Unit 1: Three Worlds Meet 1-2 Chapter 4: The Colonies Develop Section 1: New England: Commerce and Religion Section 2: The Middle Colonies: Farms and Cities F

There are 3 regions in colonial times… and our book adds a 4th New England Middle Colonies Southern Colonies The “Frontier” F Today – we’re looking at the first 2

Difference in climates affected and influenced the economy and the way of life in each region. New England Middle Colonies Southern Colonies F

F Choices: New England Middle Frontier Southern Warm Climate Area Land Warm Climate Sort winters Fertile soil Long winters Rocky soil Appalachian Mountain climate Settlers Good soil People from all over Europe Mostly English settlers Many Scots-Irish settlers Known for Corn, Indigo, Naval Stores, Pigs, Rice, Tobacco Cattle, Fish, Furs, Iron, Pigs, Sheep, Timber, Wheat Cattle, Fishing, Shipbuilding, Timber, Whaling Self-Sufficient Settlers New England Southern Middle Frontier F

New England 3 F Cattle Fishing Shipbuilding Timber Whaling Life was not easy – the roughest of all colonies Most people were subsistence farmers: a farm where the people produce only what they need to survive (subsist) - and everything they need to survive. 3 F

Most people worked together, and settled together in small towns – and many of these towns are still there today 4 F

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Many of the original buildings, farms, walls, etc… are still there today

New England was also a great place to be a fisherman – with some of the best fishing in the world

New England had 3 types of trade With: other colonies / Europe / the triangular trade Trade between American colonies, Europe, and Africa Most of this was regular business, although some smuggling did take place. F

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The Middle Colonies Cattle Fish Furs Iron Pigs Sheep Timber Wheat “fair cities, substantial villages, extensive fields… decent houses, good roads, orchards, meadows, and bridges.” Very productive land. Soon crowded out Native Americans (who had lived there for thousands of years). Had a long growing season, and enough good soil to grow fruits, vegetables, and grains – cash crop farming. The Middle Colonies grew so much grain, they were able to send it to other colonies, and were even sometimes called “the breadbasket of the colonies.” Crops grown to sell and make money from F

Cities in the Middle Colonies Grew a lot because they were near the coast (easy to get to) and because they had deep harbors (good for big ships) F

Philadelphia was the colonies 1st large city (even had paved streets and streetlights) And of course… N.Y.C. also grew quickly F

Colonial New York City F

(English and German were the two main languages in the colonies) Page 117 in your book shows many of the immigrant groups from the 1700’s 2 in 5 were English 1 in 5 was German A lot were farmers Many were good craftsmen and artisans (English and German were the two main languages in the colonies) F

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With so many different immigrant groups – and religious groups, you might think people didn’t get along together (“Gangs of N.Y.”) But they did. They were usually very tolerant of differences. 6 F

There was slavery in the Middle Colonies Many slaves lived in cities early in middle colonial history (not on plantations). New York City had the most. But… sometimes they’d get upset to the point where there would be rebellions and violence. It could be said, in fact, that from the time of the Dutch, when it was called New Amsterdam, virtually until the end of the American Revolution, New York City was the slavery capital of Colonial America. F

Today’s essential question: Why is “where” important? Where would you have wanted to settle in colonial times, and why? 7-9 F