1. The Thirteen Original Colonies
8th Grade History
Bonham Middle School

2. Table of Contents New England Colonies Map
New England Colonies Characteristics and Factors
Middle Colonies Map
Middle Colonies Characteristics and Factors.
Southern Colonies Map
Southern Colonies Characteristics and Factors
Basic Differences in the Three Regions of the Colonies- Economies
Environmental Influence On the Colonies
Historical Effects of the Colonies

3. New England Colonies Map

4. New England Colonies Characteristics and Factors
Physical Characteristics – Atlantic Ocean, subsistence farming, poor soil, cold climate, forest. Boston and Portland have  natural harbors
Human Characteristics
Economic factors : raw materials, logging, fishing, shipbuilding
Political factors: town meetings, representative government
Social factors small coastal towns(Boston only large city),
Religious factors : Puritans

5. Middle Colonies Map

6. Middle Colonies Characteristics and Factors
Physical Characteristics – Rich soil; broad, deep rivers; more natural ports; river valleys, mild winters, raw materials, Atlantic Ocean, New York City, Baltimore, and Norfolk have natural harbors
Human Characteristics
Economic factors : large farms, logging, fishing, shipbuilding
Political factors : more tolerance
Social factors :small coastal towns(Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York were large cities),
Religious factors : Quakers, Catholics

7. Southern Colonies Map

8. Southern Colonies Characteristics and Factors
Physical Characteristics – Appalachian Mountains, navigable rivers, richer soil, warm climate, raw materials, Charleston has a natural harbor
Human Characteristics
Economic factors: plantations
Political factors: more enslaved people, more class-based society
Social factors: small coastal towns (Savannah, Charleston were large cities),
Religious factors : Church of England, Catholics (Maryland), more diversity

9. Basic Differences in the Three Regions of the Colonies- Economies
New England – shipbuilding and manufacturing region
Middle Colonies – agriculture and cattle- producing
Southern Colonies – agricultural; cash crops: cotton, indigo, tobacco

10. Environmental Influence On the Colonies
New England and Middle Colony access to waterways (ports and rivers) resulted in high population density and large urban areas.
Southern Colonies had an abundant amount of fertile soil that resulted in an agricultural economy, a plantation system, and a low population density.

11. Historical Effects of the Colonies.
Physical geographic factors – proximity to Atlantic coastline determined where settlements/colonies were created
Human geographic factors – removal of the American Indians; disease and conflict (e.g., Georgia as a buffer between the other British colonies and Spanish Florida)