The Middle Colonies

Geography of the Middle Colonies New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware are a part of the Middle Colonies Warmer, longer growing season than NE Fertile soil for crops like wheat, fruits, and vegetables

New York Originally belonged to the Dutch (New Amsterdam) Farmers in the Hudson valley were prosperous under the patroon system In 1664 the English took the colony away from the Dutch

New Jersey Originally part of NY New Jersey started as a proprietary colony – a land grant to an individual or family Along with New York, New Jersey becomes a royal colony – a colony directly controlled by the English king

George Fox – Founder of the Quakers The Quakers were a new religious group in England Quakers had a fundamental belief that all people are equal Because of their views, they were persecuted in England George Fox – Founder of the Quakers

William Penn William Penn was a wealthy man who wanted to find a place where Quakers could be safe He obtained a charter and created Pennsylvania Pennsylvania thrives because Quakers believe in religious tolerance He created pamphlets to attract people to the colony William Penn

Delaware People from Sweden were the first European settlers in Delaware Then it belonged to the Dutch and finally the English Delaware was originally a part of Pennsylvania, but became a separate colony in 1704

The “Breadbasket” of the Colonies The Middle colonies (especially Pennsylvania) produced so much wheat, they earned the nickname “Breadbasket” Many colonists were shoemakers, carpenters, masons, weavers, and coopers Wheat

Diverse and Thriving Colonies The Backcountry in Pennsylvania was settled by mostly Germans and eventually led to southern trade routes Large numbers of immigrants to the Middle colonies caused diversity and prosperity in large cities