New England Colonies - PDF document

10/1/2013 New England Colonies ���������������� ��������������������������� ��������������������������� ��������������������������� ���������������������������� � � ����� � ����� ����� ����� New England Colonies Geography • Every colony had access to the coast • Short growing season • Harsh winters/cold climate • Also : – Mayflower Compact – 1 st doc of self-gov’t • Hard/rocky soil – Fundamental Orders of CT – 1 st constitution • Large forests • Subsistence farming • Whaling 1

10/1/2013 • Pilgrims and Puritans were original settlers • Movement toward more Religious freedom • Great Awakening began here Middle Colonies • Towns formed by congregations – Boston was major city • Farms established around common area with Meetinghouse Middle Colonies Geography • Every colony had access to the coast • Moderate growing season • Mild winters/warm summers • Fertile soil good for • New York and New Jersey taken from the farming Dutch • Large forests • Pennsylvania – limited government, granted • Iron ore mined in the religious freedom and other liberties mountains 2

10/1/2013 • “Breadbasket Colonies” – Gristmills ground grain • Artisans (craftsman) • Trade (ports) export crops/import manufactured goods • Small scale manufacturing Woodworking/sawyer Candle-making Textiles Blacksmith • Most ethnically (nationalities) diverse • Quakers, Dutch influence religious tolerance colonies • Great Awakening – English, Dutch, Germans, Africans • Treated most people as equals 3

10/1/2013 Southern Colonies Southern Colonies Geography • Long growing season • Hot climate • Flat land and good soil • Many rivers to transport crops • Every colony on the coast • Representative Assemblies • Indentured Servants/Slavery • VA House of Burgesses - 1 st rep. assembly • Planters control economy • Planter Class controls most of political power • Best suited for mercantilism (country controls the trade) 4

10/1/2013 • Charleston, Jamestown, Balitmore, Richmond • Maryland – haven for Catholics • English, African, Scots-Irish • Great Awakening • Plantations are self-sufficient – Not many towns 5