1. Chapter 6: Middle and Southern Colonies
Vocabulary Review

2. Proprietor A person who is in charge of a colony’s land
James, the Duke of York, became the proprietor of New York after his brother, the King of England, gave him land.

3. Representative A person chosen by a group to speak or act for them
Colonists selected a representative to speak for them at government meetings.

4. Treaty An official agreement between two groups or nations
William Penn made fair treaties with the Native Americans in Pennsylvania.

5. Quakers
A group of Christians from England who believed that all Christians should be free to worship in their own way
Many Quakers were put in jail or killed for their beliefs.

6. Free market economy
The people, not the government decide what goods will be made
Since the Middle Colonies had a free market economy, most of the colonists decided they wanted to produce bread and wheat.

7. Free enterprise
A system in which people can decide what business they believe will be a success
People who participate in a free enterprise can decide to start any business they want. Many colonists decided to go into agriculture.

8. Artisan A person who is skilled at making things with their hands
Many artisans in the Middle Colonies made silver spoons.

9. Laborer A person who does hard physical work
Many laborers of the Middle Colonies worked in factories.

10. Plantation
A larger farm on which crops are raised by workers who live on the land
Many plantations were found in the southern colonies because the soil was rich from the tidewater.

11. Legislature A group of people with the power to make and change laws
In the 1600s people who belonged to the legislature had to be white men who owned land.

12. Refuge A place protected from threat or harm
Maryland was made for a place of refuge for Catholics and all Christians to worship in peace.

13. debtor A person who owes money
James Oglethorpe wanted Georgia to be a place for debtors to live and start over.

14. Indigo A plant that can be made into a dark blue dye
Many indigo plants were grown in the southern colonies and used to add color to clothing.

15. overseer A person who watches and directs workers, especially laborers
Many overseers rode horses while they worked to make sure the people on the plantations were working.

16. Spiritual An African American religious folk song
Many slaves sang spirituals while they worked on plantations.