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New England & the Middle Colonies. Farming. NE had diverse economy Small, subsistence farms Farmers used what they grew. Fishing & Whaling. Fishing a major industry Grand Banks- area of Atlantic with abundant fish Grand Banks just north of NE. Lumbering & Shipbuilding.
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Farming • NE had diverse economy • Small, subsistence farms • Farmers used what they grew
Fishing & Whaling • Fishing a major industry • Grand Banks- area of Atlantic with abundant fish • Grand Banks just north of NE
Lumbering & Shipbuilding • Geographically, NE is good for lumbering • Mountains are close to coast- means many streams • Makes sawmills plentiful • A lumbering industry + good harbors= shipbuilding as a major industry
Government • Life centered on church (Puritans) • Good Christians encouraged towns • Towns very important • Common people participated in government • Town ruled via town meeting • First, everyone comes, then elect officials to represent them
Puritan Society • Puritan homes located near church (meetinghouse) • Strict, rigid rules were enforced • However, Puritans did have fun (bright clothes, played games)
Triangular Trade • NE produces little goods • Resident want goods from England • Leads to merchants • NE traded fish & lumber with Caribbean planters for sugar • Either got sugar or bills of exchange • Buy English goods with sugar • Sell English goods for fish & lumber • Another Triangular trade: • NE gives rum to W. Africans for slaves • Slaves to Caribbean for sugar • Sugar to NE for lumber (makes rum)
New Urban Society • Increase in trade makes port cities grow • Upper class of the city are merchant (small portion)-controlled trade • Middle are artisans (skilled workers) and shopkeepers (50%) • Next- unskilled labor (dock workers, etc (30%) • Lowest social class- indentured servants then slaves (not a social class)- about- 10-20%
Growth of the Middle Colonies • Main crop wheat- sold to Caribbean • Good, wide, deep rivers made shipping to coast easy • Shipping made New York & Philadelphia largest cities in English colonies
The Wheat Boom • Early 1700s- population boom in middle colonies (still had land available) • Wheat boom + cheap, poor labor force made some wealthy • New wealth produced new capital to invest in industry • Very few farmers got rich (mainly due to technology)