The Original 13 ColoniesThe Middle Colonies

Middle Colonies

• New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware composed the middle colonies

• Unlike the New England Colonies these colonies were not originally awarded by the British

• New York and New Jersey as they were eventually named originally started out as Dutch Colonies– New Netherland as she was originally known

would become New York– New Amsterdam was to become New Jersey

• The British took control of both these Dutch Colonies in late 1600’s after defeating the undefended Dutch Colonies

• Pennsylvania was named for its Proprietor William Penn– Penn was trying to find a place for Quakers to

live in order to escape religious persecution– They were primarily Pacifist

• Supported non violence and religious tolerance

• Penn limited his power as the leader of his colony– Established an elected assembly– Promised religious freedom

William Penn

• Named the capital of his colony Philadelphia– Means the City of Brotherly Love

• A year after Pennsylvania was founded the Duke of York sold Penn a region to the South of his Colony– Penn named this area Delaware– It remained a part of Pennsylvania until 1776

• This completed the Middle Colonies

Economy• Combined the same traits of the New

England Colonies and then added to them• Their weather contributed to a much more

diverse farming community– Soil was better– Winters were not as harsh

• Farmers were able to grow staple crops• These crops included wheat, barley and

oats• Farmers also raised livestock

• The crops are not the same as we think of today

• They were not done in very narrow rows as there was no machinery to harvest the crop

• Crops prospered in the fertile soil and climate

• Crops and farms were often located along the rivers and such to provide irrigation

• The Middle Colonies were known for their industrial areas and major shipping ports.

• They were also known for farming that produced more then enough for their own farms and were able to ship else were in the colonies

• These crops were known as staple crops

• Unlike New England Slaves were somewhat more important – Instead of the huge apprentice system the

Middle Colonies used slave labor in its place– Worked as blacksmiths and carpenters– Could also be found in the shipbuilding

industry

• Indentured servants filled a lot more of those needs then slave labor– They were not a life long commitment– After there term was done they were gone

• Trade was again important to the economy of the Middle Colonies

• Merchants in Philadelphia and New York exported colonial goods to markets in Britain and the East Indies– Included wheat from Pennsylvania, New York,

and New Jersey

Women• Women made important contributions to

the economy– Ran Farms, businesses such as clothing,

grocery stores, bakeries, and drugstores– Practiced medicine and acted as midwives– Colonial laws in this area limited their

opportunities

• Most colonial women worked in the home and ran the farm

• Sometimes provided paid services like washing clothes

• We have covered the Middle Colonies today

• In some ways they are the same as the New England Colonies

• They were founded for different reasons and unlike the other colonies that were founded strictly by the British New York and New Jersey were founded by the Dutch and later captured by the British

• Climate made for a better growing season

• We have the Southern Colonies left to cover

• Be prepared for a quiz that covers all of these different areas before we move on

• Are there any questions at this time?

• Remember to take good notes.