Comparing the Colonies Social Studies alive

Massachusetts Bay

Massachusetts Bay Colony Foundation -The first group of settlers to come to Massachusetts were the Pilgrims who arrived in Plymouth in 1620. They wanted to leave the Church of England.  - Another group, called Puritans, seeking religious freedom formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. These Puritans wanted to freely practice their religious beliefs in the new home.

Massachusetts Bay Colony Geography - The area in Massachusetts was a very rugged area. The soil was rocky, and winters could be harsh, but there were also vast forests and clean water.  - The winter cold killed insects and germs that caused disease, so colonists in New England often lived longer than people in other regions.

Massachusetts Bay Colony Economy - The region supported many industries.  - Colonists grew crops and raised animals on small farms.  - Men cut lumber from trees to build houses and trading ships.  - Many colonists also worked as fishermen and whalers. Fishing provided food, while whale fat was used to make oil and candles.

Massachusetts Bay Colony Government Massachusetts had a more democratic government than most countries in Europe.  At first, only Puritan men could vote, but as time passed, all men who owned land could vote. The colonists met at town meetings to solve local problems, where they made decisions by majority rule.  Settlers elected representatives to the colony’s lawmaking body. 

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Foundation From its start, Rhode Island offered people religious freedom. Roger Williams was wanting religious freedom and that government and religion should be separate.  In 1636, he started a town called Providence, which later became the capital of Rhode Island. Rhode Island welcomed people with different religious beliefs to live in the colony.

Rhode Island Geography Rhode Island’s geography helped colonists build a strong economy.  Narragansett Bay and local rivers provided fish and routes for travel and trade.  Men trapped animals and traded the furs.  The forests supplied timber, and the soil in southern Rhode Island was good for farming.  While winters were sometimes harsh, the summer rains helped crops grow.

Rhode Island Economy Many Rhode Island colonists were farmers who raised livestock and grew corn, apples, onions, and many other crops on small farms.  Other colonists were traders. Ships from Rhode Island carried goods such as rum and wool to England and the West Indies. Some colonists became rich in the trade of enslaved West Africans, even though few Rhode Island colonists themselves owned slaves.

Rhode Island Government Rhode Island was one of the most democratic colonies. At first, most men could vote for the colony’s governor and local officials. Later on, only men who owned property could vote, but they did not have to practice a certain religion.

New York

New York Foundation The colony that the British named New York was first settled by people from the Netherlands, known as the Dutch. The British, however, wanted this land for themselves so that British settlers in New England could create new trade routes. In 1664, the British captured the colony, and England’s king gave the land to his brother, the Duke of York.

New York Geography New York’s geography made it a good place to settle. New York Harbor was ideal for shipping and trade, and the valleys of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers were well suited to farming and trade. Iron, a useful mineral, was found in this region. Winters in New York were cold, and summers were hot and humid (moist). But there were long growing seasons in the valleys and along the coast, so farming was easier here than in New England.

New York Economy New York’s economy offered colonists good jobs in many industries. Farmers grew wheat, corn, vegetables, and tobacco, while other colonists became miners, lumbermen, sailors, trappers, and merchants. Some workers were indentured servants or enslaved Africans.

New York Government Colonists had little power in New York’s government. Governors appointed by the king were controlled by England, and the governor appointed other officials and enforced the laws.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Foundation Quakers were a religious group whose beliefs set them at odds with the official church in England. Quakers had no priests or ministers and would not fight in wars.  William Penn wanted to start a colony where Quakers could live safely. In 1681, England’s King Charles II granted land in North America to Penn, which he used to found Pennsylvania. Penn welcomed people from many countries to his colony, regardless of the religion they practiced. Penn also treated American Indians with respect. Therefore, they lived in peace with the colonists.  Although many Quakers opposed slavery, Penn permitted people to bring enslaved Africans to the colony and even owned slaves himself.

Pennsylvania Geography The Delaware River Valley had rich soil for farming.  There were forests for timber and other raw materials included coal and minerals like iron and copper.  Rivers offered easy transportation.  Winters were cold and snowy, but the climate did not discourage colonists.

Pennsylvania Economy Farmers raised dairy cattle and grew wheat and vegetables such as corn.  People worked as miners, lumbermen, and merchants.  Many Quaker merchants and farmers became rich.

Pennsylvania Government The king approved Penn’s appointment of the colony’s governor. A General Assembly met to pass or reject laws made by a council. All men who owned property could vote for members of the Assembly. In 1696, the colony became more democratic when the elected members of the Assembly gained the power to write laws.

Maryland

Maryland Foundation Lord Baltimore started the colony of Maryland in 1634. He hoped to make money from the colony.  Lord Baltimore also wanted to provide a safe place for Catholics like himself. In England and in some of the colonies, Catholics were treated harshly.

Maryland Geography Maryland’s geography was well suited for planting and selling tobacco. This crop grew well in the hot, steamy summers.  Chesapeake Bay was a route to the ocean for most settlers and farmers near the bay could ship their crops to England and other places.  Unfortunately, the climate also encouraged mosquitoes that spread deadly diseases.

Maryland Economy Most colonists worked on small farms, growing tobacco, corn, wheat, and fruit trees.  Some farmers raised cattle for beef and milk.  Other industries included lumbering, shipping, and fishing.  Some people made money by buying and selling slaves.  Some wealthy families owned tobacco plantations, where enslaved Africans and indentured servants did most of the work.

Maryland Government Most colonists had little power in Maryland’s government. Lord Baltimore made his brother, Leonard Calvert, the governor of the colony. Calvert made the decisions until 1637, when he allowed the colony to have an assembly. For the most part, only white men with property voted for members of the assembly. Over time, though, more non- Catholics moved to the colony. Calvert had the assembly pass a law to protect Catholics’ right to vote and to serve in the government. These rights were denied to Catholics in some of the other colonies.

Georgia

Georgia Foundation It was started in 1732 for two main reasons. First, the British government wanted to keep Spanish troops from moving north from Florida.  Second, some wealthy British men wanted to help poor people avoid going to debtors’ prison. A debtor is someone who owes something to another person and at that time, these people went to jail if they could not pay off their bills. Sending debtors to Georgia rather than to jail gave them a new start because they could now earn a living in the new colony. When they arrived in Georgia, each debtor received fifty acres of land to farm. However, debtors could not sell the land that they were given.

Georgia Geography Georgia’s geography was ideal for growing certain crops, making farming the key industry in the colony.  Winters were mild, but summers were long, hot, and humid.  This climate was good for growing indigo, a plant used to make blue dye. The southern part of Georgia was mostly swamp, which was ideal for growing rice. Later on, farmers grew tobacco and cotton.

Georgia Economy In the north, settlers cut down forests and sold the lumber for homes, also leaving cleared areas that could then be used as farmland. Other colonists earned a living by trading goods with American Indians.

Georgia Government At first, only the rich men who had started the colony took part in running the government. They passed laws that they thought were best for the colony.  In 1752, however, these men turned control of the colony over to Great Britain’s King George II. The king allowed white male voters to elect an assembly, with the exception that he could overturn any law the assembly passed.