CE - Colonial Regions (Lesson)

Colonial Regions

While the geography and climate varied between the original thirteen North American colonies of England, so too did their purpose of beginning, relationships with Native Americans, and their economic development. Regardless of their differences, all thirteen colonies were aligned under the control of a “mother” country.

 

The Southern Colonies

The Southern Colonies were comprised of Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The colonies of this region relied on the long growing season and rich, fertile soil. Combined these attributes contributed to an economy, culture, and government based around large agricultural production. Some of the early main crops of the region included tobacco, corn, rice, and indigo. These crops were often grown in large quantities to be sold for profit. Crops that are produced in large quantities to be sold are known as “cash crops”. The large land areas needed to grow cash crops are called plantations. Because of the long, deep, navigable rivers of the region, farmers were able to grow cash crops in abundance and ship them to markets.

Where these rivers deposited typically became the larger cities of the region. Modern-day Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia grew because of their connection to agricultural trade. The relationship with the natives of the region began peacefully but would deteriorate as more colonists came to the region. Eventually, as the plantation system grew, more colonists were determined to drive the natives off their lands to pursue the economic advantages of the plantation system.

The Middle Colonies

Also known as the Mid-Atlantic colonies, the Middle Colonies consisted of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. New York was originally founded by the Dutch as New Netherland with its capital at New Amsterdam, a center of commerce and trade. Because of the great wealth of the area and its central location between the English Southern and Northern Colonies, New Amsterdam was purchased by the British and renamed New York. However, the impact of the Dutch diversity, both physically and in ideals, remained then and continues today. In fact, diversity and toleration were a key component of many of the Middle Colonies.

Native Americans in the region were often relied upon for translation and assistance with trade. Furthermore, tolerant viewpoints allowed for a more positive relationship between colonists and natives than compared to the other colonial regions. A prime example of this toleration is Pennsylvania’s large Quaker influence on toleration for diversity and religious toleration. As such, the natives were not only treated more fairly, but colonists in the region would go so far as to sign treaties with the native groups. A concept that was less accepted in the other colonial regions.

These colonies benefited from deep rivers and major ports. Not only did this allow for the transfer of goods into these colonies, and thus the rest of North America, it also allowed for goods, such as furs, to be efficiently shipped out to consumers. The Middle colonies centered on merchant goods and trade but also had an agricultural base especially in wheat and corn. The Middle Colonies served as a good mix of major agriculture of the Southern Colonies and manufacturing of the Northern Colonies.

The New England Colonies

The New England Colonies consisted of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Farming was difficult in the region due to harsh winters and rocky soil. While agriculture was not a dominant economic force, other resources provided these colonies great wealth. Timber, whaling, fishing, and commercial trade around major ports thrived in this region. The regions became notable for utilizing its resources to become a world leader in the production of ships. The New England Colonies were a central force in the mercantilism of trans-Atlantic trade.

The New England Colonies established because of differing religious viewpoints. Many of the early colonists resented the power of the English monarchy and its influence in the Church of England (Anglican Church). These colonists wanted to rid the church of political corruption and focus on the religious foundation. They also felt it necessary to “purify” the Church of England from its ties to Catholic traditions. As such, these individuals became known as Puritans. Two types of Puritans emerged during this turmoil; separatist Puritans and non-separatist Puritans. Those Puritans that wished to separate completely from the Church of England, ultimately left England and pursued religious freedom in the colonies. (Because these colonists made a religious journey, or a “pilgrimage”, we commonly refer to them as the Pilgrims). The Pilgrims sailed on a vessel called the Mayflower, created one of this nation’s first governing documents, and would establish their colony at Plymouth. The non-separatist Puritans (simply referred to as Puritans) would form a trading company known as the Massachusetts Bay Company. This trading company would then establish as the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Like other colonies, the Puritan New England colonies would suffer early on while trying to learn to adapt to their new environments. Because of these struggles, Puritan leaders, such as John Winthrop, adopted a dedicated work ethic to succeed economically as well as in relation to their faith in God. Today, we still call a steadfast, determined work-ethic a “Puritan work-ethic”.

While the Puritans escaped religious persecution from England, some individuals would later break away to form their own colonies based on even further differing views. One such example was Roger Williams and his founding of Providence, in the colony of Rhode Island. As Williams was banished for his views from Puritan Massachusetts, he became more tolerant of others. Other banished individuals, such as Anne Hutchinson, were welcomed to the colony.

Treatment of the Native Americans in Rhode Island was more tolerant and respectful than their Massachusetts counterparts. While originally peaceful, much like in the case of the Southern Colonies, once the New England colonies grew, and their reliance on Native American knowledge of the land became less necessary, tension between the colonists and natives grew into violence.

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