7.3 Massachusetts: New England Colony

Group 1

Reasons for Founding

• The English had a religion that everyone were supposed to obey

• But some of the English didn’t like that (Puritans)

• So they decided to move to Massachusetts

• Massachusetts is located in America

• The English moved there for religious freedom

Geography and Climate

• The soil was rocky, and winters were very cold

• Even though it was cold, there was clean water and vast forests

• With cold winters, the weather would kill insects and germs that caused diseases

• Because of this, most of the people there lived longer than other people in other regions

Jobs

• Some jobs were growing crops

• Some other jobs were raise animals

• Some other jobs were cutting lumber

• Some other jobs were building trade ships

• Some other jobs were fishing for food

Government

• Men could only participate in government.

• Only men could only vote and make the laws and be governor

• Massachusetts had a more democratic government than either England or European countries

• A governor and representatives from different villages were elected to govern the colony once a year

Interesting Information

• They use whale fat to make oil and candles

• The colonies leaders made strict laws to preserve order

• Some colonist became skilled whalers

• The Pilgrims, which came ten years earlier, were also Puritans

7.4 Rhode Island : New England Colony

Group 2

Rhode Island was founded for people who wanted to practice religion freely.

It was also founded so everybody's beliefs were kept.

It was founded by Roger Williams

He founded Rhode Island because he was forced to leave Massachusetts for criticizing the government.

Reasons for Founding

The geography and climate allowed colonists to create a strong economy.

Narragansett Bay and several other rivers provided fish, transportation, and trade.

The soil in the southern part of the colony was good for farming.

Winters were sometimes harsh, but summer rains were enough to grow healthy crops.

Geography and Climate

Most people in the colony were farmers or traders.

The farmers grew corn, tobacco, and beans.

Their were also farmers who raised animals.

Ships carried produce such as rum, sugar, wool, and beef to buyers in England and the West Indies.

Some colonists traded slaves, even though few of them owned slaves themselves.

Jobs

Only men could participate in voting and being part of the government.

Later on, men who owned land were only allowed to vote.

Women were not allowed to vote or be part of government anywhere.

Rhode island was one of the most democratic colonies.

Government

Mainly why they had to sail to Rhode Island was

because the priest that led them was fighting for freedom and was kicked out of Massachusetts.

Two years later another preacher spoke, Anne

Hutchinson, spoke out against Puritan beliefs and

she was also kicked out.

Rhode Island later became the colony were

people with different beliefs were welcome.

In 1636 William started a town called providence

later the capitol of Rhode Island.

Interesting Information

7.5 New York: Middle Colony

Group 3

Reasons for Founding

• The Dutch came to set up fur-trading posts.

• The British wanted the land so the English settlers in New England could move westward.

• The British captured the colony in 1644.

• The king gave the land to his brother, the Duke of York.

Geography and Climate

• The Harbor, Mohawk, and Hudson river made the trade and shipping excellent.

• The rivers made farming land that was better then New England.

• Iron and useful minerals were able to be mined.

• Winters were cold and summers were hot and humid.

Jobs

• Farmers were able to grow wheat, corn, vegetables, and tobacco.

• There were miners, lumbermen, sailors, and trappers.

• There were also merchants and craftsmen.

• There was also the least wanted job, the indentured servants or African slaves.

Government

• The colony had a powerful governor who was appointed by British royalty.

• The governor appointed other officials.

• Colonists had little say in New York’s government.

• The governor enforced the laws.

Interesting Information

• The colony that the British renamed New York was originally settled by the people from the Netherlands.

• The Netherlands is a country in Europe.

• Its people are called Dutch.

• In 1664, the British took New York.

7.6 Pennsylvania: Middle Colony

Group 4

Reasons for Founding

• It was founded by William Penn.

• He wanted a safe place for Quakers to live with religious freedom.

• They had no priests or ministers to tell them who to praise

• It was granted to William Penn.

• That is the place we call Pennsylvania.

Geography and Climate

• Pennsylvania’s geography created many opportunities.

• Winters were cold and snowy

• Winter did not bother the colonists

• There were plentiful forests for timber and minerals like iron and coal

Jobs

• There were many available jobs

• Farmers who raised cattle and grew crops like vegetables, corn, and wheat

• Miners who mined

• Lumberman who cut down trees

• Merchants who traded

• Craftsman who crafted

Government

• The government only included governor and a Provincial Council

• They passed or rejected laws

• All male owners could vote for members of the assembly

• Penn appointed the governor with the approval of the king

Interesting Information

• Penn was put in jail for his beliefs

• They were a successful colony

• The colony can be visited today

• As a result of Penn’s idea’s Pennsylvania attracted many people

7.7 Maryland: Southern Colony

Group 5

Reasons for Founding

Cecilius Calvert founded the colony .

It was founded for two reasons.

First, he founded it to make money.

Second, he wanted to provide a safe place for Catholics to practice their religion.

Geography and Climate

• Maryland’s climate was perfect for growing and selling tobacco.

• The tobacco grew well in hot, steamy, summers.

• Unfortunately their were mosquitoes that spread diseases.

• Maryland shipped crops to Britain and many other places, by sailing on Chesapeake Bay.

Jobs

• You could apply for multiple jobs such as working on small farms.

• You can do things like raising cattle for beef.

• You can be a fisherman and raising crops like tobacco ,corn ,wheat ,and fruit trees.

• You could bring slaves to Maryland and sell them to people in the colony.

• Other people were involved in lumbering and fishing.

Government

• Participation in Maryland’s Government was limited.

• Cecilius Calvert was in charge of Maryland’s Government.

• Calvert permitted the colony to have an assembly in 1638.

• Mainly, white men with property were eligible to vote for members of the assembly.

Interesting Information

• Families grew tobacco on large plantations, although most of the work was done by slaves and servants, the families became rich.

• Cecilius Calvert started the Southern Colony of Maryland in 1634.

• In 1638, Cecilius Calvert permitted the colony to have an assembly.

• Generally, white men with property could vote for members of the assembly.

7.8 Georgia: Southern Colony

Group 6

Reasons for Founding

• This colony was founded for two reasons: – the British wanted to keep Spanish from moving

north

– The second reason is because some wealthy English men wanted to help poor people escape debtor’s prison

• At the time debtors in England went to jail if they could not pay their bills

• A colony in America could provide opportunities for poor people to support themselves

Geography and Climate

• Georgia is ideal for growing certain crops

• The Southern part of the colonies had a low wet area called a swampland

• Rice and indigo were easily planted and raised there

• Forests in the north provided lumber and once cleared provided good land for farming

Jobs

• Farming is one of the jobs available which was the most important job

• For another job farmers could grow tobacco and cotton besides rice and indigo

• Some traded goods with Native Americans

• Others were craftsmen such as shoemakers, bricklayers, blacksmiths, and potters

Government

• When the colony began only rich men who had started the colony ran the government

• They passed laws they thought were best for the colony

• In 1752 these men turned control over to the British king

• The British king allowed white men to elect an assembly

• However the king could stop any law that they passed

Interesting Information

• The Georgia southern colony was started in 1732

• The colony did not permit slavery in the beginning, but later it was allowed and used commonly

• The trees that were cut down were mostly used to build houses

• Debtors are people who owe money