Notes

Background Info By the mid 1700s the 13 colonies had been founded By 1750 over a million Europeans called the English colonies their home That types of things create or help create a region? Geographic features Climate People groups/ Religious groups Economic Opportunities/ Natural resources

3 Distinct Regions By the 1700s the colonies formed 3 distinct regions ◦The New England Colonies ◦The Middle Colonies ◦The Southern Colonies ◦Some people settled in the Backcountry

The New England Colonies Characteristics ◦Long bitter winters ◦Short mild summers ◦Shallow rocky soil – made large scale farming difficult – led to Subsistence Farming ◦Puritan Religious values ◦Fishing & Whaling ◦Ship building and trade Primarily settled by English Puritans

The Middle Colonies Characteristics ◦Shorter winters that were cold. ◦Hot humid summers ◦Fertile soil for growing cash crops of grain and fruits & Veggies ◦Religious Tolerance ◦Settlers from all over Europe. ◦Known as the breadbasket colonies ◦Large cities develop in this region

Southern Colonies Characteristics ◦Mild winters ◦Long hot humid summers ◦Fertile soil good for growing cash crops of tobacco, rice, cotton and indigo. ◦Self-sustaining farms called Plantations ◦Wealthy English settler ◦Slaves and slave labor ◦Poor white Indentured Servants