Life in the Middle Colonies

Unit 3 Chapter 6 Lesson 2Pages 234 - 239

THE PEOPLE

• Diversity – differences among different groups of people

• This describes the Middle Colonies• First: Dutch, French, Belgian,

Swedish• Then: English Puritans & Quakers• Next: German, Irish, and Scottish• Also, Africans – Some as slaves; some

free

PHILADELPHIA

• Philadelphia = brotherly love in Greek• Named by William Penn • Bounded on the idea that people of

different backgrounds could live peacefully together

• Immigrants – person who comes into a country to make a new life

• Came for religious freedom, economic opportunities, land, business

COSTS & BENEFITS

• COSTS– Leaving their

homes, families, friends

– Settling in an unknown place

– Learning new laws– Adapting to new

culture

• BENEFITS– Religious freedom– Political freedom– Escape from war

in homelands– Find economic

opportunities– Chance to buy

their own land

GREAT AWAKENING

• 1720’s

• Started in the Middle Colonies

• A religious movement that “awakened” or renewed peoples’ interest in religion

RELIGION CHANGES

• George Whitefield & Jonathan Edwards

• Gave speeches that marked a change in religious ideas

• Talked about direct relationship with God.

• Traveled long distances giving emotional speeches

RESULTS OF THE GREAT AWAKENING

• Brought people together• Religious Tolerance – acceptance

of religious differences• Everyone welcomed at the prayer

meetings: poor, rich, women, Africans both free and enslaved

• Not everyone agreed and this created even great religious diversity

RELIGION

• Many different churches in close proximity. This is different from the New England colonies

• Religion was directly related to the social life• After church people got together and talked• Religion changed beliefs many thought

enslaving Africans were wrong• Germantown, PA 1st group to protest

slavery (Quakers – 1688)

SOCIAL LIFE

• Just as varied as religious beliefs• Big Cities like New York and

Philadelphia: Dances, Plays, Concerts, Social Clubs, Horse races, Sleigh rides, & Ice skating

• Rural areas: barn raisings

PHILADELPHIA GROWS

• William Penn – owner of the Pennsylvania Colony

• Planned the government• Philadelphia was its most

important town• In 1682 – only 10 houses• 50 yrs. Later – 11,000 people lived

in Philadelphia

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

• Most famous Philadelphian

• Set up 1st trained fire fighters

• 1st hospital• Militia – volunteer

army• Founded PA 1st

college• 1st public library

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

• Printer for the Pennsylvania Gazette

• Wrote Poor Richard’s Almanackyearly book that had a calendar, weather forecasts, stories, jokes, and wise sayings

Sold many copies and made Franklin rich

True or FalsePhiladelphia grew slowly because not much was

happening there.

• FALSE

True or FalseThe Middle Colonies were home to people of many

different religions.

• TRUE

True or FalseDances and concerts were not popular in the Middle Colonies because most

people believe that they were a waste of time.

• FALSE

True or FalseBenjamin Franklin lived in Philadelphia and worked

to improve the city.

• TRUE

True or FalseMany immigrants to the Middle Colonies wanted

the chance to make a new life and buy their own

land.

• TRUE

True or FalseWilliam Penn designed Philadelphia with wide

streets and many public parks.

• TRUE

Who was responsible for the Great Awakening?

• GEORGE WHITEFIELD

The thousands of __________ who settled in

the Middle Colonies added to the region’s diversity.

• IMMIGRANTS

What were some of the effects of the Great

Awakening?

• Changed religious ideas & practices, helped bring people together, led to greater religious toleration, added to the religious diversity, increased the free exercise of religion