The Middle
Colonies
The four Middle Colonies were New York,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
The landscape of this region ranged from rich
soil of coastal New Jersey and Delaware to the
valleys and wooded mountains of New York
and Pennsylvania.
Colonial Regions Middle (Mid-Atlantic) Colonies
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware
Founders
Settlers
Geography
Climate
Religion
Government
Economy/
Occupations
New York Penn. .Delaware
Life in the Middle Colonies
Farmers in the Middle Colonies raised a
variety of crops and livestock.
Lumbering, shipbuilding, and other
occupations added to the variety of
opportunities in these colonies.
The People of the Middle
Colonies
The people who settled in the Middle Colonies represented many cultures and religions.
One important group, the Quakers, started the colony of Pennsylvania.
Like the early settlers of New England, the Quakers were looking for freedom to practice their religion.
Others seeking religions freedom soon followed.
Settlements of French, Dutch, Germans, Swedes, Danes, Finns, Scots, Irish, and English spread throughout the middle colonies.
Important Terms
Indentured Servants: A person who signed an indenture, or an agreement to work for a master for a period of years. They were not free until they completed their term of service.
Assembly: An elected group of lawmakers.
Democratic: Ruled by the people. In a democracy, citizens elect representatives to make and carry out laws.
New York:
Middle Colony
Founders Dutch West India Company (1624) –
originally claimed by the Netherlands, called New Netherlands
James, Duke of York (1664)
Settlers Dutch and English seeking new lives
More cities and towns than north
New York:
Middle Colony
ClimateCold, snowy winters and hot,
humid summers
GeographyWetlands along the coast and
Hudson River, forested mountains to the north.
New York:
Middle Colony
Economy/Occupations Fur trapping, lumber, shipping, slave trade,
merchants and tradesmen, farming, and iron mining.
Market towns important – people went to trade the products they grew or made.
Religion Various faiths
Government British-appointed governor and council
alternating with elected assembly
Pennsylvania:
Middle Colony
Pennsylvania:
Middle Colony
FoundersWilliam Penn – received charter
from the King Charles II
SettlersEnglish Quakers and others from
France, Germany, Denmark, Scotland, Ireland and other European nations seeking freedom and equality
Pennsylvania:
Middle Colony
ClimateCold winters and hot, humid
summers
GeographyRolling hills, trees, and fertile soil
Pennsylvania:
Middle Colony
Economy/Occupations
Farming (crops - grains and dairy), merchants and tradesmen, lumber, and shipbuilding
Market towns important as well
Religion
Various faiths – originally Quakers, who welcomed those of all faiths into their colony
Government
Proprietary colony originally, became self-governing.
Philadelphia
By the 1700’s, Philadelphia, in the Middle Colony of Pennsylvania, had become a busy trading center and one of the most important cities in the English colonies.
Leading city for political and economic life.
It was the first city in America to establish a public school or a newspaper.
It was also the first to use a grid or checkerboard pattern to set up its streets.
Delaware:
Middle Colony
FoundersPeter Minuit and the New Sweden
Company (1638)
1655 became a Dutch colony, 9 years later became English
SettlersOriginal settlers from Sweden and
Finland, others from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany soon arrived seeking freedom and equality
Delaware:
Middle Colony
ClimateModerate temperatures year
round, warm summers and winters
GeographyFlat lowland, coastal plain,
swampland in the south. Interior has rich, fertile land
Delaware:
Middle Colony
Economy/Occupations Farming - breadbasket colony,
especially wheat, also rice and indigo (cash crops). Lumber and iron ore prominent.
Religion Various faiths, religious freedom for all
Government Governed by Pennsylvania until 1702,
colonial assembly chosen by people, shared governor with Penn.