The English Colonies Standard 8.1

Objective: Today we will learn about the English colonies in the New World. So we can understand the beginnings of the American Revolution. We will know we understand it when we can identify when and why each of the southern colonies was founded.

The Southern Colonies The English had to get permission from the English king to start a colony A “charter”

(Southern Colonies) First English settlement/colony was Jamestown in Virginia

(Southern Colonies) Life was VERY difficult for colonists Many did not have skills needed to survive and thrive Reflections Q’s: What is the difference between surviving & thriving? Why would life be difficult for the colonists?

(Southern Colonies) Many of the English coming to the colonies were seeking religious freedom Maryland The Carolinas Georgia

Southern Colonies Economy The colonists who paid for their own way to the colonies were able to receive large amounts of land If they brought more people, they would get land for them as well Rich colonists gained huge amounts of land Reflection Q: What if a colonist was not rich?

(Southern Colonies) Agriculture = Needs workers At first people who received a free trip to the colonies would work the plantations without pay for a period of years Eventually there was too much work and not enough workers so plantation owners turned to slavery

New England Colonies In England, Christians were still fighting with each other Pilgrims & Puritans came to these colonies to avoid being targeted for their religion

The Mayflower Compact Settled north of Virginia Colonists created a legal contract in which they agreed to have fair laws to protect the general good First attempts at self-government in the English colonies

These Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock Struggled to build settlement and survive the winter

Puritans leave England Puritans were upset with religious leaders and excessive taxes Came to New England colonies Set up a General Court to help run the colony Self-government to represent needs of people

New England Economy Colonists made money through trade and farming

Education was important in the NE Colonies Colonists wanted children educated, so they set up town schools

The Middle Colonies The English created New York and New Jersey from former Dutch territory

William Penn A Quaker from New Jersey who wanted to set up his own colony Wanted it to be under his control Safe place for Quakers Received a charter from King Charles II Colony: Pennsylvania

Economy of the Middle Colonies Supported by trade and staple crops (items which are always needed) Wheat, barley, oats, livestock, etc.

Checking for Understanding – C4U

Directions: Fill out the chart identifying when and why each of the southern colonies was founded. Colony Year Founded Important Fact (key figure, reason created, etc.)