The Middle

Colonies

The Bread Basket Colonies is where happiness exists,

& you are welcomed. The land is fertile, and there is

definitely economic opportunities!

By: Maria Estrada

***Investors wont regret sending

money to the Middle Colonies! Read

this pamphlet to learn more about

the Bread Basket Colonies.

Significant Events Cultural Arts

Culturally, the settlers in the mid-

dle colonies thought of themselves as

Europeans and tried as much as possible

to replicate the lifestyles, social rela-

tions, and cultural traditions of their

homeland.

Colonists experienced many bene-

fits living in the middle colonies. A great

deal of social and economic democracy

prevailed, desirable land was easily ac-

quired, and there was a large degree of

religious and ethnic tolerance in the mid-

dle colonies.

Immigration played the dominant

role in achieving the astonishing the an-

nual growth rate of nearly four percent

which resulted in boasting some of the

best farmland in North America & export-

ing produce through Philadelphia.

The primary motive for establish-

ing the middle, or mid-Atlantic colonies of

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and

Delaware was to develop profitable trad-

ing centers! They even participated in the

triangular trade, and transportation was

vital.

Significan

t People

-Jonathon Edwards: Preacher of the

Great Awakening that came to effect the

Middle Colonies!!!

Social Indicators

People of the middle colonies were gen-

erally grouped into three social classes: the

gentry, the rich people and best educated; the

middle class, basically farmers and small mer-

chants; and the lower class, sailors and appren-

tices. The people in the middle colonies lived in

houses that were used for work, play and visit-

ing places. Families usually contained at many

children, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

Slaves rarely lived with the families. The fa-

ther was the head of the household and the

mother was considered to be his helper. The

common food they ate include: beef, pork, corn

and wheat/bread.

Types of Government

In the Middle Colonies, the type

of government were less aristocratic

since they were democratic. For exam-

ple, property owning farmers chose their

own local officials.

***In New York the township originally pos-

sessed nearly all powers of local government,

then the county admitted to a share. Penn-

sylvania had established an exclusive county

system but as population increased and be-

came concentrated, the township was admit-

ted to a share of local powers.

Primary Economic Endeavors

The Colonys Quaker proprietors

were willing to sell land to anyone who

could pay the relatively modest prices,

and were good tradesmen.

Pennsylvania was a Busy Port City

where shipbuilding was a mayor industry

along the waterfront. Cottage industries

such as weaving, shoemaking, and cabi-

netmaking also helped the colony thrive.

Even grains, livestock, food export, in-

dentured servants, and tenants shaped

the economy.

One of the most fa-

mous founders of the

Middle Colonies was Wil-

liam Penn, who was the

founder of Pennsylvania.

Penn was a Quaker, who

believed in religious

freedom. His purpose

for settlement is in-

volved with trade &

profits similar to other founders of the Middle

Colonies; Lord Berkeley was the founding fa-

ther of New Jersey along with Sir George Car-

teret. Peter Minuit founded New York as well

as Delaware & shared the same purpose for

settlement.

The Founding Founde

rs

Geography & Town Development

Religious, Education, &

Ethnic Issues

Farmland was rich and fertile throughout

the middle colonies, helping the area produce

more food than the southern & northern colo-

nies during the seventeenth and eighteenth cen-

turies.

Pennsylvania emphasized individual set-

tlement which provided a basic model for

American expansion. In fact, the Middle colo-

nies were originally proprietary colonies, but all

five of them were at some time royal provinces.

The local government was in the hands of the

people!

Pennsylvania, probably the most

tolerant colony, offered religious

equality only to all Christians; the

other Middle Colonies offered ref-

uge to German Pietists, Scotch Pres-

byterians, Methodists, Baptists,

Quakers, and Catholics.

Education was not generally en-

couraged in any of the Middle colonies.

Sectarian schools were established,

but soon declined; private schools

were often supported by small asso-

ciations

The Middle Colonies were also the most

ethnically mixed since they were tolerant!

The Quakers even interacted with the

Natice Americans.