By the 18th century, the New England colonies experienced a population increase
Most of this was due to natural increase, not migration
The New England colonies were mostly occupied by Puritans who developed cliquish communities
The New England colonies also had mixed economies that included lumbering, fishing, and other means of profit
Socially, classes developed whereby the wealthy owned the industries and the poor worked for the military
Agriculture was not as profitable in New England as it was in the Middle and Southern colonies
Middle Colonies
These colonies were the most diverse
Maryland was a haven for Catholics
New York was a haven for immigrants
Philadelphia was established by the Quaker, William Penn, who thought it was best to make alliances with the Native Americans
The demographics included Scots, Irish, Germans, Quakers, and other groups
“The Great Wagon Road”
The Middle Colonies also had the great wagon road that ran through the Shenandoah Valley
People, food, supplies, produce, newspapers, and other items were transported by this road that became a major part of other road intersections
Southern Colonies
The profitability of the southern colonies relied on slave labor needed to harvest and cultivate difficult crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo
Virginia emerged as the primary colony for tobacco production
The Carolinas were also producers of tobacco, rice, and indigo
All of the British colonies in North America relied on slave labor, however the types of crops grown in the southern region required intense, long hours of work
The enslaved were forced to endure dreadful conditions as they labored under brutal heat and the ever watchful eye of the overseers