The Middle Colonies

New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware

New York Originally set up by the Dutch Rivalry between England and the

Netherlands for control of trade English warships entered New

Amsterdam in 1664 and took the colony.

King Charles II gave New Netherland to his brother, the Duke of York. He renamed the colony New York.

New York Cont’d Geography – mountains, rivers, fertile

farmland Economy – trading, farming huge land

grants were given Patroons – owners of these huge estates Most settlers lived in the trading center of

New Amsterdam Religion – mostly Dutch Protestants, but

also Roman Catholics, and Jews Politics – representative government

New Jersey Founder – originally part of New York,

the Duke of York thought the colony was too big so he gave land to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret.

Set up a proprietary colony – the king gave land to one or more people in return for a yearly payment.

New Jersey cont’d Geography – large coastline with

fertile farmland Economy – farming, cattle, fishing Religion – many different religions Politics - In 1702, became a royal

colony – a colony under direct control of the English crown

Pennsylvania Founder – William Penn, friend of the

king Religion – most were Quakers –

protestant reformers who believed all people were equal in God’s eyes. They spoke out against war, allowed women

to preach, and refused to serve in the army. However, Penn also let any other type of

religion in.

Pennsylvania cont’d Geography – fertile with both mountains

and farmland Politics – delegates and assembly Economy – farming, cattle People – Penn sent brochures to get

people to come to PA Large group of German Protestants came.

They became known as the PA Dutch because people could not say Deutsch.

Penn also treated the Native Americans fairly.

Delaware Was part of PA know as Pennsylvania’s Lower

Counties. However, delegates from this county did not

want to go to a distant assembly in Philadelphia so Penn allowed them to elect their own assembly.

In 1704, broke away as the colony of Delaware.

Religion – religious freedom Geography – coastline Economy – Farming, trading

Life in the Middle Colonies Majority of people were farmers

Raised wheat, barley, and rye as cash crops – crops sold for money at market

Exported so much grain known as Breadbasket Colonies

Also raised herds of cattle and pigs Farms here were larger than those in NE Hired workers to help with planting (there were

few slaves) Those who were not farmers were skilled artisans –

manufactured crafts such as clocks, watches, locks, nails, paper.

People near the Delaware River also mined iron ore for guns, nails, and tools.

Homes Because houses were farther apart,

counties rather than towns were the centers of local government. Different groups built different types of houses. Swedish – log cabins Dutch – red bricks Germans – panels of wood and stone

with wood burning stoves.

The Backcountry In the 1700’s, thousands of German and

Scotch-Irish settlers arrived in Philadelphia.

From there they traveled west to the backcountry – the area of land along the eastern slopes of the Appalachian mountains.

Had to clear thick forests and many settled on Indian territory.