8th U.S. History: Colonization
13 Colonies, 3 Regions
EQ: How did geography affect the unique development of the
New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies?
Enduring Understandings
Geography influences the development of culture and settlement
patterns.
Colonization is the result of a desire for political, economic, or
social power.
The colonial experience laid the foundation for representative
government.
Learning Targets
I can compare the political, economic, and social reasons for establishing the 13
colonies.
I can evaluate how each geographical region was influenced by its physical and
human characteristics.
I can give reasons for racial, ethnic, and religious group settlement patterns and
why immigrants were influenced to settle in a particular region of the United
States.
TEKS
8.2B: Compare political, economic, religious, and social, reasons for establishment of the 13 colonies. SS
8.10B: Compare places and regions of the United States in terms of physical and human characteristics. RS
8.12A: Identify economic differences among different regions of the U.S. SS
8.23A: Identify selected racial, ethnic, and religious groups that settled in the United States & their reasons for immigration. RS
Vocabulary
region, religious toleration, assembly, town meeting
Expert Information
In the 1600’s and 1700’s the English established colonies in the Americas-some for profit, some
were created by groups seeking religious freedoms and others were developed for social reasons.
Over time these colonies formed a distinctly new American society.
A new culture took root in North America. The values and beliefs of this new culture developed
as people from other parts of the world migrated to the continent. The culture was distinct and
different from the world these colonists left behind. The economic opportunities, political freedoms,
religious freedoms, diverse social structure as even the geography helped the colonies to form and
develop into three distinct regions.
The New England, Middle and Southern colonial regions developed unique ways of life.
It is the ideals, beliefs and actions of the early colonial settlers that laid the foundation for the
unique American culture that lives today.
Instructions
Complete the Colonial Region Charts using the information cards provided in class. Each person in the group will be
assigned a task. Group members will work together to read and gather information about the three colonial regions
and complete the attached charts. Every group member will read a different topic to the group. All group members
are expected to participate.
Updated 6/24/2010
For each box write information about the features of the region.
The New England Colonies
1.
Describe the geography and climate.
2.
3.
4.
Label the colonies of the region
below.
Describe the economic
activities.
Describe the religious life.
Describe the town life.
Updated 6/24/2010
Describe the government.
For each box write information about the features of the region.
The Middle Colonies
1.
Describe the geography and climate.
2.
3.
4.
Label the colonies of the region
below.
Describe the economic
activities.
Describe the religious life.
Describe the town life.
Updated 6/24/2010
Describe the government.
For each box write information about the features of the region.
The Southern Colonies
1.
Describe the geography and climate.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Label the colonies of the region
below.
Describe the economic
activities.
Describe the religious life.
Describe the town life.
Updated 6/24/2010
Describe the government.
Colonial Regions Map
1. Label the 13 colonies using two letter abbreviations
(Label Vermont showing claim by both NH & NY)
2. Color—
New England Region red
Middle Region green
Southern Region yellow
3. Color the key accordingly
New England Colonies
Middle Colonies
Southern Colonies
Updated 6/24/2010
Synthesis: Generalizations
Study the charts for the three colonial regions and write 5 generalizations for each relating to: Reasons
founded and types of people who came there, Climate and Geography, Economy, Religion, and
Government. Include a final statement explaining how the geography of each region influenced or affected
the region.
Updated 6/24/2010