The Middle Colonies

European Settlements in 1650

New Netherlands (Dutch) Colony

• Most Diverse Colony• Practiced Religious

Tolerance• The colony had a great

relationship with the Native Americans (Iroquois)

• Eventually, the Dutch colony of New Netherland would be taken over by the British and renamed New York

William Penn

• William Penn belongs to a radical religious group, the Quakers

• Sir William Penn (father) dies and Charles II (King of England) – gives a large property to repay debt and with that land William Penn will found Pennsylvania in 1681

William Penn’s Delaware

• 1682 – Penn acquired land from the Duke of York

• Delaware will have a separate assembly – will have the same governor

Pennsylvania Colony

• 1681 – The Colony begins• The Pennsylvania Colony

safe place for Quakers• The colony was run on

three values: Cooperation, Equality, and Religious Tolerance

Quakers

• Believe that God’s inner light burns in everyone

• No ministers• Speak at will• Do not recognize

authority• Quakers are pacifists

which means that they do not believe in violence (war)

Puritans vs. Quakers

• Puritans >>>• Need ministers

• Left England

• Waged war

• Killed the Natives

• Strict religious belief

• “City Upon A Hill”• Take Native lands

• Quakers >>>• No need for ministers

• Left England

• Pacifist

• Were friends to the Natives

• Freedom of religion

• Everybody is welcome

• Pay Natives for lands

William Penn’s Treaty With The Native Americans

William Penn & The Native Americans

• He offers the Natives friendship

• He pays them for their lands

• Penn also sets up a court system to solve problems between them

• Result – The Natives respected him for 50 years and there were no problems

Northern & Middle Colonies….

• Large cities developed• Boston, Philadelphia, & New York• Immigrants – flood the cities causing bad conditions –

poor & dirty• Immigrants were prejudice with each other

The Lives of Women in the Northern & Middle Colonies

• Women had few legal rights

• They had extensive work responsiblities

• Could not vote or enter into contracts

• Could not buy or sell property

• Were not allowed to keep their own wages

• Widows or single women could own their own business

• Religion – told them to submit to husbands

The Lives of Slaves in the Northern & Middle Colonies

• Slaves led harsh lives• No laws to protect them• Discriminated against• Not allowed to carry

weapons