Chapter 4: The English Colonies Essential Question: What were the characteristics of the regional colonies?
What were the New England colonies? Who were the founders and why did they come to America? Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Massachusetts English citizens Groups wanting wanting land, fortune and religious freedom
Who were the Pilgrims? How and when did they arrive in America? Pilgrims -Part of a religious group called the Separatists who wanted to separate from the Church of England Traveled on the Mayflower and landed in November 1620
Why did the Pilgrims land at Plymouth? Where were they supposed to settle? They were blown off course by a storm and landed at Plymouth, off the Massachusetts coast Supposed to settle on land which had been financed within the Jamestown charter (Virginia)
Who was Squanto? In what ways did he help the Pilgrims? Squanto -An English-speaking Native American who helped the Pilgrims through their second year at Plymouth Taught them to fish, hunt, plant Negotiated peace treaties between the Pilgrims and neighboring tribes.
Why do you think Squanto was so helpful to the Pilgrims? Possible Reasons The Pilgrims had a difficult first year, he felt sorry for all of their losses and felt he could help He was wary of Europeans and this was a way to keep a close watch on the Pilgrims
Who were the Puritans? What was their relationship with the Church of England? Puritans were a religious group who wanted to “purify” the practices of the Church of England. They did not want to break with the Church of England, they felt it needed to be more strict
What is a commonwealth? Commonwealth -A community in which people work together for the good of the people.
What were some common elements of the New England Way? Puritan law required everyone to attend church. Thought that free time led to laziness Emphasized duty, godliness, hard work and honesty.
Describe the New England soil and climate. Was it ideal for farming? Why? why not? Soil- Rocky, hard, few helpful minerals Climate- long and cold winters Not ideal for large farms, but families produce enough food for themselves
What is subsistence farming and why was it important to families in New England? Subsistence farming –producing just enough to survive. It provided families with enough food to support their own family.
How did the colonists of New England benefit from their natural resources? They ate fish that was caught in the Atlantic Ocean Used lumber from the thick forest for homes, and building ships Natural resources were the basis of their economy
What factors contributed to the growth of the New England colonies? Colonists began to settle in areas outside the colonies New colonies were established by growing Puritan congregations and by religious leaders who had been banned for views opposing Puritan belief.
Why was Puritanism on the decline by the 1700’s? Profit became more important than original ideals Baptists and Anglicans were attracting new converts Political changes, charter granting all Protestants religious freedom
What was triangular trade and how was New England included? Triangular trade –trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas one of three types of trade the New England colonies were involved in. New England sent goods to Africa and would receive goods from the Caribbean or send goods to Europe and receive slaves from Africa
Why were there relatively few enslaved workers in New England? The conditions in New England were not ideal for large farms, so there was not much need for slave labor. Slaves were used as house servants, cooks, gardeners and stable-hands.
The Middle and Southern Colonies
The Middle Colonies Agriculture and Resources New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware form Middle Colonies Religious freedom attracts Jews, Protestants, Quakers Shipping, commerce in Hudson, Delaware River valleys Good soil, mild winters allow cash crops— raised to be sold for money Dutch, German farmers bring advanced farming skills to colonies
The Middle Colonies Cities Built on Trade New York on Hudson River, Philadelphia on Delaware River Wheat trade, shipyards bring wealth; public improvements follow
Diversity and Tolerance Home to Africans, English, other European groups by mid-1600s William Penn creates Quaker colony; believe in living in peace -women, natives, all religions and nationalities treated equal Quaker policies make Pennsylvania one of wealthiest colonies
Africans in the Middle Colonies About 7 percent of population enslaved; most in New York City -work as laborers, servants, drivers, assistants to craftspeople Free Africans work as laborers, servants, sailors Racial tension high; slave revolts punished with force, violence
The Southern Colonies Maryland and the Carolinas Maryland, Virginia, Carolinas, Georgia form Southern Colonies Maryland haven for Roman Catholics; Carolina, English from Barbados Carolina splits into North and South in 1712
Southern Agriculture Terrain, long growing season makes south ideal for cash crops Tobacco basis of Maryland economy; labor-intensive crop Carolina produces indigo; rice grown in marshlands of coast
A Plantation Economy Plantation economy develops in South— large, self-sufficient farms Plantations need many workers; use indentured servants By mid-1600s, servants work off debt, buy own land Planters replace workers with Native Americans; many die, escape Plantations rely heavily on African slave labor by end of 1600s Slavery allows plantation economy to grow
Africans in the Southern Colonies More than 235,000 slaves in colonies by 1750; 85 percent in South Most try to keep culture; some resist slavery, slave codes passed Slaves not allowed to leave plantations, meet with free blacks
A Planter Class Emerges Plantations, widespread slavery make Southern Colonies different Powerful planter class rises; soon control political, economic power Small farmers cannot compete; move to Backcountry
The Backcountry
Geography and the Great Wagon Road Courtney/Cara Backcountry- mountainous region farther inland from the coast Wealthy planters owned coastal land; others moved inland Natural resources inland provided enough to start a small farm Backcountry town, Augusta established as trade center for Charles Town and Savannah Native American road “Warrior Path”; eastern Appalachian Mts. Warrior Path becomes the Great Wagon Road; main highway of Backcountry
The People of the Backcountry Josh/Jacob Big plantations dominated coastal country Backcountry people had small farms Success was measured by land not money They were not wealthy or well connected First survived by trading with Indians; subsistence farmers Scots-Irish moved to Backcountry; similar to home land
Backcountry Life Heather/Aissia Terrain rough; made trade with coast difficult Forests provided lumber for log cabins -furnished with cornhusk beds, homemade furniture Women worked in cabins and fields Varying geography led to differences between all regional colonies and Backcountry
Colonial Culture
Importance of Land Ownership Jenna/Ryan England, fewer than 5% owned land America, land was plentiful Land ownership granted political rights -generally only white male land owners could vote Land ownership determined social rank High –large landownership, church officials, government officials, wealthy merchants Upper Middle- Small farmers, trades people Lower Middle- renters, unskilled workers Low- indentured servants, slaves
Colonial Women
Colonial Children Lorena/Kyle Children as young as 3 or 4 worked Apprentice –worked for 4 to 7 years to learn a trade Girls learned sewing, cooking, household work; rarely apprentices Orphans sometimes taken in by families; worked as servants George White established “The Bethesda School” for orphans
Colonial Education
Great Awakening and the Enlightenment
Colonial Africans
Plans for a Different Colony