1. Chapter 4-1 Life in the Colonies

2. New England Colonies
Farming is the primary economic activity in all of the colonies
Rocky soil and long cold winters made mass farming difficult in New England
Practiced subsistence farming, just enough to meet the needs of their family with very little left over for trade

3. New England Colonies
Small businesses, trade workers, ship building and fishing helped the economy in New England flourish
Triangular Trade – a trade route that linked the colonies w/ Europe, Africa, and The West Indies
Middle Passage – Inhumane part of triangular trade that shipped Africans to the West Indies

4. Middle Colonies
Milder climate and fertile soil helped farming in the middle colonies flourish
Cash crops such as wheat were sold easily overseas
NY and Philadelphia were the largest cities in the colonies
Other industries included:
Mining
Lumber
Manufacturing

5. Middle Colonies
100,000 German immigrants settled in the middle colonies along with Swedish and Dutch
This gave the colonies cultural diversity, which led to religious tolerance

6. Southern Colonies Rich soil and warm climates were ideal for farming
Most settlers made their living farming
Tobacco – Maryland and Virginia
Rice – South Carolina and Georgia
Indentured servants became scarce so many turned to slaves

7. Southern Colonies
Plantations were located in the Tidewater - an area of low lying plains along the coast
Plantations normally found close to rivers
West of the Tidewater near the Appalachian Mountains was the Back Country
Back Country – settlers grew corn and tobacco mostly on small farms with only 1 or 2 slaves

8. Slavery
Most slaves in America lived on plantations and did all kinds of work but mostly worked in the fields
Overseers- or bosses, were hired to keep slaves working hard
1700’s slave codes or strict rules that governed the behavior and punishment of slaves were issued

9. Slave Codes African Traditions Families were torn apart
African roots and traditions gave slaves some comfort