Colonial Regions 4 th Grade

The Major Colonies The Dutch The Spanish The French The British

Major Colonies Each country that claimed territory in the New World, claimed land in areas that were very different from one another, in climate, terrain, and resources. Think for a moment about where you live, and compare it with a place like the mountains. How are things different? How might things be the same? Would your life be different if you lived in another place? Why?

Major Colonies The same is true for the colonies. The land that was claimed by the French, was different from that claimed by the British, and so the Spanish. Depending on where you were, depended on what your life would be like. You will explore these differences in this unit.

The Dutch – New Netherlands Originally founded in the present day states of New York and New Jersey, by the Dutch colonists of the Netherlands. The lands that the Dutch had claimed were later claimed by the British, when they were forced out.

The Spanish – New Spain Spanish colonies were settled in modern day Florida and the southwestern parts of North America. The Spanish were largely motivated by the search for gold in the New World. That motivation fueled the growth of the largest of all of the European Colony, New Spain.

New Spain - Missions Spanish Missions were built in St. Augustine (present day Florida) and in Santa Fe (present day New Mexico). Spanish Missions were largely used in the expansion of both New Spain, and the spread and conversion into the Roman Catholic religion to Native Americans.

New Spain – Lifestyles Spanish colonists were highly self-sufficient. They established many forts, missions and ranches in the lands that they claimed. Spanish colonists also grew cash crops which were exported to other Spanish colonies and back to Spain itself. These exports ultimately helped them (and the other European colonies in the Americas) to become stronger than other European nations.

New Spain - Government New Spain was ruled by an absolute monarch (a king). The king of the mother country, Spain, was an absolute ruler. What do you think an absolute ruler is?

The French – New France The French colonies were located in present day Quebec (in Canada) on the St. Lawrence River, much of the Great Lakes, and the Mississippi River and the lands that surrounded it. The northern parts of the colony had cold and snowy winters, but the southern parts had a much warmer climate throughout the year.

New France – Fur Trade Fur trade was the primary source of economics for French Colonists. There were a number of trading posts, and trade routes in the French colony. Unlike the Spanish and the British, the French had a very good reputation with the Native Americans, and traded fur with them.

New France - Life Like the Spanish and the English, the French also grew and raised their own food. However, because of the climate, the French generally had a short growing season. New France thrived off of fur trade.

New France - Religion Although religion was not a major part of French colonial expansion, they did spend time to convert many Native Americans into Catholicism.

New France - Government Like the Spanish, New France was also ruled by the King of the mother country. The king was an absolute monarch over the colony.

The British – New England The British settled in two places. The most well known of those is the east coast of North America. Only a few British settlers were motivated by gold. Most of them were motivated by the freedom of religion.

New England - Region In many places in New England, the soil was thick and rocky, and the climate could also be cold for a long period of time (especially in the north). These features made large scale farming very difficult. As a counter, the land was rich with timber, and the New England colonies thrived off of lumber and shipbuilding.

New England - Religion British colonists were primarily motivated by religious freedom, or the ability to worship God the way they chose, and not the way that the government told them. The Pilgrims and the Puritans settled in the Plymouth region to establish a model religious community (what they thought a community should be like.) However, with thanks to William Penn, Quakers and non-Quakers were able to farm the land in Pennsylvania and Delaware without anyone posing a specific form of worship upon them.

New England - Life In the southern colonies specifically, most men and women lived on family farms. The women did not work, but stayed home to take care of daily chores. Men generally worked in the fields. Slavery was introduced, and slaves also helped to farm the fields. In the northern colonies, women also worked at home to take care of daily chores. Men, however, worked in towns and cities as store owners and artisans (tradesmen) Children in both areas received enough education to know how to read and write, and typically did not pursue further education. Boys usually took on an apprenticeship to learn a trade, usually it was done with their father. Children enjoyed activities like tag, jump rope and swimming.

New England - Government Unlike the French and the Spanish, the British colonies were not ruled by an absolute monarch. Instead, they were ruled by the traditional British Parliament, which set up local leaders and governments to control legislation. All of the leaders, however, had to be appointed by the crown (the king or queen of England.)