The Middle Colonies
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware
Middle Colonies Map
Middle Colony
New York
New York Colony
• The 1st European to come to the New York Harbour was Giovanni
da Verrazzano in 1524.
• In 1609 the 1st Dutch explorer came to present day
Albany his name was Henry Hudson.
• On June 3rd 1621the Dutch West India Company a company of
Dutch merchants was granted a charter for a trade monopoly in
the west. This company became a main instrument in the Dutch
colonization of the west.
• In 1625 the construction of Fort Amsterdam began and this is
marked as the unofficial birth of New York.
• On May 24th Manhattan island was bought from the Lenape
natives for 60 Dutch guilders which today is worth 1000 dollars,
there is a rumour that the island was actually bought for 24
dollars but it has never been confirmed.
• On August 27th 1664 four ships from England arrived at
New York harbour and demanded New Amsterdam surrender
their colony. Their current Director General Peter Stuyvesant
ceded the colony to the English but in return kept the way of life
in the colony.
New York Colony Cont.
• After the colony was taken over by the English it was given to the
King’s brother the Duke Of York and it then was renamed New
York after the Duke.
• On June 12th 1665 New York appointed its 1st mayor Thomas
Whillet.
• During the glorious revolution in England New York was briefly
recaptured by Jacob Leisler and and he established a new
government where a council was elected, but Liesler was
captured and hanged 1691.Then the English let be of the system
of government that was setup there.
New York Colony Cont.
• On March 17th 1756 the 1st St. Patrick’s day was celebrated at the
Crown and Thistle tavern in New York. This holiday has since
become a yearly city-wide celebration that is famous around the
world as the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
• During the glorious revolution in England New York was briefly
recaptured by Jacob Leisler and he established a new government
where a council was elected, but Liesler was captured and hanged
1691.Then the English let be of the system of government that
was setup there.
• The Zenger case was a great step to freedom because it led to
freedom of press in New York.
• Important New York figures included:
James, Duke of York
Peter Stuyvesant
Thomas Whillet
Peter Minuit
Middle Colony
New Jersey
New Jersey Colony
• New Jersey was founded by Lord Berkeley and Sir George
Carteret
• The motivation for founding was the two promised settlers
a representative government and religious freedom
• Religions included: Presbyterian , Quakers, Dutch
Reformed, Baptist, Dutch Lutheran, Seventh Day
Reformed, and Dutch Reformed
• In a representative government, Philip Carteret was the
governor of New Jersey from 1665-1682
New Jersey Colony Cont.
• New Jersey had an industrial/agricultural economy which
involved: iron working, lumbering, glass production,
harvesting grain, and breeding livestock-cattle.
• By 1790, the population was approximately 184, 139
people.
• The population consisted of: English, Dutch, German,
Native and African Americans
• Important figures were:Lord Berkeley,
Sir George Carteret and James, Duke of York
• New Jersey was the first to approve the Bill of Rights.
Middle Colony
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Colony
• William Penn founded Pennsylvania
March 4th, 1681
• Penn founded for religious freedom for
the Quakers without persecution.
• German Reformed, Lutherans,
Anglicans, and Presbyterians, Roman
Catholics, Jews, Dunkers,
Schwenkfelders, Mennonites, Moravians
were also religions in P.A
• In a representative government, William
Markham was deputy governor from
1681-82, 1693-99
• The economy was agriculturally based
with the production of: corn, wheat,
hemp and flax.
Pennsylvania Colony Cont.
• By 1790, the population was 434,373 people
• The population was dominated by Native Americans, but
also English and Irish
• By 1700, Pennsylvania was the third biggest and richest
colony in the New World
• The most important figure in Pennsylvania was William
Penn.
Middle Colony
Delaware
Delaware Colony
• Peter Minuit and the Sweden Company
founded Delaware in 1638.
• When Charles II, King of England gave his
brother James, the Duke of York, New
Netherland, he demanded and received its
surrender, and changed New Sweden to
Delaware
• Religions included: Scandinavian Lutherans,
Dutch Reformed, Quakers, and Welsh
Baptists
• In a representative government, Peter Minuit
was governor for one year- 1638
Delaware Colony Cont.
• Ship building, iron works, trading and shipping lumber
and timber were part of the economy, as well as the
harvesting of grain, rice and indigo.
• By 1790, the population was 59,096 people
• Settlers were of Swedish, Dutch and English origins
• Delaware was a part of Pennsylvania until 1703.