Regional differences and interactions 13 Colonies Regional differences and interactions

Lesson Objectives How did the environment and available resources distinguish the three colonial regions? How did the people use the natural resources of their region to earn a living or meet their basic needs? How did the regions develop specialized economies that led to an interdependent system? How did the cultures of each region evolve?

The Three Regions New England Middle Colonies Southern Colonies

The New England Colonies Massachusetts New Hampshire Rhode Island Connecticut

New England Environment Rocky Soils/hilly terrain Short farming season/cold winters Subsistence farming Great harbors for port/Boston On Atlantic Ocean/large forests

New England Resources Natural: timber, fish, deep harbors, and fast rivers Human: skilled craftsmen, shopkeepers, and shipbuilders

New England Economic Specializations Timber and Ship Building Supplies (Rope, Masts, Tar) Dried Fish Rum Mills and factories later producing cloth and metal tools

New England Culture Why they came: Who they were: Colonists were primarily religious reformers and separatists Seeking a new life to glorify God and the greater good of their spiritual life Who they were: Puritans and Pilgrims who believed in working hard and following strict rules. Famous: John Winthrop, Roger Williams, Squanto, Roger Williams, and Anne Hutchinson

John Winthrop Led Puritans to Massachusetts Bay

Culture: Social Life New England villages were closed religious communities. Everyone went to the same church. The Puritans grew increasingly intolerant of dissenters who challenged their belief in the connection between religion and government. Puritans wanted to educate their children in order to have ministers for future generations.

Culture: Political Life Mayflower Compact was an agreement made by the men of the first Plymouth colony, where the majority ruled. New England’s colonial society and government was based on religious standing (the religious leaders were also the political leaders) Town meetings

The Middle Colonies New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Delaware

Middle Colonies Environment Appalachian Mountains and coastal lowlands Bays/wide and deep rivers Rich farmland and moderate climate Good coastal harbors for shipping: Philadelphia and New York

Middle Colonies Resources Natural: rich farmland, rivers, fish, iron ore and furs Human: skilled craftsmen, unskilled workers, fishermen, farmers, and merchants

Middle Colonies Economic Specializations Called the Bread Basket Colonies Farmed Wheat, Oat, Barley and Rye. Livestock Fish Papermaking and logging

Middle Colonies Culture Why they came: Religious freedom and to make money through trade Welcome immigrants from various and diverse lifestyles Who they were: People from: England, the Netherlands, France, Germany and others. Puritans, Quakers, Anglicans, Catholics, and Jews. Famous: William Penn and Peter Stuyvesant

William Penn A Quaker hoping to practice his religion in freedom

Culture: Social Life Religion: Varied no single religion dominated. Quakers, Catholics, Jews, Lutherans and Presbyterians had significant numbers. In the Middle Colonies there was a strong belief in religious freedom and religious tolerance. Villages, cities, and market towns evolved because of trade between the regions. Children were taught by their parents or tutors

Culture: Political Life Dutch established the town of New Amsterdam in 1650 along the Hudson River but did not defend it well. The British took the colony by force in 1663 and renamed it New York. Market towns Royal or proprietary with elected assemblies

Maryland Virginia Southern Colonies Georgia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia

Southern Colonies Environment Warm and humid weather, fertile soil and long growing seasons. Appalachian Mountains Good harbors and rivers Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains

Southern Colonies Resources Natural: Fertile farmland, rivers and harbors Human: Farmers, indentured servants and slaves

Southern Colonies Economic Specializations “cash crops” such as tobacco, indigo, rice and later cotton for export to Britain Forest products

Southern Colonies Culture Why they came: Established as economic ventures and were seeking resources to provide material wealth to the mother country and themselves. Who they were: Plantation owners who became wealthy off of the cash crops and viewed themselves as nobility, criminals, and poor farmers and slaves Famous: James Oglethorpe, John Smith, Lord Baltimore

General James Oglethorpe A wealthy English army general who received a charter to start Georgia.

Culture: Social Life “Cavaliers” were rich nobility from England who were given land grants by the king. Social structure and government based on family status and the ownership of land Religion: allegiance to the Church of England Closest social ties to England Wealthy educated by private tutors and poor uneducated

Culture: Political Life Virginia House of Burgesses – Later called the General Assembly. First elected assembly in the New World Representative Democracy

Question? In your opinion will these differences lead to confrontations among the colonies?

Assessment Students will demonstrate their knowledge of their assigned region by creating a rough draft of a billboard that describes life in their region or a letter to a family member urging them to join them in this region. Billboard must include in words and pictures the following: Famous person Environment Resource and economic specialization Cultural political and social aspect Letter must be well written and include a particular colony of the region described using the same criteria. Length should be at least three paragraphs. Expert groups will create a billboard and letter to present to class and be graded on a four point rubric scale.