1. Ms. Mathis and Ms. Santiago
The Middle Colonies
Ms. Mathis and Ms. Santiago

2. Geography pg. 162 Fertile soil Rolling hills and valleys
Mild Climate (plenty of sun and rain)
Wide rivers (Delaware and Hudson) for transportation
Natural Resources
* wood, deer, beaver
* Why was farming easier in the Middle Colonies than the New England ones?
* What natural resources did the colonists have?

3. New York and New Jersey pg. 188-189
Began in 1664
England captured the Dutch colony of New Netherland
King gave the colony to his brother, James, the Duke of York
He was the proprietor, a person who owns and controls all land of the colony
James divided the land, and kept the larger part. He later named it New York
John Berkeley and George Carteret were given the other piece of land. They split it into two colonies.
East Jersey and West Jersey
In 1702 the two colonies formed into New Jersey

4. Government Who were the colonists allowed to be elected?
The goal for both New York and Jersey was to make $$$ (money).
They split the land into smaller pieces and sold or rented to colonists to farm
The proprietors lived in England (too far way) to govern and care for land.
Picked governors and allowed colonist to elect representatives (people who are chosen to speak and act of others)
Did not have much power
Who were the colonists allowed to be elected?
Main Idea: The colonies belonged to English landowners

5. Pennsylvania and Delaware
Colony of Pennsylvania was the idea of William Penn
Member of a religious society group called Quakers ( people who believed all Christians should be free to worship in their own way) – Was supposed to belong to Church of England
Penn wanted to start a colony where all people could worship freely.
1681 King owed Penn’s family money, and repaid him by giving him a large piece of land.
Named Pennsylvania (Penn’s Woods).
Duke of York gave Penn more land which was later named the Colony of Delaware

6. Created laws that allow colonists to voice opinions and worship freely
Let colonists elect representatives to an assembly who could reject or approve laws the governor and his council suggested.
Respected Natives. Wanted natives and colonists to be equals. Tried to understand their culture. Made fair treaties (official agreement between groups)
Penn planned Philadelphia, colony’s 1st large city of trade
Chose a location where ships could easily import/export goods, created wide roads for easier transportation
Ben Franklin was their most famous citizen.
How did the government of Pennsylvania differ from those of New York and New Jersey?

7. Part 2: Life in middle coloniesPg
Part 2: Life in middle colonies

8. A Mix of People Pg. 196
Many people of different backgrounds (German, Dutch, Scots-Irish, Scandinavian, English, Quakers, enslaved Africans, Jewish, Catholic, members of other Protestant churches)
Religious tolerance (respecting other beliefs) and inexpensive land attracted people to the Middle Colonies.
All came to make a better life, or farm their own land, but to also escape punishment for religious beliefs
What caused people of different religious beliefs to come to the Middle Colonies?

9. Making a Living Free Market Economy: people decided what to produce
Were able to decide on their own what would be best to make money (free enterprise)
Climate: Mild but excellent for farming
Everyone worked, men, women and children, when they were old enough
Raised cattle and pigs, and grew veggies, fruits, wheat, corn, barley
Became known as the “breadbasket” of the colonies for all the wheat they grew and harvested.
Sold the surplus goods to earn a living

10. City Life pg
Philadelphia and New York: two largest cities for shipping and trade
Free market economy attracted artisan, laborers, and apprentices (person who studies with a master to learn a skill or business).
Some laborers (person who does hard physical work) were enslaved Africans
Most children learned to read and write, but all learned a useful skill
Running the family farm or business was more important than going to college