Life in the Colonies Resources – Textbook Chapter 4 Explain how geography affected the economic development of the three colonial regions. Describe ways in which an American culture of its own was developing during the Colonial period.

The New England Colonies Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut

Economy: shipbuilding fishing Trade –linked Northern colonies with Southern colonies and with other countries of the world Subsistence farming Small businesses – grain mills, lumber mills, women made homemade cloth, candles, soap. There were blacksmiths, shoemakers, furniture makers, gunsmiths, metalsmiths and printers.

Lifestyle: Lived in well-organized towns Growing population – colonials married young and had large families – New England a healthy place to live Depended on children for labor in family businesses and chores

The Middle Colonies New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

Economy Better farming – produced cash crops – used by farmers families but sold SURPLUS for cash Shipping – New York and Philadelphia had busy ports Small industries * Home-based crafts: carpentry, flour making * Large businesses: lumbering, mining, small-scale manufacturing What powered colonial industry?

Lifestyle Good standard of living Cities were large and populated – New York and Philadelphia were the largest cities in the American colonies Cultural diversity – had other than just British. Had many Swedes, Germans, Dutch. Created greater tolerance for differences.

The Southern Colonies Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia

Economy Large plantation farming of cash crops Tobacco was principal cash crop of Maryland and Virginia. Sold mostly in Europe. Plantations are labor intensive – Slaves needed to operate plantations Rice was cash crop in South Carolina Corn and rice were also important crops

Most plantations located in the Tidewater, a region of flat, low- lying plains along the seacoast. Plantations usually located along rivers so crops could easily be shipped to market by boat. Plantations were like little self-contained cities: Main House – supervised by planter’s wife Slave cabins Barns Stables Carpenter building Blacksmith building Storerooms Kitchens Chapel School (for large plantations)

Move away from the coast inland and toward the Appalachian mountains and you encounter the backcountry. Consisted of small farms with only a couple of slaves. Worked mostly with family. Lots more backcountry farmers in the south than plantations, but plantation owners were wealthy and had more influence so they controlled economic and political life of the region.

Plantations used slave labor Overseers - slave bosses Most colonies had slave codes – rules established to govern behavior and punishment of slaves. General examples of slave codes: - slaves cannot leave plantation with owner’s permission - illegal to teach slaves to read or write - illegal for slaves to move about freely or assemble in large groups - slaves could be whipped for minor offenses and hanged or burned to death for serious crimes - Runaway slaves were severely punished when caught

Economy of the south depended on slavery, but the majority of southern colonists were not slaveholders. Less support for slavery in the Northern Colonies, although there were slaves in the north. Many Puritans refused to own enslaved people. Quakers condemned slavery. Eventually the debate over slavery would erupt in a bloody war, setting the North against the South.

Essay Question: How did geography affect the economic development of the three colonial regions?