By Tiffany Jacobs

HIST 140 (#50607)

The English in North America

New England was not appealing to most peopleWeather was colderCrops were less abundant

Shorter growing seasonVery difficult labor for farmersHarsh winters, hot summers

Chesapeake was more desirable to many peopleTook some salesmanship on John Smith’s part

to promote New EnglandMore “middlings” (similar to middle class)

Most could afford their passage to New World

American Colonies 8 – New England

Very different from England!There were plenty of workersThere was very little work to be done

Cheap laborLand was scarce and expensive

NEW! EnglandSmall labor forces Too much work to be donePlenty of land, not enough people to work the landWork was done by familiesNo slaves or indentured servants

American Colonies 8 – New England

Healthier lifestyle for colonistsNo overcrowdingWide open spaces and cleaner The colonists typically ate better

Well rounded diet with protein and produceNot likely to get rich in New England

Cash crops did not do well in colder weatherNo sugar or coffee

First Emigrants were not in it for the moneyDesire for religious freedom102 Separatists called PilgrimsTraveled on the Mayflower in 1620

American Colonies 8 – New England

PuritansStrong desire to purify the Protestant faithThe King considered the Puritans subversiveTheir religion was more demanding than the AnglicansHonored God by working hard

Good fit since there was too much work and too few workersStrong Beliefs served them well

ThriftDiligencePersonal disciplineEncouraged effortPersistenceStudyDelayed gratificationPurpose

American Colonies 8 – New England

1600-1700England lands

New England to the northPuritans avoided control by the crownDid not have a cash crop

Chesapeake to the southMiddle Colonies were colonized by Dutch &

SwedesSwitzerland had New Sweden in the Delaware

ValleyThe Dutch had New Netherland in the Hudson

Valley

American Colonies 12 – Middle Colonies

Dutch Vast trading empire

Beat the Portuguese in Indonesia, etc.Slave trade in AfricaSugar crops in Americas & West IndiesPirated Spanish treasure fleet almost bankrupted Spain

Colony in New World on the Hudson RiverBack home they had a liberal governmentKnown for their religious tolerance

Not a popular position at the timeThey welcomed religious exiles from other countries

Spread themselves too thin and lost New Netherland

American Colonies 12 – Middle Colonies

Pennsylvania & the QuakersWilliam Penn, heir of Admiral Penn

Converted to “Quakerism”Considered an ‘extreme’ form of ProtestantismMost were working men, not usually wealthyHe traveled & preached

Quakers believed all men were equal before GodPenn established colony and learned from others

mistakesAlliances with IndiansReligious freedoms & mixed racesHard workers similar to Puritans

Easier: better weather, larger & more diverse crops, wheat grew

American Colonies 12 – Middle Colonies

English believed homogenous communities fared better – based on religion & ethnicityAlso necessary to maintain control over the colonies

Colonial Diversity thrived in the Middle ColoniesEnglish – AnglicansEnslaved AfricansScots & Scot-IrishPuritans from New EnglandQuakers – English & WelshDutch & GermanCatholics - Irish Jews

American Colonies 12 – Middle Colonies