Section 3: Farming and Manufacturing in the Middle Colonies I CAN… Analyze how physical characteristics of the environment influenced population distribution, settlement patterns, and economic activities in the US during the 18th century

The “Bread Basket” Colonies Pennsylvania Delaware New Jersey New York

Geography Rich soil Good growing season # of large streams Farming flourishes Developed trade and manufacturing Towns and cities grow rapidly

Economy Farming Wheat, barley, rye, fruits, and other grains Produced a surplus of these grains Became cash crops Crops grown to be sold Trade and Manufacturing Traded surplus grains, timber, and furs to other colonies, West Indies, and Europe Manufacturers made clocks, watches, guns, locks, cloth, hats, glassware, nails, tools, etc.

Society in the Middle Colonies Very diverse area Known as a “melting pot” Practice religious freedom Had fewer schools and colleges than New England Religious groups ran most of them Women and African-Americans could not attend college

Slavery in the Middle Colonies Legal until the Revolutionary War Fewer slaves lived in Middle Colonies than the South Movement to free the slaves began in the Middle Colonies