The Middle

Colonies

The four Middle Colonies were New York,

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

The landscape of this region ranged from rich

soil of coastal New Jersey and Delaware to the

valleys and wooded mountains of New York

and Pennsylvania.

Colonial Regions Middle (Mid-Atlantic) Colonies

New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware

Founders

Settlers

Geography

Climate

Religion

Government

Economy/

Occupations

New York Penn. .Delaware

Life in the Middle Colonies

Farmers in the Middle Colonies raised a

variety of crops and livestock.

Lumbering, shipbuilding, and other

occupations added to the variety of

opportunities in these colonies.

The People of the Middle

Colonies

The people who settled in the Middle Colonies represented many cultures and religions.

One important group, the Quakers, started the colony of Pennsylvania.

Like the early settlers of New England, the Quakers were looking for freedom to practice their religion.

Others seeking religions freedom soon followed.

Settlements of French, Dutch, Germans, Swedes, Danes, Finns, Scots, Irish, and English spread throughout the middle colonies.

Important Terms

Indentured Servants: A person who signed an indenture, or an agreement to work for a master for a period of years. They were not free until they completed their term of service.

Assembly: An elected group of lawmakers.

Democratic: Ruled by the people. In a democracy, citizens elect representatives to make and carry out laws.

New York:

Middle Colony

Founders Dutch West India Company (1624) –

originally claimed by the Netherlands, called New Netherlands

James, Duke of York (1664)

Settlers Dutch and English seeking new lives

More cities and towns than north

New York:

Middle Colony

ClimateCold, snowy winters and hot,

humid summers

GeographyWetlands along the coast and

Hudson River, forested mountains to the north.

New York:

Middle Colony

Economy/Occupations Fur trapping, lumber, shipping, slave trade,

merchants and tradesmen, farming, and iron mining.

Market towns important – people went to trade the products they grew or made.

Religion Various faiths

Government British-appointed governor and council

alternating with elected assembly

Pennsylvania:

Middle Colony

Pennsylvania:

Middle Colony

FoundersWilliam Penn – received charter

from the King Charles II

SettlersEnglish Quakers and others from

France, Germany, Denmark, Scotland, Ireland and other European nations seeking freedom and equality

Pennsylvania:

Middle Colony

ClimateCold winters and hot, humid

summers

GeographyRolling hills, trees, and fertile soil

Pennsylvania:

Middle Colony

Economy/Occupations

Farming (crops - grains and dairy), merchants and tradesmen, lumber, and shipbuilding

Market towns important as well

Religion

Various faiths – originally Quakers, who welcomed those of all faiths into their colony

Government

Proprietary colony originally, became self-governing.

Philadelphia

By the 1700’s, Philadelphia, in the Middle Colony of Pennsylvania, had become a busy trading center and one of the most important cities in the English colonies.

Leading city for political and economic life.

It was the first city in America to establish a public school or a newspaper.

It was also the first to use a grid or checkerboard pattern to set up its streets.

Delaware:

Middle Colony

FoundersPeter Minuit and the New Sweden

Company (1638)

1655 became a Dutch colony, 9 years later became English

SettlersOriginal settlers from Sweden and

Finland, others from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany soon arrived seeking freedom and equality

Delaware:

Middle Colony

ClimateModerate temperatures year

round, warm summers and winters

GeographyFlat lowland, coastal plain,

swampland in the south. Interior has rich, fertile land

Delaware:

Middle Colony

Economy/Occupations Farming - breadbasket colony,

especially wheat, also rice and indigo (cash crops). Lumber and iron ore prominent.

Religion Various faiths, religious freedom for all

Government Governed by Pennsylvania until 1702,

colonial assembly chosen by people, shared governor with Penn.