and German –largest groups to immigrate Many Germans were indentured servants also skilled farmers and craftsmen - Germans built the Conestoga wagon, long rifles, iron works, glass, furniture, and dinner ware.

Middle Colonies People -Greater number of different groups - difficult for one group to dominate so developed a climate of tolerance Different religious groups- Dutch in New York and Quakers in Pennsylvania practiced religious tolerance : acceptance of all religions Quakers also believed: Equality of men and women Opposed slavery Refused to swear loyalty to the king or queen Refused to participate in war Came to the Americas for refuge and worship

Middle Colonies Climate and Resources - Shorter winter with longer growing season - Large farms with fertile soil grew cash crops : fruits, vegetables, and grains grown to be sold for money. - So much surplus of grains Middle Colonies called “The Bread Basket” colonies - Grains and corn were taken to a gristmill : location where grains were crushed to produce flour or meal - Other resources included cattle, fish, furs, iron, pigs, sheep, and timber (wood)

Middle Colonies Economy - These Colonies were part agriculture, part industrial Excellent harbors along the coast Cities developed: - New York City – Hudson River Huge port for trade of flour, bread, furs, and whale oil - Philadelphia – Delaware River - Fastest growing city in the colonies with a dozen large ship yards - Merchants in cities exported cash crops and imported manufactured goods

Southern Colonies Maryland Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia

Southern Colonies People - Wealthy English land owners formed an elite planter class - Forced small landowners to give up their land and move westward - Produced all they needed on their own plantations - Depended upon the labor of enslaved Africans to run their plantations - Some followed traditions of nobility

Southern Colonies Climate and Resources - Year round growing seasons with fertile soil - Plantation crops included: rice, tobacco, cotton, corn, and indigo plant grown for its deep blue dye - Rice and tobacco required much labor to produce - Planters transported their crops along the many available waterways in Southern Colonies

Southern Colonies Economy -As the plantation economy grew, more laborers were needed -Planters turned to enslaved Africans -Africans made up 40% of the South’s population -Enslaved workers allowed plantation farming to expand -Slaves worked in groups of 20-25 under supervision of an overseer : a man hired to watch over and direct slaves

Southern Colonies Economy - Enslaved people were often abused or beaten -Some slaves rebelled – Stono Rebellion see pg. 123 in the textbook -Plantations were self sufficient, so large cities were rare in Southern Colonies - Port city Charles Town later called Charleston in South Carolina was an exception

Conclusion The diversity of the 13 colonies’ people, climate, and resources offered many economic possibilities to the British Empire. It also gave the 13 colonies the wealth they needed to eventually become a country.