The Middle Colonies and Pennsylvania: Diversity, Toleration, and Frontier

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering the Middle Colonies, New Netherland, diversity, Quakers in Pennsylvania, frontier dynamics, and demographic trends from the lecture notes.

What stage did the Middle Colonies become the place for in terms of national and religious pluralism?

The western world’s most complex experiment with toleration of multiple nationalities and faiths.

Name some groups that fled to the Middle Colonies aside from Anglicans.

Dutch Mennonites, French Huguenots, German Baptists, Portuguese Jews, Dutch Reformed, Lutherans, and Quakers.

Why is the Middle Colonies described as a mosaic of nationalities and religions?

Because of the mix of Indigenous peoples, African slaves, and a wide range of European groups.

Which states were included in the Middle Colonies?

New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

How did the Middle Colonies compare to New England and the Southern colonies in terms of English influence?

They were the least English of the North American colonies and the most tolerant of diversity.

Where was New Netherland centered and what was its primary economic activity?

Manhattan Island and the Hudson River Valley; fur trade with Native Americans.

When did New Netherland begin to settle the area?

1624.

What name did the Dutch give to the settlement before English takeover?

New Netherlands.

By about 1640, how many settlers did New Netherland have and what were governance problems?

About 5,000 settlers; administration was sloppy and profits siphoned off by merchants in New Amsterdam.

What event in 1664 ended Dutch rule in the area?

Four British warships landed at New Amsterdam and forced the Dutch governor to surrender.

What happened to the colony after surrender and who got it?

James, Duke of York, was granted the colony as a proprietary colony; it was renamed New York and New Amsterdam became New York City.

Why did English authorities tolerate ethnic and religious differences in New York?

Because the colony included Dutch settlers, English tolerance was necessary from the start.

What was the impact of the Duke of York’s land grants in the 1690s?

Twelve friends received about 2 million acres each, creating a powerful aristocratic gentry.

What effect did the rise of a landholding gentry have on ordinary people in New York?

Made land purchases difficult for ordinary people and promoted tenancy; restricted immigration.

What governance change occurred in New Jersey in 1702?

The East and West Jersey territories were united into a single royal colony.

Which religious group found Pennsylvania to be a haven?

The Quakers (Society of Friends).

What are four defining features of the Quakers in Pennsylvania?

No church government, women treated as equals, pacifists (nonviolent), and they did not require oaths.

Who founded Pennsylvania and what grant did he receive?

William Penn; a royal grant from King Charles II in 1680 to establish a haven for persecuted Quakers.

How did Penn handle land purchases with Native Americans?

He sought consent to settle and purchased land; he dealt with Native Americans fairly.

What were the terms of land grants and religious freedom in early Pennsylvania?

500 acres per adult with a family; small quit rent; complete religious freedom for multiple denominations.

What is known as the Holy Experiment in Pennsylvania?

Philadelphia’s founding by Quakers and rapid population growth: 4,000 moved in 1681, 21,000 in 20 years, 120,000 by 1750, aided by generous land terms and religious freedom.

Which groups contributed to Pennsylvania’s diversity besides the Scots?

Welsh, Scotch-Irish, and Germans.

Why did the Scotch-Irish migrate to Pennsylvania in large numbers (1720–1770)?

Harvest failures in Ireland and persecution; over 100,000 settled in Pennsylvania and other colonies.

What was notable about German immigrants in Pennsylvania?

From Rhine states; included Mennonites and Amish; came to escape taxes and harvest failures; over 100,000 by 1776; settled in Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey.

What is meant by the 'mixed blessing' of the Scotch-Irish and Germans?

The Scotch-Irish were cantankerous and anti-English; Germans resisted assimilation; both frontier groups caused friction with authorities.

Where did these frontier groups tend to settle and how did they interact with authorities?

On the frontier, often squatting on vacant land; sometimes violent; Scotch-Irish were hostile to Indians and created headaches for Quaker officials.

What role did the frontier play in shaping American identity?

Provided a safety valve for discontent, encouraged movement to better opportunities, and fostered a frontier mentality of hard work and self-reliance.

What were the major drivers of population growth in colonial America?

Natural increase (births minus deaths) was the most important driver; immigration alone could not explain growth.

What factors contributed to larger family sizes in the colonies?

Younger marriages, longer potential childbearing years, lower death rates due to sparse settlement, and better diets.

What were colonial drinking habits like?

Colonists were heavy drinkers; about one quart of 80-proof whiskey per week for the average white male over 15; cider in the North, rum in the South; Puritans drank too.

What temperance trends occurred in the 1700s?

Drunkenness increased during the 1700s, but the temperance movement had little impact until the 1850s.

Who was Hector St. Jean de Crèvecoeur and what did he write about?

A French-American writer who naturalized in New York and wrote about life in the colonies and the emergence of an American society.

What did Crèvecoeur say about American society versus Europe?

He claimed America had no princes and no great lords and peasants, portraying a more uniform, independent society, though this was an exaggerated view.

What social structure did Crèvecoeur associate with the colonies?

A vast majority of independent farmers who owned land, not tenant peasants.

What distinguished the Southern planter elite?

Owners of large plantations (e.g., Mount Vernon, Monticello), very wealthy and aristocratic, with increasing social exclusivity.

How did Northern society differ from the Southern planter elite?

A wealthier class emerged mainly among merchants; entry was easier, and skilled craftsmen could rise with luck and connections.

What fundamental role did the frontier play in American exceptionalism?

It provided opportunities, reinforced self-reliance, and helped forge a sense of American exceptionalism.