1. The Middle Colonies

2. Geography of the Middle Colonies
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware are a part of the Middle Colonies
Warmer, longer growing season than NE
Fertile soil for crops like wheat, fruits, and vegetables

3. New York Originally belonged to the Dutch (New Amsterdam)
Farmers in the Hudson valley were prosperous under the patroon system
In 1664 the English took the colony away from the Dutch

4. New Jersey Originally part of NY
New Jersey started as a proprietary colony – a land grant to an individual or family
Along with New York, New Jersey becomes a royal colony – a colony directly controlled by the English king

5. George Fox – Founder of the Quakers
The Quakers were a new religious group in England
Quakers had a fundamental belief that all people are equal
Because of their views, they were persecuted in England
George Fox – Founder of the Quakers

6. William Penn
William Penn was a wealthy man who wanted to find a place where Quakers could be safe
He obtained a charter and created Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania thrives because Quakers believe in religious tolerance
He created pamphlets to attract people to the colony
William Penn

7. Delaware
People from Sweden were the first European settlers in Delaware
Then it belonged to the Dutch and finally the English
Delaware was originally a part of Pennsylvania, but became a separate colony in 1704

8. The “Breadbasket” of the Colonies
The Middle colonies (especially Pennsylvania) produced so much wheat, they earned the nickname “Breadbasket”
Many colonists were shoemakers, carpenters, masons, weavers, and coopers
Wheat

9. Diverse and Thriving Colonies
The Backcountry in Pennsylvania was settled by mostly Germans and eventually led to southern trade routes
Large numbers of immigrants to the Middle colonies caused diversity and prosperity in large cities