The Middle Atlantic Colonies Chapter 6 “Breadbasket Colonies” Lesson 1 p. 209

While the Puritans were building settlements in New England, other settlers started establishing (making) colonies to the south. This region, which included present-day New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, came to be known as the Middle Atlantic Colonies.

The first settlers in the Middle Atlantic region discovered that when the land was cleared of trees and rocks, it was goods for farming and growing crops.

The climate was also very good for growing crops The climate was also very good for growing crops. The summers were long, and the amount of rain was just right for crops such as wheat, corn, and rye. In fact….

… The Middle Atlantic Colonies produced so many crops used n making bread that they came to be called the “breadbasket” colonies!

The Middle Atlantic region’s rich resources attracted many people from many different European countries and people of many different religions.

One such group of people that came to the Middle Atlantic colonies were a religious group known as the Quakers. They were also known as The Society of Friends. The Quakers had very strong beliefs such as…

The Quakers believed that… All people are equal and basically good Violence is always wrong, so they refuse to carry guns or to fight It is important to solve all problems peacefully

New Jersey In England, Quakers were often treated poorly because of their beliefs. So they founded the colony known as New Jersey. In New Jersey, they hoped to find a refuge, or safe place, where they could live and worship as they pleased.

Pennsylvania While New Jersey was being settled by the Quakers, the King of England (King Charles II) made a Quaker named William Penn the owner of what is now Pennsylvania. Penn wanted to call his new colony Sylvania, which means “woods.” But the king asked that the land be named Pennsylvania, which means “Penn’s woods.”

William Penn promised that his colonists were ruled by justice, or fairness. He planned out his colony’s government, and made sure that the citizens of Pennsylvania would have freedom of speech, freedom of worship, and trial by jury. A trial by jury guarantees a person accused of breaking the law the right to be tried by a jury of fellow citizens.

Delaware Penn also became the owner of what is now Delaware.

Market Towns Most people in the Middle Atlantic colonies made their living by farming. On their farms, they grew enough food to feed their families, and also to have a surplus. Farmers took their livestock and their surplus farm produce (grains, fruits, and vegetables) to trade for goods and services at the market towns.

Unlike the New England Colonies, the Middle Atlantic Colonies welcomed people of different religions. Towns in these colonies often had more than one kind of church. A Presbyterian church, for example, might be only a block away from a Methodist church and a Quaker meetinghouse.

Great Awakening Interest in religion let to the Great Awakening, which was a time when people were inspired to improve their religious ways of life.

You know what time it is….

Middle Atlantic Colonies Refuge- a safe place Trial by Jury- a person accused of breaking the law has the right to be tried by a jury of fellow citizens

Justice-fairness farm produce- grains, fruits, and Vegetables Great Awakening- a time when people were interested in religion, and wanted to improve their religious ways of life