The English Colonies in America

The English Colonies The English Colonies in Americain America

Colonial RegionsColonial Regions English settlers established colonies in North America English settlers established colonies in North America

for many reasons.for many reasons. ProfitProfit Religious FreedomReligious Freedom Refuge for DebtorsRefuge for Debtors

The English crown supported all of these efforts mainly The English crown supported all of these efforts mainly because it was competing for land in the New World because it was competing for land in the New World with Spain and France.with Spain and France.

By 1733, there were 13 British colonies strung along By 1733, there were 13 British colonies strung along the Atlantic coastline.the Atlantic coastline.

These areas can be grouped into three distinct regions:These areas can be grouped into three distinct regions: The New England, Middle and Southern Colonies.The New England, Middle and Southern Colonies. Each region had different climates and resources that Each region had different climates and resources that

encouraged settlers to develop different ways of life.encouraged settlers to develop different ways of life.

The New England The New England ColoniesColonies

The New England region included the The New England region included the colonies of Massachusetts, Rhode colonies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.

Most of the people living in this region Most of the people living in this region were seeking religious freedom.were seeking religious freedom.

Life in the New Life in the New England ColoniesEngland Colonies

In this region, farming was difficult due to long, In this region, farming was difficult due to long, cold winters and the region’s rocky, hilly cold winters and the region’s rocky, hilly wilderness.wilderness.

The forests and the sea provided useful The forests and the sea provided useful resources and ways to make a living.resources and ways to make a living.

New Englanders built their economy on small New Englanders built their economy on small farms, lumbering, fishing, shipbuilding, and farms, lumbering, fishing, shipbuilding, and trade.trade.

Massachusetts:Massachusetts:A New England ColonyA New England Colony

FoundersFounders Pilgrims led by William Bradford (1620)Pilgrims led by William Bradford (1620) Puritans led by John Winthrop (1630)Puritans led by John Winthrop (1630)

SettlersSettlers Puritans seeking escape from religious persecutionPuritans seeking escape from religious persecution

ClimateClimate Harsh winters and warm summersHarsh winters and warm summers

GeographyGeography Sandy coast with good ports, rich pastures, and forests.Sandy coast with good ports, rich pastures, and forests.

Economy/OccupationsEconomy/Occupations Crop and livestock farming, lumber, shops, and shipping.Crop and livestock farming, lumber, shops, and shipping.

ReligionReligion PuritanPuritan

GovernmentGovernment Self-governing with strong religious influenceSelf-governing with strong religious influence

Rhode Island:Rhode Island:A New England ColonyA New England Colony

FoundersFounders Roger WilliamsRoger Williams Anne HutchinsonAnne Hutchinson

SettlersSettlers People seeking religious freedomPeople seeking religious freedom

ClimateClimate Hot, humid summers and cold, snowy wintersHot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters

GeographyGeography Coastal lowlands and flat, rocky woodlands.Coastal lowlands and flat, rocky woodlands.

Economy/OccupationsEconomy/Occupations Farming (large cattle and dairy farms, small independent farms), lumber, Farming (large cattle and dairy farms, small independent farms), lumber,

shipbuilding, fishing, whaling, and trading.shipbuilding, fishing, whaling, and trading. ReligionReligion

Various faithsVarious faiths GovernmentGovernment

Self-governing Self-governing

Connecticut:Connecticut:A New England ColonyA New England Colony

FoundersFounders Thomas HookerThomas Hooker

SettlersSettlers Puritans seeking a new settlementPuritans seeking a new settlement

ClimateClimate Cold winters and mild summersCold winters and mild summers

GeographyGeography Forested hills and seacoast.Forested hills and seacoast.

Economy/OccupationsEconomy/Occupations Farming (crops and livestock), shipbuilding, fishing, and whaling.Farming (crops and livestock), shipbuilding, fishing, and whaling.

ReligionReligion PuritanPuritan

GovernmentGovernment Written constitution (the Fundamental Orders), self-governingWritten constitution (the Fundamental Orders), self-governing

The Middle The Middle ColoniesColonies

The four Middle Colonies were New York, The four Middle Colonies were New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

The landscape of this region ranged from rich The landscape of this region ranged from rich soil of coastal New Jersey and Delaware to the soil of coastal New Jersey and Delaware to the valleys and wooded mountains of New York valleys and wooded mountains of New York and Pennsylvania.and Pennsylvania.

Life in the Middle Life in the Middle ColoniesColonies

Farmers in the Middle Colonies raised a Farmers in the Middle Colonies raised a variety of crops and livestock.variety of crops and livestock.

Lumbering, shipbuilding, and other Lumbering, shipbuilding, and other occupations added to the variety of occupations added to the variety of opportunities in these colonies.opportunities in these colonies.

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia

By the 1700’s, Philadelphia, in the By the 1700’s, Philadelphia, in the Middle Colony of Pennsylvania, Middle Colony of Pennsylvania, had become a busy trading center had become a busy trading center and one of the most important and one of the most important cities in the English colonies.cities in the English colonies.

It was the first city in America to It was the first city in America to establish a public school or a establish a public school or a newspaper.newspaper.

It was also the first to use a grid It was also the first to use a grid or checkerboard pattern to set up or checkerboard pattern to set up its streets.its streets.

The People of the Middle The People of the Middle ColoniesColonies

The people who settled in the Middle Colonies The people who settled in the Middle Colonies represented many cultures and religions.represented many cultures and religions.

One important group, the Quakers, started the One important group, the Quakers, started the colony of Pennsylvania.colony of Pennsylvania.

Like the early settlers of New England, the Like the early settlers of New England, the Quakers were looking for freedom to practice Quakers were looking for freedom to practice their religion.their religion.

Others seeking religions freedom soon Others seeking religions freedom soon followed.followed.

Settlements of French, Dutch, Germans, Settlements of French, Dutch, Germans, Swedes, Danes, Finns, Scots, Irish, and Swedes, Danes, Finns, Scots, Irish, and English spread throughout the middle colonies.English spread throughout the middle colonies.

New York:New York:Middle ColonyMiddle Colony

FoundersFounders Dutch West India Company (1624)Dutch West India Company (1624) James, Duke of York (1664)James, Duke of York (1664)

SettlersSettlers Dutch and English seeking new livesDutch and English seeking new lives

ClimateClimate Cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summersCold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers

GeographyGeography Wetlands along the coast and Hudson River, forested mountains to the north.Wetlands along the coast and Hudson River, forested mountains to the north.

Economy/OccupationsEconomy/Occupations Fur trapping, lumbar, shipping, slave trade, merchants and tradesmen, Fur trapping, lumbar, shipping, slave trade, merchants and tradesmen,

farming, and iron mining.farming, and iron mining. ReligionReligion


British-appointed governor and council alternating with elected assemblyBritish-appointed governor and council alternating with elected assembly

Pennsylvania:Pennsylvania:Middle ColonyMiddle Colony

FoundersFounders William PennWilliam Penn

SettlersSettlers English Quakers and other Europeans seeking freedom and equalityEnglish Quakers and other Europeans seeking freedom and equality

ClimateClimate Cold winters and hot, humid summersCold winters and hot, humid summers

GeographyGeography Rolling hills, trees, and fertile soilRolling hills, trees, and fertile soil

Economy/OccupationsEconomy/Occupations Farming (crops and dairy), merchants and tradesmen, lumber, and Farming (crops and dairy), merchants and tradesmen, lumber, and

shipbuildingshipbuilding ReligionReligion


Self-governingSelf-governing

Important TermsImportant Terms Indentured ServantsIndentured Servants: A person who signed an : A person who signed an

indenture, or an agreement to work for a master for a indenture, or an agreement to work for a master for a period of years. They were not free until they completed period of years. They were not free until they completed their term of service.their term of service.

Cash CropsCash Crops: Crops, such as tobacco, sugar, and cotton, : Crops, such as tobacco, sugar, and cotton, raised in large quantities in order to be sold for profit.raised in large quantities in order to be sold for profit.

AssemblyAssembly: An elected group of lawmakers.: An elected group of lawmakers. DemocraticDemocratic: Ruled by the people. In a democracy, : Ruled by the people. In a democracy,

citizens elect representatives to make and carry out laws.citizens elect representatives to make and carry out laws. PuritansPuritans: People who wanted to “purify” the English : People who wanted to “purify” the English

Church. Puritans wanted to simplify the Church’s Church. Puritans wanted to simplify the Church’s ceremonies and its ranks of authority.ceremonies and its ranks of authority.

Slave TradeSlave Trade: The business of capturing, transporting, : The business of capturing, transporting, and selling people as slaves.and selling people as slaves.

The Southern The Southern ColoniesColonies

The five Southern Colonies were Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South The five Southern Colonies were Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.Carolina, and Georgia.

This region featured broad rivers and vast wetlands that gradually merged with the This region featured broad rivers and vast wetlands that gradually merged with the sea.sea.

Here, the soil and the hot, wet climate were ideal for growing tobacco, rice and Here, the soil and the hot, wet climate were ideal for growing tobacco, rice and other cash crops.other cash crops.

Wealthy colonists took advantage of these conditions by establishing large farms Wealthy colonists took advantage of these conditions by establishing large farms called plantations.called plantations.

Plantation owners relied on indentured servants and enslaved Africans to sow and Plantation owners relied on indentured servants and enslaved Africans to sow and harvest their fields.harvest their fields.

After being harvested, the crop-s could be brought by river to the coast and loaded After being harvested, the crop-s could be brought by river to the coast and loaded on ships for transport to other colonies and to Europe.on ships for transport to other colonies and to Europe.

Maryland:Maryland:Southern ColonySouthern Colony

FoundersFounders Cecil Calvert (Lord Baltimore)Cecil Calvert (Lord Baltimore)

SettlersSettlers Catholics and Protestants seeking religious and political freedomCatholics and Protestants seeking religious and political freedom

ClimateClimate Cold, rainy winters and hot, humid summersCold, rainy winters and hot, humid summers

GeographyGeography Low, fertile land surrounding the Chesapeake BayLow, fertile land surrounding the Chesapeake Bay

Economy/OccupationsEconomy/Occupations Farming (crops, beef and dairy), lumber, shipping, fishing and iron miningFarming (crops, beef and dairy), lumber, shipping, fishing and iron mining

ReligionReligion Various faiths, particularly CatholicVarious faiths, particularly Catholic

GovernmentGovernment Self-governingSelf-governing

Virginia:Virginia:Southern ColonySouthern Colony

FoundersFounders Sir Walter Raleigh and the Virginia CompanySir Walter Raleigh and the Virginia Company

SettlersSettlers English landowners, skilled laborers (shoemakers, bricklayers, tailors, etc…), English landowners, skilled laborers (shoemakers, bricklayers, tailors, etc…),

people seeking profitspeople seeking profits ClimateClimate

Mild winters and hot, humid summersMild winters and hot, humid summers GeographyGeography

Coastal lowlands; wooded mountainsCoastal lowlands; wooded mountains Economy/OccupationsEconomy/Occupations

Farming (plantations and small independent farms)Farming (plantations and small independent farms) ReligionReligion

Church of EnglandChurch of England GovernmentGovernment


Georgia:Georgia:Southern ColonySouthern Colony

FoundersFounders George IIGeorge II James Edward OglethorpeJames Edward Oglethorpe

SettlersSettlers Debtors from English prisons, Europeans seeking religious freedom and Debtors from English prisons, Europeans seeking religious freedom and

cheap landcheap land ClimateClimate

Short, mild winters and long, hot, humid summersShort, mild winters and long, hot, humid summers GeographyGeography

Wetlands and red clay plains; forested mountainsWetlands and red clay plains; forested mountains Economy/OccupationsEconomy/Occupations

Farming (plantations and independent farms), trade, skilled laborFarming (plantations and independent farms), trade, skilled labor ReligionReligion



Government in Government in the Coloniesthe Colonies

All the colonies were settled with the permission of the King of England.All the colonies were settled with the permission of the King of England. For each colony, the King issued a charter, a formal document that For each colony, the King issued a charter, a formal document that

outlined the colony’s geographic boundaries and specified how it would be outlined the colony’s geographic boundaries and specified how it would be governed.governed.

Due to their distance from England, each colony needed to be able to Due to their distance from England, each colony needed to be able to make their own laws and keep peace and order.make their own laws and keep peace and order.

The colonies developed different forms of government, depending on the The colonies developed different forms of government, depending on the purpose of the settlement.purpose of the settlement.

Most of the colonies were self-governing.Most of the colonies were self-governing. Colonists elected members of their community to a general assembly, Colonists elected members of their community to a general assembly,

which made their laws.which made their laws. Many colonies also had a governor appointed by the King.Many colonies also had a governor appointed by the King. As the King’s representative, the governor could overrule the elected As the King’s representative, the governor could overrule the elected

assembly.assembly. Some colonies also had councils, groups of men who represented the Some colonies also had councils, groups of men who represented the

English businessmen involved in starting the colony.English businessmen involved in starting the colony.

Government Cont…..Government Cont…..

In Massachusetts, religious-minded colonists established a In Massachusetts, religious-minded colonists established a theocracy, a government whose leaders ruled in the name of theocracy, a government whose leaders ruled in the name of GOD.GOD.

In time, however, a system of town meetings evolved in which In time, however, a system of town meetings evolved in which colonists voted for representatives to govern them.colonists voted for representatives to govern them.

In many ways, the colonies were more democratic than England.In many ways, the colonies were more democratic than England. Still, not all colonists had a voice in the government.Still, not all colonists had a voice in the government. Usually, only free, white, land-owning men were allowed to vote.Usually, only free, white, land-owning men were allowed to vote. In some colonies, voters also had to belong to the preferred In some colonies, voters also had to belong to the preferred

church.church. Other colonists-----including women, servants, slaves, and skilled Other colonists-----including women, servants, slaves, and skilled

tradesmen who were not landowners-----had not voting rights.tradesmen who were not landowners-----had not voting rights.

Documents

The English Colonies in America