The Thirteen Colonies

The New England Region Colonies

• New Hampshire [ 1622 ]

• Massachusetts [ 1630 ]

• Rhode Island [ 1636 ]

• Connecticut [ 1636 ]

The Middle Region Colonies

• New York [ 1626 ]

• Pennsylvania [ 1681 ]

• New Jersey [ 1664 ]

• Delaware [ 1646 ]

The Chesapeake/Southern Colonies

• Maryland [ 1632 ]

• Virginia [ 1607 ]

• North Carolina [ 1663 ]

• South Carolina [ 1663 ]

• Georgia [ 1732 ]

Political Life : The New England Colonies

1. Limited self-rule

2. Town meetings to discuss issues

3. Mayflower Compact

Economics : The New England Colonies

1. Small farms on rocky soil

2. Fishing and shipbuilding

3. Merchants and traders

Religion : The New England Colonies

1. Puritans- -strict moral code

2. Very little toleration except Rhode Island due to Roger Williams

Social Life : The New England Colonies

1. Clustered in small towns

2. Mostly English

3. Watchful of neighbor’s behavior to ensure piety

Artistic : The New England Colonies

1. Austere, serious

2. No or very little song, dance, theatre

3. Glorify God

4. Woodworking

Political Life : The Middle Colonies

1. Relatively democratic

2. Large landowners held most of the power

Economics : The Middle Colonies

1. Fertile soil allowed for grain production

2. Fur trade due to river access

3. Harbors allowed growth of sea ports

Religion : The Middle Colonies

1. Toleration for all especially in Pennsylvania (Quakers)

2. Great diversity of faiths

Social Life : The Middle Colonies

1. Ethnically mixed

2. Large land holdings but few enslaved (too expensive)

3. Family unit worked the farm 

Artistic : The Middle Colonies

1. Ethnic mix meant art was diverse

2. Varied from colony to colony

Political Life : Chesapeake / Southern Colonies

1. Dominated by plantation owners (few)

2. Small farmers had little or no voice in decision making (many)

3. House of Burgesses

Economics : Chesapeake / Southern Colonies

1. Few large landholders dominated the economics (tobacco / rice)

2. Majority of slaves are found here

Religion : Chesapeake / Southern Colonies

1. Mostly Anglican

2. Toleration for most except Jews and Atheists

3. Maryland= Catholic haven

4. Not very important in this region

Social Life : Chesapeake / Southern Colonies

1. Scattered population due to size of land holdings

2. Slow to develop common social features (churches and schools)

3. Aristocratic atmosphere

Artistic : Chesapeake / Southern Colonies

1. Planters imported European art and furniture

2. Architecture influence by classical Greeks