The British Colonies

The British Colonies

The British Colonies were divided into three regions -The New England Colonies -The Mid Atlantic Colonies -The Southern Colonies

New England Colonies- Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire Mid Atlantic Colonies- Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware Southern Colonies- Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland

The New England Colonies -This region had a hilly terrain with rocky soil and jagged coastlines. This land was not good for farming. -They had moderate summer and long, cold winters. -Many people had jobs in fishing industry because of the long coastline. Because of all the fishing, shipbuilding was a major industry in this region. -There were many ports in this region that made it a trade center

The New England Colonies -Most people lived in villages and cities. -Many of the settlements in the New England region were founded by people looking for religious freedom. -The Church was the center of social life. - There were town meetings held where people came to discuss political and civic affairs. - There were many skilled craftsmen and shopkeepers that lived in this region.

The Mid-Atlantic Colonies -In the Mid Atlantic Colonies, there were many coastal lowlands with harbors and bays. -There were many wide and deep rivers. - There was rich farmland, and it was easy to farm there due to the moderate climate. -The Appalachian Mountains are also found in this region. -The Mid-Atlantic region produced livestock on the rich farmland, as well as, growing grain to feed the livestock.

The Mid-Atlantic Colonies • Corn was an important crop in the Mid Atlantic region. • The many harbors and ports were also used for the fishing industry and trade. • In the Mid Atlantic colonies, people settled in villages and cities. • There were many different religions, traditions, and cultures found in this region.

The Southern Colonies • There were many good harbors and rivers. • There was a warm, humid climate that made it ideal for growing crops. • The area of rolling hills known as the Piedmont, and the coastal plain near the Atlantic Ocean are found in this region. • agriculture was very important. • There were many small farms and large plantations used to grow crops. • The major crops were tobacco, rice, and indigo.

The Southern Colonies • Wood products were also important to the economy. • Much of the work in the hot fields was done by slaves. • The land was divided into counties. • Many settlers lived on farms. • They grew their own food, made their own clothes, and did not have much contact with others. • Slaves and indentured servants were common in the south.

The Southern Colonies -The Church of England was the main religion, and the center of the social life.

The People of the Colonies The colonies were made up of many different people. There were six groups that the colonists could be divided into… Slaves, Artisans, Large Landowners, Farmers, Women, and Indentured Servants

Slaves did not choose to come to the colonies, but they were captured in their native land of Africa and forced to come to the new land. They were captured, and then sold to slave traders who chained them up to transport them. If you became a slave you were always a slave, and your children became slaves when they were born. Slaves

An artisan is a person who is skilled in a craft. A woodworker or carpenter would be an artisan. Artisans were found in all parts of the colonies. Artisans

The farmer and their family did the work on their farm on their own. They farmed enough to keep their family taken care of. Farmers

Large Landowners were the wealthiest people, and they lived on farms called plantations. They had slaves and indentured servants that did the work for them. Most of the large landowners were educated, and they enjoyed doing things like going to parties or going dancing. Large Landowners

Women were depended on to do the house chores. They had no political rights, and they could not vote. Women had a very small chance of ever getting an education. Women

An indentured servant was a person who was bound to a contract to work for someone for a certain amount of time. This work was usually used to pay off a debt. It was better to be an indentured servant than a slave. When the indentured servant completed their requirement of work they were freed. Indentured Servants

The British Colonies