Middle Colonies and the South

Middle Colonies Middle Colonies NY, NJ, DE, PA Middle Colonies most diverse of 13 colonies  inhabitants that included Scots, French, Dutch, Swedes, Germans, Norwegians, Irish, Poles, Portuguese, and Italians who were the forerunners of millions to come.

Why colonize here? Goal for NY, NJ, PA, & DE was to develop profitable trading centers Dutch were the first to settle here- Dutch East India Company hired Henry Hudson, who encountered Delaware Bay and claimed the area around it for the Dutch-New Netherland, which was settled as a proprietorship. The crown granted individuals or a group of partners a charter to develop these proprietary colonies

New York Henry Hudson explored Hudson River 1626-Dutch bought Manhattan Island from the Native Americans for pennies on the acre called it New Amsterdam 1664-English seize New Amsterdam (Dutch surrender without any fight) New Amsterdam renamed New York, in honor of the Duke of York

New Jersey Duke of York granted the land between the Hudson & the Delaware Rivers to two of his friends To attract settlers NJ offered land, established freedom of religion, and a relatively democratic government.

Quakers Quakers=Society of Friends Spirituality was rooted in an individual’s personal relationship with God. Quakers in England were being persecuted, killed, and imprisoned for their beliefs. As with the Puritans, however, the English government was willing to put up with colonies of Quakers in the Americas so long as they expanded the English presence on the Atlantic Coast.

Pennsylvania The name of the land granted to William Penn by the English crown. Pennsylvania named in honor of William’s father by King Charles II, Pennsylvania=Penn’s woods Goals: establish a haven for Quakers; make money Immigration was very diverse

Pennsylvania Penn promoted the colony, promised land to settlers, and had no restrictions on immigration. Amicable relationship with Indians Penn’s new colony was liberal Penn guaranteed freedom of religion

Middle Colonies Overview The middle colonies were urban and linked by trade and commerce. No dominant religious group, resulting in relative tolerance Refuge for a variety of dissenters and religious misfits. Coastal cities were maritime centers with ships that brought supplies from Europe and returned to Europe filled with grains, furs, and lumber for shipbuilding.

Southern Colonies King Charles II grants land south of VA to supporters in 1663 Forms North and South Carolina (originally just Carolina) South Carolina was settled largely by European settlers from Barbados South Carolina’s main cash crop is rice

South Carolina Rice is cash crop Labor force begins with Native Americans as slaves, then indentured servants, then African slaves Why? African slaves were slaves for life; knowledge of rice cultivation; health factors By 1710 Africans outnumbered Europeans

Slave Trade Middle Passage: voyage from Africa to the New World Slaves were packed into tight quarters on slave ships In S.C. slaves followed “task system” only 1 task a day, when they were done they were done for the day Other southern colonies “gang system” worked from sun up to sun down under watchful eye of white owner

Slavery’s Brutality Bought and sold like animals Worked long hour hours and faced brutal beatings for no reason Poor diet of corn and salted pork Lived in small shacks

Slavery: Holding on to Heritage Children were given “African” names Music reflected heritage Spoke a “slave” language called Gullah= language of English and African words

Slavery: Resistance Subtle resistance was common. i.e. break tools, fake illness, pretend not to understand English Slaveholders fear rebellion

Stono Rebellion Whites fear major rebellion; fear becomes a reality in 1739 Context takes place during yellow fever outbreak

Stono Rebellion: Beginnings 20 slaves initially involved when slaved named “Jemmy” broke into a store to take weapons and powder Traveled south, gathering slaves along the way Local militia stops advancement Rebellion put down, but uprisings continue for several weeks

Stono Rebellion: Aftermath Largest slave rebellion of the colonial period Slaves who participated in the rebellion were killed and their heads were placed on mileposts New slave code past; increasing slave patrols Tighter control on slaves and their owners

Maryland Maryland allowed for some religious toleration when, Lord Baltimore agreed to the Act of Toleration, which guaranteed freedom of religion to anyone “professing to believe in Jesus Christ.”

Georgia Georgia was founded in 1732 and named for King George II Founded as a buffer between South Carolina and Spanish Florida Georgia was settled by those who were in debtor’s prison in England

Georgia Many settlers came from Germany, Switzerland, England, and Scotland Missionaries attempt to spread Christianity The number of settlers are too small so slavery is legalized and it becomes similar to S.C.