The Development of New England, Middle and Southern Colonies

US History

Colonial Regions

New England

Middle

Southern

Backcountry- ran along the Appalachian mountains

English Colonies Population in North America:

• 1700: 257,000• 1750: 1,170,000

Colonial Distinctions1. New England: Long winters and

rocky soil. English settlers were the largest group in the regions population.

2. Middle Colonies: Shorter winters and fertile soil. Attracted immigrants from all over Europe.

3. Southern: Warm climate and good soil. Some settlers used enslaved Africans to work plantations.

4. Backcountry: Climate and resources varied depending on latitude. Many Scots-Irish settled there.

NEW ENGLANDMASS-CT-NEW HAM- R .Island

Farms and Towns of New EnglandFarming:

Short growing season, rocky soilSubsistence farming- produced just enough food for themselves and sometimes a little extra to trade in town

Harvesting the Sea Atlantic Ocean = Economic

opportunities

Some of the worlds best fishing Halibut, mackerel, cod, and various other fish.

The New England forests provided timber for shipbuilding

Coastal cities like, Boston, Salem, New Haven and Newport

grew rich from shipbuilding, fishing, and trade.

Atlantic Trade Three types of trade:

1. Trade with other colonies.

2. Direct Exchange of goods with Europe.

3. Triangular trade

Triangular trade- the transatlantic system of trade in which goods, including slaves, were exchanged between Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Navigation Acts Because New England made profits from trade, England

wanted to receive part of those profits so England instituted the Navigation Acts.

Navigation Acts- 16511. All shipping had to be done on English ships or ships made

in the English colonies.

2. Products such as tobacco, wood, or sugar could be sold only to England or its colonies.

3. European imports to the colonies had to pass through English ports.

4. English officials were to tax any colonial goods not shipped to England.

Merchants ignored the acts: led to smuggling- importing or exporting goods illegally.

Also had trouble preventing pirates from interfering.

Middle ColoniesNY-NJ-PENN-DELA.

Known as the “Breadbasket” because they grew cash crops like grain and corn.

Had many port cities—great for trade The rivers were fast-moving and allowed for water-

powered gristmills (where they made flour from the grains).

NYC and Philadelphia will grow and have advancements like cities in England Buildings Paved roads Street lights

Southern ColoniesMaryland-VA-GA-S.CAR-N.CAR

Warm climate and good soil= year round growing

Planter Class- wealthiest class in Southern society Owned slaves and huge plantations There weren’t a lot of them, but they controlled all of

the politics in the South.

Slavery was used heavily in the South Slaves rebelled in different ways:

Worked slower Damaged goods Armed rebellions/fighting (Stono Rebellion- led to

stricter slave laws)

Backcountry Undeveloped area

along the Appalachian Mountains

Settlers lived in small cabins and were constantly fighting with Native Americans