The Thirteen Colonies and Geographical Regions
What geographical region
was settled by English, Dutch,
and German speaking immigrants, and
is known for its diversity?
ANSWER!
Middle Colonies:
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and
Delaware
Pennsylvania “Deutsch”
Large numbers of German speaking
Protestants come to Philadelphia area – not
Dutch (as in from the Netherlands)
What geographical region
was settled by Puritans
seeking religious freedom?
ANSWER!
New England:
New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, Connecticut
What geographical region
was settled by people seeking
economic opportunities?
ANSWER!
Southern Colonies
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia
In what geographical region
is Virginia located?
ANSWER!
Virginia is part of the
Southern Colonies
What region developed
large plantations along
the coast that
grew “cash crops” such as
tobacco, rice, and indigo?
ANSWER!
Southern Colonies
What region developed
an economy based on
shipbuilding, fishing, lumbering
small-scale subsistence farming,
and eventually manufacturing?
Answer!
New England
What region developed an
economy based on
shipbuilding, small-scale farming,
and trading?
Hint : Also known as “bread basket”
colonies
ANSWER!
Middle Colonies
Why is Florida NOT considered
one of the original 13 colonies?
ANSWER!
Florida was claimed by Spain
and therefore NOT a part of the
original 13 English colonies
(see larger map below)
What New England colony
was founded by dissenters
fleeing persecution
by Puritans in Massachusetts?
ANSWER!
Rhode Island
What middle colony included
the Quakers?
ANSWER!
Pennsylvania
(Hint: remember the Quaker,
William Penn)
What colony was founded
as a refuge (safe place) for
Catholics?
ANSWER!
Maryland
(Hint: Lord Baltimore Calvert was founder,
Baltimore, Maryland)
What region had a social structure
based on family status and
the ownership of land?
ANSWER!
Southern Colonies
(Hint: Robert “King” Carter
owned so much land in eastern
Virginia that he was respected as royalty)
What region had a social structure
based on religious standing?
ANSWER!
New England
(Hint: Remember the Puritans
settled in Massachusetts, where
religion was most important)
What region had the most flexible
social structure and began to develop
a middle class of skilled artisans,
entrepreneurs, and small farmers?
ANSWER!
Middle Colonies
(Hint: Pennsylvania was known as
the “best poor man’s country” because
even the poorest man could make a living)
What region maintained an allegiance
to the Church of England and
closer social ties to England
than the other colonies?
ANSWER!
Southern Colonies
In what colony would you find
the first elected assembly
in the New World?
ANSWER!
Virginia
(Virginia House of Burgesses)
What was the first elected
assembly in the New World?
ANSWER!
Virginia House of Burgesses
Established in 1640s, it has operated
continuously and is today known
as the General Assembly of Virginia
In what geographical region would you
find Indentured Servants?
(many times labored side by side with
slaves)
ANSWER!
Southern Colonies
Who were Indentured Servants?
Who were Indentured Servants?
ANSWER!
Poor English, Scottish, or Irish immigrants
who agreed to work on plantations for a period
of time to pay for passage to the New World
What did it mean when
servants “Indentured” themselves?
ANSWER!
An “Indenture” is basically
a contract to work for a period
of time. Both the servant and
his/her master would sign it.
(Hint: See servant
William Buckland’s name on
the indenture to the left)
Why were Africans brought to
the colonies? (mostly the South)
ANSWER!
The first Africans were brought to
Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619 to
work on tobacco plantations.
If both groups of people worked
on plantations, what is the difference
between Indentured Servants and Slaves?
ANSWER!
Indentured Servants came willingly
from Europe to work for a period
of time by contract, and hope for better
life for children
while
Slaves were brought against their
will from Africa and worked for life,
and status was passed on to children