Colonial Economies

Between 1650-1750 3 distinct regions developed within the colonies. Each region faced different challenges due to various climate, location and natural resources. The New England Colonies The soil in the NE colonies was unsuitable for large scale farming. Many people of the NE colonies turned to ship building, fishing and trading as their major occupations and source of income. Natural Resources The forest and sea offered other opportunities for making a living. Many NE worked in the lumber industry, cutting down trees, building saw mills, and shipping lumber to other colonies. The wood was used for ships, houses, and furniture.

The Middle Colonies The population was diverse. Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Germany, England The Middle Colonies contained the most fertile farm land. The majority of people made their living by farming. These were larger farms then in the north. Slave labor as well as hired labor worked these lands. The Southern Colonies there were two ways of life in the SC. Coastal and Backcountry. Southern Plantations Many of the English settlers established plantations on the coast-raising rice, tobacco and indigo. Plantations used a combinations of free and slave labor. Later the pressure to increase production lead to plantations using nothing, but slave labor. Backcountry farmers claimed small plots inland. They had no need for slave labor.

13 Colonies 13 Colonies

13 Colonies COLONY NAME YEAR FOUNDED FOUNDED BY BECAME ROYAL COLONY Virginia 1607 London Company 1624 Massachusetts 1620 Puritans 1691 New Hampshire 1623 John Wheelwright 1679 Maryland 1634 Lord Baltimore N/A Connecticut 1635 Thomas Hooker Rhode Island 1636 Roger Williams Delaware 1638 Peter Minuit and New Sweden Company North Carolina 1653 Virginians 1729 South Carolina 1663 Eight Nobles with a Royal Charter from Charles II New Jersey 1664 Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret 1702 New York Duke of York 1685 Pennsylvania 1682 William Penn Georgia 1732 James Edward Oglethorpe 1752

New England Colonies Massachusetts Founded by the Puritans. prosperous, but religious differences forced some settlers to move Rhode Island This was the first colony to promote religious freedom. In 1658, a a group of Jewish settlers came to the colony. Connecticut and New Hampshire The founders set up the Fundamental Orders. This set up restrictions on the Gov. and allowed all men with property the right to vote regardless if they went to church Middle Colonies New York A Dutch colony New Jersey Rich soil allowed for profitable farms. Pennsylvania Set up by the Quakers. A religious group that is against war and killing. They also promoted religious toleration and equality. Delaware Set up by the Swiss

Southern Colonies Maryland Colony started to give Roman Catholics a place to worship in peace. They were denied rights in other colonies. Virginia See Jamestown notes. The Carolinas Many that settled here were English from the West Indies. As they came they brought with them their slaves. My there planted tobacco and indigo. Georgia The last English colony to be settled. It was set up as a place for those with debts in England to work them off.