Comparing Regional Cultures Ch. 3.3

Objectives Explain the impact of geography on the economies of the New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies. Compare and contrast differences in the social structure of the three major colonial regions. Describe the cultural life in the British colonies.

Key Parts Regional Economic Patterns Regional Social Patterns

Regional Economic Patterns. The vast majority of people in the 13 colonies made their living as farmers. Other than shipbuilding and some iron works, the colonies lacked industries. By the mid 1700s the colonies developed important regional distinctions. Variations in geography and climate helped explain the differences between life in New England, the Middle Colonies, and the South.

New England This area has cold winters, a short growing seasons, and a rugged landscape. This made growing crops very difficult for them, especially tobacco, sugar, rice and indigo. The New Englanders worked small farms where they raised livestock and grew wheat, rye, corn, and potatoes for their own use.

The Middle Colonies The Middle Colonies also had family farms but they were more successful due to the more temperate climate. They produced a large amount of wheat in which they began exporting. The economy in the Middle Colonies began to boom whereas the New England colonies economy stagnated.

The South Due to the warmer climate and longer growing season the Southern Colonies could raise the most valuable and profitable colonial crops. Such as: Tobacco, rice and indigo. The land consisted of large plantations that had enslaved Africans working in them.

Regional Social Patterns In New England and the Middle Colonies were few enslaved Africans. Down south there was mostly poor, young, single men that worked as indentured servants. In New England most people were middle class who could pay their own way. This means a better balance between men and women. Most people moved to the Middle Colonies or New England due to the economic oportunity.

Women in the Colonies By law and custom, there were few opportunities for women outside of the home. Women were typically legal dependants of men. Women could not own land, vote, hold political office, or be on a jury. Women generally just worked around the inside of the house maintaining the home.

Education New England offered the most opportunity for education based on their style of a compact society. In the mid-1600s, Massachusetts law required towns to provide schools where students could learn the basics of reading and writing. The ultimate goal was to enable students to read the Bible.

Cont. In Larger New England towns they offered a more advanced grammar school education mostly for boys and some girls. Some girls received education from dame schools which were private schools that operated out of a woman’s house. Outside of New England education was less available.