ENGLISH COLONIES CHAPTER 3
NEW ENGLAND COLONIES Colonies MA PLYMOUTH, MA BAY, NH, CT, RI Climate/Geography bitterly cold winters and mild summers; SHORT GROWING SEASONS! Land was flat close to the coastline but became hilly and mountainous farther inland. Soil was generally rocky, making farming difficult. Cold winters reduced the spread of disease. Religion dominated by the Puritans, reformers seeking to purify Christianity, who came over from England to practice religion without persecution. strict rules & intolerant of other religions, eventually absorbing the separatist Pilgrims in Massachusetts by 1629. Life = dominated by church; severe consequences for those who failed to attend, or, those who spoke out against the Puritan ways. Singing and celebrating holidays were among things prohibited in Puritan New England. (Note any religious day would also include a fasting. Hmmm Thanksgiving: myth or truth?) Economy largely dependent on the ocean Fishing (especially codfish) whaling, trapping, shipbuilding, and logging were important also triangular trade - shippers = wealthy buying slaves from West Africa in return for rum, and selling the slaves to the West Indies in return for molasses.
MASSACHUSETTS Settlers: first by Pilgrims led by William Bradford; later by Puritans led by John Winthrop Reasons for settlement: to escape religious persecution Climate and geography: harsh winters and warm summers; rich pastures and forests Economy: crop and livestock farming, lumbering Religion: Puritan Government: self-governing, as described in the Mayflower Compact
RHODE ISLAND Settlers: former Puritans from Massachusetts led by Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson Reasons for settlement: religious freedom from the Puritans Climate and geography: humid summers and cold winters; coastal lowlands and rocky woodlands Economy: farming, lumbering, shipbuilding, fishing, whaling Religion: various faiths Government: self-governing
CONNECTICUT Settlers: Former Massachusetts Puritans led by Thomas Hooker Reasons for settlement: to establish a new settlement apart from Massachusetts Puritans Climate and geography: cold winters and mild summers; forested hills and seacoast Economy: farming, shipbuilding, fishing, whaling Religion: Puritan Government: self-governing, with written constitution
MIDDLE COLONIES Colonies- NY, NJ, DE, PA Climate/Geography Mid-Atlantic region temperate in climate with warm summers and cold winters. Geography = coastal plains along the coastline, piedmont (rolling hills) in the middle, and mountains farther inland. good coastal harbors for shipping. Climate and land were ideal for agriculture. These colonies were known as the breadbasket (barley, wheat, oats, and rye) Religion varied Religious tolerance attracted immigrants from a wide-range of foreign countries who practiced many different religions. Quakers, Catholics, Jews, Lutherans and Presbyterians Economy TRADE! successful and diverse economy. Largely agricultural (most notably grains and oats) Logging, shipbuilding, textiles production, and papermaking Big cities such as Philadelphia and New York = major shipping hubs, craftsmen such as blacksmiths, silversmiths, cobblers, wheelwrights, wigmakers, milliners, and others contributed to the economies of such cities.
NEW YORK Settlers: Dutch and English Reasons for settlement: to make money Climate and geography: cold winters and hot summers; wetlands and forested mountains Religion: various faiths Government: British-appointed governor and council; eventually an elected assembly *New Jersey = similar path
PENNSYLVANIA Settlers: English Quakers led by William Penn Reasons for settlement: to safely practice their religion Climate and geography: cold winters and hot summers; rolling hills and fertile soil Economy: farming, trade, lumbering, and shipbuilding Religion: various faiths Government: elected assembly *Delaware similar path; more trade
SOUTHERN COLONIES Colonies- MD, VA, NC, SC, GA Climate/Geography warm climate with hot summers and mild winters. Geography = coastal plains (east) to piedmont (farther inland), mountainous (west). The soil = perfect for farming LONG GROWING SEASON Hot summers, = spread diseases (i.e. malaria and yellow fever) Religion Most = Anglican (Baptist or Presbyterian), most original from Maryland = Catholic, (Lord Baltimore founded as refuge for English Catholics). Religion not same impact ; plantations = often spread out from one another Economy AGRARIAN - almost entirely based on farming large plantations. Rice, indigo, tobacco, sugarcane, and cotton = cash crops. slaves and indentured servants worked the land.
MARYLAND Settlers: English Catholics and Protestants Reasons for settlement: to find religious and political freedom Climate and geography: cold winters, hot summers; low, fertile land surrounding Chesapeake Bay Economy: farming, lumbering, shipping, fishing, iron mining Religion: various faiths, particularly Catholic Government: elected assembly
VIRGINIA Settlers: English landowners and skilled laborers Reasons for settlement: to make a profit Climate and geography: mild winters and hot summers; coastal lowlands and wooded mountains Economy: farming Religion: Church of England Government: elected assembly (House of Burgesses)
GEORGIA Settlers: debtors from English prisons, and other Europeans Reasons for settlement: to find religious freedom and cheap land Climate and geography: mild winters and hot summers; wetlands and forested mountains Religion: various faiths Government: ruled by James Oglethorpe for 12 years, then an elected assembly