Chapter 5 Lesson 1 A. Geography of the Colonies 1. The 13 Colonies a. New England b. The Middle Colonies c. The Southern Colonies Pages 160-163 in Social Studies text.

The Thirteen Colonies During the 1600s and 1700s, many English settlers moved to North America. Why do you think that they moved to North America? 1) Many moved for religious reasons. 2) Many believed that they had a better chance to make a living in NA. 3) Many also believed they would find more freedoms. It was these settlers that established the 13 English colonies.

The Location of the Thirteen Colonies The colonies were located: Along the Atlantic Ocean. To the North was New France. To the South was New Spain. To the West were the Appalachian Mountains. They were a natural barrier The geography & climate of the 13 colonies separated them into 3 regions: New England, the Middle Colonies, & the Southern Colonies.

New England New England’s geography was shaped by glaciers formed during the Ice Age. As the glaciers moved across New England, rocks trapped in the glaciers cut deep valleys through the mountains. They scraped the rich soil and pushed it south. New England was left with thin and rocky layers of dirt. Farming was difficult. Summers were warm but winters were long and very cold. The growing season was short.

Growing Season The time of year when it is warm enough for plants to grow. New England had a short growing season. Most farmers could only grow enough food for their families. Very little was left over to sell. Cultural Regions

New England Geography Farming was hard for the New England colonists. With a short growing season, they learned to depend on natural resources to survive. They used the wood from the forests to build ships and buildings. They used the Atlantic Ocean to catch fish for food and other products. They used heavily populated forests to build ships and buildings. They caught fish and whales from the Atlantic to use for food and other products.

The Middle Colonies The soil scooped from the New England Colonies stopped in the Middle Colonies. Crops grew well there because of the fertile soil. The climate was also good for farming. They had a much longer growing season than in New England. There were plenty of sunny days and good rain. They had wide rivers that was good for transportation. Farmers used riverboats to sell their crops in nearby towns. The nearby woods were full of animals. Colonists hunted and trapped animals such as deer and beaver.

Southern Colonies The Southern coast was full of rivers, bays, and wetlands. The climate & soil of the tidewater were excellent for farming. The growing season was long. The climate was warm and there was plenty of rain. One important cash crop grown in the tidewater region was tobacco. By the 1650s, Virginia and Maryland were exporting almost five million pounds of tobacco every year.

Tidewater The water in rivers and streams rises and falls every day with the ocean tides. The climate and soil produced by the tidewater were excellent for farming.

Fall Line The tidewater ended at the fall line. At the fall line, rivers from higher land flow to lower lands and often formed waterfalls.

Backcountry The higher land on the other side of the fall line was called the backcountry. The backcountry was “in back of” the area where most colonists. It had steep and covered forests. Colonists hunted and fished for most of their food. Life in the backcountry was difficult. In some areas, there was no well-established government, and conflicts with American Indians were common.

Review: Lesson 1 Why was farming difficult for New England colonists? *Soil was too rocky and sandy *The climate was extremely cold in the winter making the growing season too short. Why was farming in the Middle and Southern Colonies better than in New England? *They had fertile soil. *They had longer growing seasons. *They had milder climates. Why was the tidewater good for growing crops? Soil in the tidewater was rich and fertile. What natural resources did colonists have in New England? Forests and the Atlantic Ocean Northwest Coast