Thirteen Colonies

Describe the geography of the New England colonies

Colonists had to adapt to New England's harsh climate and thin, rocky soil. Farming was difficult because of the soil, the terrain, and the short growing season. Farms remained small, single-family businesses.
Thick forests provided important resources but made the land difficult to clear for farming. New England's geography and climate shaped how people lived and earned a living.

Why did the colonist settle in the New England regions?

Many of the colonists came to escape religious persecutionReligious devotion brought the Puritans from England to settle the New England Colonies. Their religious beliefs shaped the values and laws of the colonies.

Why was Massachusetts founded?

Massachusetts was founded by Pilgrims and Puritans who had broken away from the Church of England.

Why were Connecticut and Rhode Island founded?

Connecticut and Rhode Island were founded by men who disagreed with the strict religious codes of Massachusetts.

How did colonists participate in government in the New England colonies?

Government in early New England was conducted mostly by town meeting.
In Massachusetts, all male members of the established church could vote. In Connecticut, all male landowners could vote.

What colonies made up the New England colonies?

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire

What colonies made up the Middle Colonies

The Middle Colonies included the colonies of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The Middle Colonies were ideal for agriculture, which made them great proprietary colonies.

Describe the geography of the Middle Colonies?

The Middle Colonies had fertile soil that enabled farming.
The climate of the region was cool in winter but hot and wet in the summer, which was good for growing grains, fruits, and vegetables.
The region's wide rivers, such as the Hudson and the Delaware, allowed farmers to ship their surplus goods to port cities.

Why was the colony of Pennsylvania established?

William Penn was the proprietor of Pennsylvania and the territory that later became Delaware. Penn was a Quaker, he established a policy of religious freedom and allowed for some self-government in the colony.

Why was the colony of Maryland established?

Lord Baltimore founded Maryland as a colony where Catholics could worship freely.

What were the religious policies of the Middle Colonies?

All of the Middle Colonies had policies of religious tolerance that did not exist in England, in the New England Colonies, and in some Southern Colonies.

What colonies were included in the Southern Colonies region?

Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia

Why was the colony of Georgia established?

James Oglethorpe founded Georgia as a refuge for debtors and others in poverty.

What was the geography of the Southern Colonies?

The Southern Colonies had a long growing season, good soil, and a warm, humid climate.
The geographic conditions of the Southern Colonies were ideal for agriculture, and most Southern colonists earned their living by farming.
Successful landowners began to establish plantations that grew cash crops, such as tobacco and rice.

What role did slaves play in the South's economy?

In many parts of the Southern Colonies, settlement was centered on the development of plantations. However, plantations relied on the enslavement and oppression of African Americans.

What was the Act of Religious Toleration?

The General Assembly in Maryland passed the Act of Religious Toleration in 1649. This document allowed for religious freedom for all Christians living in the colony.

In Virginia, how did colonists participate in government?

In Virginia, the colonists established representative government for themselves. In 1619 in Virginia, colonists established the House of Burgesses—the first representative legislative body in colonial America.