Colonial Economies
Between 1650-1750 3 distinct regions developed within the colonies.
Each region faced different challenges due to various climate, location
and natural resources.
The New England Colonies
The soil in the NE colonies was unsuitable for large scale farming.
Many people of the NE colonies turned to ship building, fishing and trading as
their major occupations and source of income.
Natural Resources
The forest and sea offered other opportunities for making
a living. Many NE worked in the lumber industry, cutting down trees, building
saw mills, and shipping lumber to other colonies. The wood was used for ships,
houses, and furniture.
The Middle Colonies
The population was diverse. Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden,
Finland, Germany, England
The Middle Colonies contained the most fertile farm land. The majority of
people made their living by farming. These were larger farms then in the north.
Slave labor as well as hired labor worked these lands.
The Southern Colonies
there were two ways of life in the SC. Coastal and Backcountry.
Southern Plantations
Many of the English settlers established plantations on the coast-raising rice,
tobacco and indigo. Plantations used a combinations of free and slave labor.
Later the pressure to increase production lead to plantations using
nothing, but slave labor.
Backcountry farmers claimed small plots inland. They had no need for slave labor.
13 Colonies
13 Colonies
COLONY NAME
YEAR FOUNDED
FOUNDED BY
BECAME ROYAL COLONY
Virginia
1607
London Company
1624
Massachusetts
1620
Puritans
1691
New Hampshire
1623
John Wheelwright
1679
Maryland
1634
Lord Baltimore
N/A
Thomas Hooker
N/A
Connecticut
1635
Rhode Island
1636
Roger Williams
N/A
Delaware
1638
Peter Minuit and New
Sweden Company
N/A
North Carolina
1653
Virginians
1729
South Carolina
1663
Eight Nobles with a Royal
Charter from Charles II
1729
New Jersey
1664
Lord Berkeley and Sir George
Carteret
1702
New York
1664
Duke of York
1685
Pennsylvania
1682
William Penn
N/A
Georgia
1732
James Edward Oglethorpe
1752
New England Colonies
Massachusetts
Founded by the Puritans.
prosperous, but religious differences forced some settlers to move
Rhode Island
This was the first colony to promote religious freedom. In 1658, a
a group of Jewish settlers came to the colony.
Connecticut and New Hampshire
The founders set up the Fundamental Orders. This set up restrictions
on the Gov. and allowed all men with property the right to vote
regardless if they went to church
Middle Colonies
New York
A Dutch colony
New Jersey
Rich soil allowed for profitable farms.
Pennsylvania
Set up by the Quakers. A religious group that is against
war and killing. They also promoted religious toleration and equality.
Delaware
Set up by the Swiss
Southern Colonies
Maryland
Colony started to give Roman Catholics a place to worship in peace. They
were denied rights in other colonies.
Virginia
See Jamestown notes.
The Carolinas
Many that settled here were English from the West Indies. As they came they
brought with them their slaves. My there planted tobacco and indigo.
Georgia
The last English colony to be settled. It was set up as a place for those with
debts in England to work them off.