English Colonization

Colonial Regions

Colonial Regions The British colonies are divided into three cultural regions. The Breadbasket colonies or Middle Colonies The Southern Colonies The New England Colonies.

New England Colonies New England Colonies are: Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut New Hampshire

Characteristics of New England Region Rugged geography of New England proved hard for farming, however the area was home to huge forests and clean water. The winter cold killed insects and germs that caused diseases. New England colonists often lived longer than people of other regions. Colonists grew crops, raised animals on small farms. Men cut down trees to build homes and trading ships, some even became skilled whale hunters and fisherman.

Massachusetts Colony Founded in 1620 by the Puritans who were unhappy with the Church of England and wanted to practice their religious beliefs freely. Puritans were very strict in their religious beliefs and did not welcome those who did not share their beliefs.

Rhode Island Founded by Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams, two members of the Massachusetts Colony who were kicked out because of their beliefs. In 1636 colony was settled. Rhode Island allowed more religious and political freedom than Massachusetts.

Connecticut Founded by Thomas Hooker, who left Massachusetts because he did not like the control Puritan leaders had over his life. Established Connecticut to give all men the chance to elect their leaders and have a say in their government. This was a first for any colony in North America.

New Hampshire Founded in 1680 by people were looking to make more money fishing and cutting down lumber. Colony was started to make a profit in the New World. Was originally called Strawberry Banke.

Characteristics of the Middle Colonies The Middle Colonies, also known as the Middle Atlantic Colonies, were originally founded by Dutch settlers who called the area New Netherlands. The colonies later came under British control. The Middle Colonies were more diverse than the other regions, due to the random manner in which these colonies were populated, with many settlers spread throughout the colonies on small family farms. The Middle Colonies were more agricultural than both the Southern Colonies and the New England Colonies. Farming, in fact, was so dominant in this region that the Middle Colonies earned the nickname of the "bread basket" of the colonies.

New York Colony New York Colony began as the Dutch trading outpost of New Netherland in 1614. The English captured the colony in 1664. King Charles II gave the colony as a proprietorship to his brother James, duke of York, upon the English claim on 12 March1664 Proprietorship: a colony that was ruled by an owner selected by the king.

New Jersey The first settlements in New Jersey were made by the Dutch along the western bank of the Hudson River. Territory of New Jersey was included in the grant King Charles II gave to his brother James, the Duke of York, in 1664.

Pennsylvania William Penn founded Pennsylvania in 1681 with a land grant that was owed his deceased Father. His goal was to create a colony that allowed for freedom of religion due to his desire to protect himself and fellow Quakers from persecution. The colony was well-advertised and by 1700 was the third biggest and richest colony in the New World. Penn allowed for a representative assembly elected by landowners. Freedom of worship and religion was granted to all citizens.

Delaware Delaware was a part of Pennsylvania although never legally a separate colony. From 1682 to 1776 it was part of the Penn ownership and was known as the lower counties. In 1701 it gained a separate Assembly from the three upper counties but had the same Governor as the rest of Pennsylvania.

Characteristics of the Southern Colonies The Southern Colonies had warm and damp climate, which meant growing plants was easy. Virginia and Maryland’s major cash crop was tobacco. North Carolina’s main cash crop was pine forests. South Carolina and Georgia’s main cash crops were rice and indigo. Rice grew in the hot, wet tidewater region. Indigo was a plant that can be turned into a blue dye. Georgia also grew cotton, which was useful for weaving. Broad rivers located there was an excellent source of transportation. The tidelands went inland for about 100 miles and ended at the fall line. Land back of the fall line was known as the backcountry. Colonists who lived in the backcountry weren’t as fortunate as the people who lived in the tideland because the soil wasn’t as fertile. Instead they hunted in the thick forests located in the backcountry.

South Carolina In 1712 the northern two thirds of this area was divided into two colonies. In this colony land owners established huge farms in the style of Spanish plantations of New Spain. Cash crops were rice, indigo, cotton and tobacco

North Carolina In 1712 the northern two thirds of this area was divided into two colonies. This colony continued to develop as a colony of small farms that grew some cash crops.

Virginia Began with settlement of Jamestown in 1607, started as a trading post ran by a company. Grew tobacco as its cash crop. In 1624 became a Royal colony.

Georgia Colony was originally the Southern one third of Carolina. James Oglethorpe was given a charter to start colony in 1732. Oglethorpe had idea to make a place for debtors to come and start a new life.

Maryland Colony was founded after a land grant made by King Charles II to Lord Baltimore. Colony was founded in 1634 to be a safe haven for Catholics. From the colony’s beginning the proprietors were welcoming of many different religions. In 1649 colony approved 1st law that guaranteed freedom of religion in North America.