13 British Colonies Notes
New England Colonies
Massachusetts
Founded by: John Winthrop
Year Founded: 1630
What is the Massachusetts Bay Company? English settlement on the East Coast
Who is William Bradford? The leader and historian
What was the Mayflower Compact? Document signed between all the men who promised to obey the laws written
Connecticut
Founded by: Thomas Hooker
Year Founded: 1636
Why settle in Connecticut?
Religious and political freedom
What are the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut? The first written constitution in America; described the organization of all representative government
Why was it important? Because they made a new free government for settlers and described the organization of all representative government
Rhode Island
Founded by: Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson
Year founded: 1636
Why did their leader come to Rhode Island? Forced out of Connecticut and for religious freedom
Who could practice their religion in Rhode Island? Puritans; anyone
New Hampshire
Founded by: John Mason
Year Founded: 1638
Why was New Hampshire formed? Religious freedom and they were driven out of Massachusetts
The year officially independent: 1788
New England Overview
People: The people who settled and lived in the New England Colonies were from England.
Economy: Farming in the New England Colonies was tough due to poor soil, cold climate, and short growing season. Families in New England grew enough food to feed their families but had to rely on manufacturing and trade to earn living.
Climate: The Climate in the New England colonies was colder than in the other two regions due to the northern location.
Geography: The geography of New England was mostly hills and rocky soil.
Natural Resources: The natural resources of New England were fish, whales, trees, and furs.
Religion: The established religion of the New England Colonies was Puritan. Religious freedom did not exist in New England.
Middle Colonies
New York
Founded By: Dutch West India Company
Year New Amsterdam became New York and how it got its name: 1664, because of the Duke of Albany and York
Who was Peter Stuyvesant and how did he rule? He was the Dutch governor of the Netherlands and he was a harsh ruler
How did the English take control of New Amsterdam? They beat the Netherlands in a war
What is a proprietary colony? A proprietor owned the land privately and also controlled the government
New Jersey
Name of proprietors: Lord Burkely and Sir Carteret
Year it became a royal colony: 1725
How did the proprietors attract settlers?
- Offered large tracts of land and generous terms
- Freedom of religion
- Trial by Jury
- Representative assembly
### Pennsylvania
Founded By: William Penn
Year founder sailed to Pennsylvania and designed Philadelphia: 1682
Who were the Quakers? A religious group named the society of friends who believed everyone had an inner light that would lead them to salvation; known for their fair treatment of the Native Americans.
Who did the founder believe owned the land and what did he do about it? Native Americans and he treated them with dignity and respect
What is the Charter of Liberties? Where colonists could elect representatives that would make laws for the colony (1701)
Deleware
Founded by: Swedes but eventually taken over by Dutch and later English
Year Settled: 1638
What is the Charter of Privileges? Representative government but supervised by Pennsylvania governor
Who controlled power in the colony? Pennsylvania governor
Middle Colonies Overview
People: The people who settled and lived in the New England Colonies were from a variety of Western European Countries. Primarily England, German, Dutch, and Scots-Irish.
Economies: Farming in the middle colonies was much better due to the fertile soil of the region. In addition to farming the middle colonies exported timber, iron ore, fish, and fur, and along the coastline were very good at shipbuilding. (Breadbasket of the World)
Climate: The Climate in the Middle colonies was milder. Middle colonies had warm summers and mild winters.
Geography: The geography of the middle colonies was a combination of New England and Southern soil. The soil was suitable for farming.
Natural Resources: Good farmland, timber, furs, and coal. Iron ore was a particularly important natural resource.
Religion: Not dominated by a specific religion which gave way to religious freedom for Quakers, Catholics, Lutherans, Jews, and others
Southern Colonies
Maryland
Founded By: Cecil Calvert
Year Founded: 1634
Who was Maryland named after? Queen Henrieta Maria
What was the law in Maryland regarding planting crops? Every acre of tobacco = 2 acres of corn/different crop
What incentive did Lord Baltimore give to settlers who came down to Maryland? 100 acres for men, 100 acres for wives, 50 acres per child
What was the Act of Toleration and when was it passed? Protestants and Catholics could worship freely and it was passed in 1649
Virginia
Founded by: Chris Newport and John Smith
Year founded: 1609
Who was Nathaniel Bacon? A wealthy young planter who opposed the colonial government that was dominated by easterners
What was Bacon’s rebellion and why was it important? A rebellion against Indian villages and also Jamestown almost led to the takeover and fall of the Jamestown government
North Carolina
Year Founded: 1660’s, aristocrats
Who settled in most of North Carolina? Virginia farmers
What were the major crops or industries in North Carolina? Timber, tar, and tobacco
South Carolina
Year founded: 1670, aristocrats
What town was founded in 1680? Charleston
What crops or industries were present in South Carolina? Indigo, deerskin, rice, and timber
What was the major source of labor in the Carolinas and why? Slave labor because they got many straight from Africa.
Georgia
Founded by: George Oglethorpe
Year founded: 1733
What were the two reasons why Georgia was created as a colony? Religious freedom and as a safe home for debtors
What did the Georgia founder ban in the New Colony? Slavery, Catholics, Rum, and Lawyers
What did the founder eventually allow in Georgia? Slavery and Rum in 1751
Southern Colonies Overview
People: The people who lived in this area were 90% English in 1670. Eventually, it will include more nationalities but primarily English in origin. African slaves were a major source of labor for plantations.
Economies: Farming in this area was king with the plantation established. Primary crops included: Tobacco, rice, indigo (dye), lumber, furs, farm product
Climate: Warmest of the three regions, winters were not difficult to survive, but the hot and humid summers gave rise to the spread of disease. The warm climate made it possible to grow crops throughout the year and was ideally suited for plantations
Geography: The geography of the Southern Colonies featured fertile soil, hilly coastal plains, forests, long rivers, and swamp areas
Natural Resources: Fish, forests (timber), and good agricultural land, farming were important. Exported agricultural products to other colonies
Religion: Not dominated by a specific religion which gave way to religious freedom for Baptists, Anglicans, and others
Important Terms
John Smith: Leader of Jamestown and one of the co-founders of Virginia
Mayflower Compact: A document that declared loyalty to England and declared their intention of following the rules written for the colony
The Great Migration: the movement of Puritans to Massachusetts to escape religious persecution and economic hard times in England
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut: The first written constitution in America; describe the organization of all representative government in detail
The most diverse region in the 13 Colonies: New York and Pennsylvania; Middle Colonies
Cash crop of South Carolina: Rice and Indigo
Act of Toleration: Protestants and Catholics could worship freely
House of Burgesses: Representative government makes local laws for citizens in Jamestown; founded in 1619
Charter of Liberties: Where colonists could elect representatives that would make laws for the colony. (1701)
Mercantilism: The theory that profitable trade or commercialism generates wealth; was encouraged by protectionism
Sir Walter Raleigh: Founder of Jamestown
Subsistence Farming: Growing only enough food to feed your family with a little leftover
Virginia Company of London: Founder of Jamestown
Charter of Privileges: Formally established a representative government in Deleware supervised by the Pennsylvania governor