1. American Colonial Life
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2. I. Colonial Regions
The 13 British colonies were divided into 3 regions – New England, Middle, and Southern.
New England – Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire
Middle – New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware
Southern – Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia

3. II. New England
Economy – based on fishing, whaling, shipbuilding, furniture making, shipping goods in and out of major port cities
Agriculture – short growing season because of cold weather and rugged terrain; most farms were small and crops were grown for personal use
Religion – Reason many New England colonies were founded (Puritan Church)
Puritan church wanted to purify Church of England

4. Church was the center of towns and enforced the strict rules of the communities
If you broke a church/community rule, could be punished publicly – caning, put in the stocks, banished from community
Education
Reading was important in order to study Bible
First area in U.S. to have public schools (boys only)
Puritans began Harvard – oldest college in U.S.
Lifestyle
Large cities along coast – Boston, Providence, Newport
Most New Englanders were of English background

5. III. Middle Colonies Economy – most diverse economy of all regions
Industries included mining, shipbuilding, barrel-making, textiles and manufacturing
Agriculture – better soil and weather led to more agriculture than New England; known as the “bread” colonies for production of wheat
Religion – most diverse groups – Quakers (Penn. and Del.), Catholics, Lutherans, Anglican, Jews

6. Education – no public school requirements
Used to prepare boys for a trade
Night schools and trade schools were available to those who worked during the day
Lifestyle
Philadelphia and New York were largest cities in all of the colonies
People in the colonies of diverse European backgrounds: English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Scotch-Irish
For both New England and Middle colonies, free time still revolved around work – barn raisings, quilting bees

7. IV. Southern Colonies Economy – based on agriculture.
Industries/businesses also revolved around agriculture – forest products, making casks and barrels, naval stores
Agriculture – backbone of southern economy
In addition to small farms, plantations flourished b/c of ability to make money from certain crops
Virginia and Maryland – tobacco; South Carolina and Georgia – rice and indigo

8. Religion – not much diversity
Maryland – established as refuge for Catholics
Other southern colonies – Anglican
Education – no formal education required
Sons of wealthy planters were either educated by private tutors or sent to private schools
Lifestyle – only large city was Charleston, SC
Social time was used to relax from hard work of farming, managing plantation
Parties/barbecues may have lasted for days b/c people traveled from miles around for the get-togethers.
Food – all kinds of meats, fresh vegetables and plenty of desserts