Middle Colonies New York Pennsylvania New Jersey Delaware

Middle Colonies River systems Valleys – fertile soil ”Bread basket" large farms - surplus food diverse population manufacturing iron mines, glass, shipyards, and paper Cities: New York and Philadelphia Middle Colonies

The Geography of the Middle Colonies

Plains, Hills, and Rivers The Middle Colonies formed a region of contrasts because New Jersey and Delaware lie on the Atlantic Coastal Plain and New York and Pennsylvania stretch across the Appalachians. So they had different land and lifestyles. There was a fall line created as the rivers dropped from the hills to the coastal plain. This caused rapids and waterfalls.

Plains, Hills, and Rivers cont. The middle colonies had beaver-filled streams, thick forests and rich farm land. Colonist used the rivers to transport these goods. The fall line was used to power mills and saws.

Plains, Hills, and Rivers cont. The most important rivers in the Middle Colonies were the Delaware and the Hudson rivers. They were large enough for ships which promoted port cities for trade. Example: New York City

Farming the Middle Colonies There was rich soil and a 6 to 7 month growing season that made farming easy in the middle colonies.

Urban Population Growth 1650 - 1775

New Netherland (New York) is first established by the Dutch 1609: Henry Hudson sailing for Dutch East India Company sails into Hudson river looking for passage through continent ~ claims area for Dutch “Bought” Manhattan from Indians

English immigration to New Netherland resulted in 1/2 total population The English regarded Dutch as intruders New York was a royal gift to James, the King’s brother (aka Duke of York) Thus, when the English invaded, the leader of the Dutch colony, Peter Stuyvesant, gave up without a fight. Allowed to remain, the Dutch made up a large segment of New York’s population for many years. Charles II brazenly granted area to his brother (Duke of York) The king granted the Duke of York land that included the area already claimed by the Dutch as New Netherland. Their town, New Amsterdam, was thriving. In 1664 an English fleet sailed into the harbor and demanded New Netherland’s surrender. Gov. Peter Stuyvesant had no defense & surrendered. By 1674 New Netherland was firmly in English hands. The duke renamed it New York. New York: Had a diversified population: English, Dutch, Scandinavians, Germans, French, Native Americans, and enslaved Africans Grew and prospered under English rule A treaty with the Iroquois protected the fur trade. The Duke of York gave the land south of the Hudson River to two of his political allies. They named it New Jersey. By early 1700s, New York and New Jersey became royal colonies.

John Peter Zenger Zenger published a weekly newspaper called “The New York Weekly journal.” Zenger was arrested because he published a newspaper about the governor being dishonest. The trial helped to establish freedom of the press. As long as it was true, you could find fault with public officials. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWzmsuB0J_4

New Jersey Lord John Berkeley James gave 2 friends, Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, the section of New York located between the Hudson River and Delaware Bay in 1664 He felt the territory of New York was too large to administer Both proprietors allowed religious freedom and an assembly in addition to giving generous land offers to attract settlers

Penn's Holy Experiment Mid-1600s: religious dissenters named Quakers arose in England Hated by authorities because they refused to pay taxes to Church of England, refused to take oaths, refused military service In the 1600s, wars in Europe ruined farms and trade, and religious clashes caused social upheaval. Of all the Nonconformist groups, the Quakers upset people the most. They believed in direct, personal communication with God; they had no ministers or hierarchy of priests and bishops. They believed in the equality of all men and women. They were pacifists who refused to fight in wars.

William Penn, a Quaker, was a close friend of King Charles II, and Charles granted Penn what became Pennsylvania. Charles II perceived the egalitarian Quakers as dangerous radicals & desired to export the Quakers to someplace far from England

Royal Land Grant to Penn

Penn's Holy Experiment Penn governs the colony Before arriving in America, he drafted a "Frame of Government" for the territory, combining his high idealism of government and religion with a pragmatic approach. Penn encouraged friendly relations with the Indians. Penn offered refuge for Quakers and others suffering religious persecution. Penn governs the colony Advertised in Europe, promising land & freedoms Frame of Government (guaranteed elected assembly), Charter of Liberties (freedom of worship, open immigration), fair treatment of Native Americans

Photo: William Penn was an Englishman and a devout Quaker who had been arrested several times for his religious beliefs. Nonetheless, he was appointed proprietor of Pennsylvania (named for his father) in 1681. In 1682, he signed a treaty with the Delaware Indians (pictured here in this engraving), the first treaty Indians ever signed with whites. The agreement protected the Delawares' rights to the land as well as their freedom of religion.

Penn’s Treaty with the Native Americans Penn made a treaty with the Delawares to take only as much land as could be walked on by a man in three days. Penn then set off on a leisurely stroll, surveyed his land, and kept his end of the bargain. His son, however, renegotiating the treaty, hired three marathon runners for the same task, thereby claiming considerably more land.

Penn & Native Americans Penn attempted to treat Native Americans more fairly than did other colonies. Penn’s treatment of the Native Americans was so fair that Quakers went to them unarmed and even employed them as babysitters

Pennsylvania & Neighbors However, as non-Quaker immigrants came, they were less tolerant of Indians (Scots-Irish) Liberal features: elected assembly, no tax-supported church, freedom of worship, only 2 capital crimes William Penn named his colony Pennsylvania and named the city Philadelphia, Greek for “City of Brotherly Love.” He offered opportunities and land at reasonable prices. German Protestant sects such as the Amish and Mennonites moved to Pennsylvania. French Protestants, called Huguenots, settled there, too.

Ben Franklin’s Philly

Benjamin Franklin 1 of 17 children born in Boston. (15 out of 17) Worked at his brother’s printing press. His brother made money while he worked so he ran away for Philadelphia. Philadelphia was nosy and exciting to him. It was busy all day long.

A City of Opportunity In Philadelphia, Ben owned a print shop and published his own paper by the age of 24. Franklin wrote the Poor Richard’s Almanac which was the best selling book in the colonies. An almanac is a book of facts on many subjects. His taught farmers how & when to plant crops.

A City of Opportunity Workshops lined the streets of Philadelphia. Craftworkers made good to be sold. The Delaware River was lined with docks built by merchants. Ships left Philadelphia with, fur, meat, lumber, and grain. They returned with goods, from England like, silks, lace, swords, and mouse traps.

Franklin’s Improvements on Philadelphia Benjamin Franklin started America’s first public library in Philadelphia in 1731. Any money collected was used to buy more books for the library. Franklin also started fire companies. Benjamin worked for paved streets and street lights so it would be safer at night. The largest city in the colony was Philadelphia in 1760. Philadelphia, being the center of a farming region, grew rapidly. Visitors enjoyed Philadelphia’s well lit streets and fine appearance.

CHART: THIRTEEN COLONIES Colony/Date Person Responsible Why Founded Governed/Owner New Netherland In1609--Dutch New York—1664 England Henry Hudson for Netherlands Duke of York of England names it New York English fleet takes New Amsterdam from Dutch in 1664 and becomes New York City---Good harbor for trade New Netherlands was an autocracy 1689---English Bill of Rights Representative Govt Royal Colony New Jersey---1702 Indian land---Dutch and Swedish gift from King Charles II to brother James---gives to his friends Lord John Berkeley & Sir George Carteret Attract new settlers for Dutch and Swedish colonists Pennsylvania—1681 Delaware--1682 William Penn Swedes Penn founded for religious freedom for the Quakers---Holy Experiment—invited all people Representative govt