13 Colonies

Introduction England’s Thirteen Colonies were located on the Atlantic Coast in- between French Canada and Spanish Florida. The Thirteen Colonies can be divided into three regions. Each region was unique and gave the English a wide variety of opportunities and “personalities.”

New England

Physical Characteristics Heavy reliance on the Atlantic Ocean People relied on Subsistence Farming – produced enough for themselves + a little extra for trading Poor Soil Cold Climate Forest

Human Characteristics Political – town meetings, representative government Economic – raw materials, logging, fishing, shipbuilding Religious - Puritans Social – small coastal towns (Boston only large city)

The Middle Colonies

Physical Characteristics Rich soil Broad, deep rivers, river valleys Natural ports Mild winters Raw Material Atlantic Ocean

Human Characteristics Political – more tolerance Economic – large farms (“breadbasket”), logging, fishing, shipbuilding Religious – Quakers, Catholics Social – small coastal towns (Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York were large cities)

The Southern Colonies

Physical Characteristics Appalachian Mountains Navigable Rivers Richer soil Warm climate Raw materials

Human Characteristics Political – more slaves, more class-based society Economic – plantations Religious – Church of England, Catholics (Maryland), more diverse Social – small coastal towns (Savannah and Charleston were large cities)

Effects of Physical Geographic Factors on Exploration & Colonization Proximity to Atlantic coastline determined where settlements/colonies were created New England and Middle Colony access to waterways (ports & rivers) resulted in high population density and larger urban areas Southern Colonies fertile soil resulted in an agricultural (agrarian) economy, a plantation system, and a low population density.

Effects of Human Geographic Factors on Exploration & Colonization Removal of Native Americans Disease and conflict

Population Distribution

Economic differences New England – shipbuilding and manufacturing regions Middle Colonies – agriculture and cattle producing Southern Colonies – Cash-crop agricultural area (cotton, rice, indigo, and tobacco)

Economic Map

Different Immigrant groups French trapper traders British farmers Dutch businesses Spanish missions African American Slaves

Reasons for Immigration Racial Groups – Europeans and Africans (enslaved) Ethnic Groups Dutch (New York) – economic reasons Swedes (Delaware) – economic reasons English – religious and political freedom Religious Groups Separatists/Pilgrims (Massachusetts) Puritans (Massachusetts) Quakers (Pennsylvania) Catholics (Maryland)

Development of Religious Freedom Plymouth Colony – self-governing church with each congregation independent and electing its own pastor and officers 17 th century Massachusetts Bay – elected ministers and other officials, but church closely tied with state government 1636 – Rhode Island founded; separated church and state – Penn’s Frames of Government guaranteed religious freedom to all settlers in Pennsylvania 1689 – Toleration Acts Maryland founded as haven for Catholics

Significant People Thomas Hooker – Reverend and leader of Boston Puritans, influenced the writing of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut William Penn – He founded a colony in present day Pennsylvania where Quakers could live according to their religious beliefs; wrote Pennsylvania’s first constitution

Contributions of Women to Colonial America Political – Pocahontas helped European settlers in Virginia Social – Anne Hutchinson led Bible studies against the orders of church leaders

Plantation system Plantation owners needed enough labor to grow large amount of plantation crops, as demand for crops increased, the slave trade increased Transatlantic Slave Trade – started in the British West Indies to provide a labor force for sugar plantations The triangular trade developed between the Colonies, England, and West Indies Both slaves and free blacks were not allowed to vote

Triangular Trade

Transatlantic slave trade map

The Need For Slavery Plantations had difficulties finding the necessary labor to run a plantation. Many indentured servants were leaving plantations. Turned to slave labor. Africans already established as reliable slaves – so planters started to use them. Kept under control with strict slave codes.

Conclusion The diversity of the 13 colonies offered a great deal of economic possibilities to the British Empire. It also gave the 13 colonies the wealth needed to start becoming a country.