The Breadbasket Colonies PDF

## The Breadbasket Colonies - While the Puritans were settling New England, other groups were setting up colonies directly to the south. - This region included what are today the states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. - These colonies became known as the Middle Colonies. - Th...

## The Breadbasket Colonies - While the Puritans were settling New England, other groups were setting up colonies directly to the south. - This region included what are today the states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. - These colonies became known as the Middle Colonies. - The region got its name because of its location between the New England Colonies and the Southern Colonies. ### Geography and Climate - When Europeans arrived in the Middle Colonies, they saw flat plains and rolling hills. - There were also grassy meadows and thick forests. - Settlers found that when this land was cleared, it was much better for farming than the land in New England. - Settlers also learned that the climate was good for growing crops. - The summers were long, and the amount of rain each year was good for crops such as wheat, corn, and rye. - The Middle Colonies grew so many crops used in making bread that they came to be called the "breadbasket" colonies. - In addition to rich land, the region had several large harbors along the Atlantic Ocean. - Settlers found that these harbors were connected to many of the region's rivers, such as the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. - These rivers stretched far inland. - Settlers knew that these deep waterways would let large ships travel inland, making trade with other colonists easier. - All of these special features attracted many different settlers to the region. ### What attracted settlers to the Middle Colonies? - Good climate for growing crops (long summers and sufficient rainfall). - Rich soil suitable for farming. - Several large harbors along the Atlantic Ocean with connections to rivers. - Access to deep waterways allowed for large ships to travel far inland, facilitating trade. ## New Netherland Grows - The Dutch still controlled New Netherland which included the Hudson Valley. - However, few Dutch people came to the colony. - Their country, the Netherlands, was prosperous and gave its citizens many freedoms. - By 1640, only about 2,000 people lived in the colony. - These settlers had problems with both Native Americans and nearby English colonists. ### A New Leader - The Dutch West India Company controlled New Netherland. - The new leader sent to raise the colony's profits and bring order was Peter Stuyvesant. - In 1647, he was sent to govern the colony. - Stuyvesant expanded New Netherland into what is now New Jersey, pushing south into what is now Delaware, taking over the small colony of New Sweden in 1655. - New Netherland now controlled more land but it still needed more colonists. - It did not have enough people to be successful. ### New Colonists - To increase New Netherland's population, the Dutch West India Company let people from Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, and Brazil settle in the colony. - The first groups of Jewish People to move to North America also settled in the colony. - Most Africans also lived in New Netherland. - Most had been captured and brought to the colony as enslaved workers, beginning in 1626. - Some Africans in New Netherland were not enslaved and had been able to buy their freedom. - The colony was not completely free, and they had to pay employers each year in money or goods to remain free. - In 1660, Stuyvesant gave land on Manhattan to about 40 formerly enslaved people. - This land became New Netherland's first community of free Africans. ### Why did few people from the Netherlands settle in New Netherland? - The Netherlands was a prosperous country that gave its citizens many freedoms. - They saw no reason to leave the Netherlands. ## The English Take Over - King Charles II wanted England to control the Atlantic Coast of North America. - He wanted more settlements, more lands rich in natural resources, and control of the fur trade. - One thing prevented the King from meeting this goal - the colony of New Netherland. ### Conflicts Over Land - Both the English and the Dutch claimed lands in the Connecticut Valley and on Long Island. - King Charles II gave his brother James, the Duke of York, the land between Maine and the Delaware River, including New Netherland. - In 1664, the Duke of York sent four warships to take New Netherland. - When the ships arrived off the coast of the colony, the English told Stuyvesant to give up. - Stuyvesant wanted to fight the English and keep New Netherland. - He tried to get the colonists to fight, but they would not. - They knew they were outnumbered, and New Netherland had fewer than 150 soldiers. - Stuyvesant surrendered and the English took control of New Netherland without firing a shot. ### Why did England want to control New Netherland? - King Charles II wanted England to control the Atlantic coast of North America to gain more settlements, land rich in natural resources and control over the fur trade. ## Founding the Middle Colonies - All of the Middle Colonies were founded in the 1600s. ### New York and New Jersey - James, the Duke of York, split the Dutch colony into two parts. - He named them *New York* and *New Jersey*. - James kept New York for himself, and the city of New Amsterdam became New York City. - James gave New Jersey to two of his friends, John Berkeley and George Carteret. - The English treated the Dutch settlers fairly. - They promised to protect their rights, religious freedom, and property. - They also let the colonists elect some of their own leaders. - Most Dutch settlers chose to stay. - At first, nearly all of the colonists lived in New York. - To attract more settlers to New Jersey, Berkeley and Carteret offered to sell land at low prices. ### The Quakers - Quakers believed that all people were equal. - They refused to fight in wars or to swear loyalty to any king or country. - People with different beliefs were often cruel to the Quakers. - Thousands of Quakers were forced to leave England. - The Quakers hoped to find a refuge or a safe place to live and worship. - In 1674, a group of Quakers bought Berkeley's share of New Jersey and founded Salem, New Jersey, the first Quaker settlement in North America. ### Why did many Quakers settle in New Jersey? - They wanted to sell land at low prices. - Many of the early settlers arriving in New Jersey were members of the *Society of Friends*, also known as the *Quakers*. - Quakers wanted to find a refuge, or safe place, to live and worship. ## Pennsylvania and Delaware - In 1681, King Charles II gave a charter to William Penn, an English Quaker. - The charter made Penn the proprietor, or owner, of what is now Pennsylvania. ### A New Plan of Government - Penn was given the land because the king owed money to Penn's father. - The new colony was named *Pennsylvania*, which means "Penn's woods." - Penn wanted all the people living in Pennsylvania – Quakers and non-Quakers – to live together peacefully. - In 1682, Penn wrote the *Frame of Government of Pennsylvania*. - This plan of government set up a legislature called the *General Assembly*. - It also gave citizens freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to a fair trial by jury. - In a trial by jury, a group of citizens decides if a person is guilty or innocent of committing a crime. - Penn later wrote the *Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges*, which allowed white male colonists to elect representatives to the Assembly. - The Duke of York gave Penn control of the land that now makes up Delaware in 1682. - Penn gave the colony its own assembly in 1704. ### Location of Pennsylvania City - Pennsylvania city was located on the Delaware River. ### Relations with Native Americans - Penn also wanted Native Americans **to be treated with justice, or fairness**. - In a letter, he told the local Lenni Lenape people: "I desire to enjoy it with your love and consent, that we may always live together as neighbors and friends.” ## A Mix of People - Settlers in the Middle Colonies came from different places and backgrounds. - One church leader described them as a group of people thrown together from many parts of the world. - This diversity made the Middle Colonies an interesting place to live. ### Starting a New Life - The people of the Middle Colonies were mostly Dutch, French, Belgian, or Swedish. - Then came English Puritans and Quakers, as well as German, Jewish, Irish, and Scottish settlers. - Most Africans arrived in the Middle Colonies as enslaved people, but others lived and worked as free persons. - The variety of people in the Middle Colonies could be seen in the city of Philadelphia. ### Philadelphia - William Penn chose this city's name which means *brotherly love* in Greek. - Like all of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia was founded on the idea that people of different backgrounds could live peacefully together. - Immigrants from different countries came to Philadelphia. - An immigrant is a person who comes into a country to make a new life. - Some immigrants left their home countries to escape war or to find religious freedom. - Other immigrants wanted better economic opportunities, including the chance to buy land and start businesses. - Many found more freedom in the Middle Colonies than they had ever known. ### Why did immigrants come to the Middle Colonies? - Immigrants came to the Middle Colonies to escape war, find religious freedom, and seek better economic opportunities. ## The Great Awakening - In the 1720s, a new religious movement began in the Middle Colonies. - The movement was known as the **Great Awakening** because it “awakened,” or renewed, many peoples' interest in religion. - The Great Awakening also changed the way many people practiced their religion. ### Religion Expands - Ministers such as George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards gave speeches that marked a change in religious ideas and practices. - They often talked about people having a direct relationship with God. - Not only did these ministers preach new ideas, they practiced religion differently. - They would travel long distances to give emotional speeches to people they had never met. ### The Great Awakening - The Great Awakening helped bring people together. - This led to greater religious toleration or acceptance of religious differences. - At the new revivals or prayer meetings, everyone was welcomed. - Poor people could attend, and women played a large role in the movement. - During the Great Awakening, both free and enslaved Africans participated in religious gatherings. - Such equal participation was rare at this time in history. - The Great Awakening was not popular with all people, and, in time, differences split the movement. - This increased the diversity of religious beliefs. - The number of church members in the colonies grew, as did the free exercise of religion. ### What was the Great Awakening? - The Great Awakening was a new religious movement that began in the Middle Colonies in the 1720's. - It renewed interest in religion, changed how people practised their religion, and advocated for greater religious toleration. ## Religion and Social Life - Unlike the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies were home to many different religious groups. - Towns often had more than one kind of church. - A Presbyterian church, for example, might be only a block away from a Quaker meetinghouse. - The first Jewish synagogue in the Middle Colonies was built in New York City in 1730. - Religion was a major part of social life in the Middle Colonies. - After religious services, neighbors would talk and exchange news. - Religion also changed the ways people viewed one another. - Because of their religious beliefs, some colonists thought enslaving Africans was wrong. - In 1688, Quakers in Germantown, Pennsylvania, became the first group to protest slavery in the English colonies. ### Free Time - The social lives of colonists were as different as their religious beliefs. - In cities such as Philadelphia and New York City, people went to dances, plays, concerts, and social clubs. - Horse races, sleigh rides, and ice-skating were also common. - In rural areas, a barn raising was a big social event. - A farm family would invite their neighbors to help them put in place the frame for a new barn. - Afterward, everyone enjoyed a big meal. ### How did the Middle Colonies differ from the New England Colonies? - There was a mix of different religious communities in the Middle Colonies, while New England was largely dominated by Puritanism. ## Philadelphia Grows - As owner of the Pennsylvania Colony, William Penn planned both its government and its settlements. - Penn designed Philadelphia, the colony's most important town, with wide streets and many public parks. - He wanted the city to have plenty of space for people to work and to relax. - When Penn first visited Philadelphia in 1682, it had only ten houses. - Fifty years later, more than 11,000 people lived there. - Over time, Philadelphia became the largest city in the English colonies. - By 1770, it had more than 28,000 people - small number by today's standards but large for that time. ### Benjamin Franklin - As Philadelphia grew, it became the home of many famous scientists and artists. - The most famous Philadelphian was Benjamin Franklin. - He helped improve the city in many ways. - He set up the first trained firefighting company in the English colonies and raised money to help build the city's first hospital. - He set up a militia, or volunteer army, to protect the city and the rest of the colony. - He also founded Pennsylvania's first college and first public library. - Benjamin Franklin earned his living as a printer. - He printed the *Pennsylvania Gazette* newspaper. - He also wrote and published *Poor Richard's Almanack*, a yearly book that had a calendar, weather forecasts, stories, jokes, and wise sayings. - It sold many copies and helped make Franklin a rich man. - Philadelphians wondered how Franklin did so much. - He was a printer, a writer, a scientist, and an inventor. - He also became a leader in the colony's government. - It seems that Franklin followed the words of his own almanac: "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." ### What were some of the ways Benjamin Franklin improved Philadelphia? - He set up a militia, founded Pennsylvania's first college and public library, and helped build the first hospital. ## Rich Farmlands - When settlers came to the Middle Colonies, they were amazed by the richness of the land and all of its natural resources. - Unlike New England, the Middle Colonies had plenty of fertile soil. - Since most people made their living by farming, the Middle Colonies attracted many settlers. - Richard Frame used poetry to express his feelings about the rich land in the Middle Colonies. He wrote: "The fields, most beautiful, yield such crops of wheat, And other things most excellent to eat. ” ### Crops, Livestock, and Trade - Wheat fields stretched all across the Middle Colonies. - Wheat, corn, and rye were the main crops, but colonists also used the land in other ways. - Dairy cows ate the thick grasses. - Pigs ran through the forests, eating acorns and berries. - Farmers in the Middle Colonies traveled to market towns to sell or trade their livestock and crops. - Every market town had a gristmill, which ground grain into flour. - Most towns also had a lumber mill. - During visits to market towns, farm families shopped at the general store. - They bought things they could not make or grow themselves, such as iron tools, shoes, paint, and buttons. ### How did geography affect the economy of the Middle Colonies? - The fertile soil and suitable climate allowed for agriculture to be a major industry. - The presence of rivers and harbors facilitated trade, allowing farmers to transport their crops and livestock to market towns. ## Port Cities - The merchants who bought livestock and crops from farmers took these goods to port cities. - These were major trade centers in the Middle Colonies. - The colonies' prosperity, or economic success, depended largely on the ports. ### New York City - New York City was one of the most important port cities. - The Hudson River helped make trade easier. - Farmers, fur traders, and lumber workers could float their goods down the river to New York City. - Also, the port's harbor along the East River was a good place for ships to dock. - Every year, the number of ships sailing into and out of New York City grew. - When the English took over in 1664, about 35 ships used the port each year. - By 1750, that number had grown to 600. - New York City had become the second-busiest port in the English colonies. ### Philadelphia - The busiest port was Philadelphia. - The city was built along the Delaware River. ### Colonial Exports to England, 1700-1750 - The value of colonial exports is given in English money, or pounds. - In 1730, the colonies exported the highest value of goods. ### Many people moved to Philadelphia because of the port. - Farmers, merchants, and traders in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware relied on the Philadelphia port. - They sent goods down the Delaware River to the port or took their crops to the merchants in seaports. - From Philadelphia, ships sailed down the river into Delaware Bay and then across the Atlantic. ## Exports and Imports - Colonial port cities were busy places. - The streets were full of sailors and, at times, even pirates. - Shopworkers made ropes, sails, and barrels. - Shipbuilders hammered ships together. - Merchants talked over prices as dockhands moved goods. - This was the first view of North America for many immigrants. - As in New England, almost all trade in the Middle Colonies was with England, or with other English colonies. - New England and the Middle Colonies exported many of the same goods, including furs, salted meat, and lumber. - Yet the Middle Colonies exported more wheat and grains than the New England colonies - They led the colonies in flour exports. - Most imports to the Middle Colonies came from England. - Ships brought furniture, tea, gunpowder, medicines, and metals. - Some ships carried enslaved Africans. - Most of these people were made to work as craftworkers or servants. ### Why were New York City and Philadelphia good locations for ports? - They were located near major waterways, facilitating trade. - The harbors were well-protected, making them good places for ships to dock. ## Colonial Jobs - Immigrants arriving in the Middle Colonies could choose from many different jobs. - In addition to farming and shipping, many colonists worked in skilled trades such as ironworking. - Many of these artisans, or craftworkers, came to the colonies as indentured servants. ### Making Goods - Most artisans used raw materials to make goods. - Blacksmiths used iron to form horseshoes and tools. - Coopers made barrels out of wood. - Carpenters used wood to build houses and ships. - Bricklayers worked with stone and clay to pave streets and raise buildings. - Some artisans depended on farm goods. - They included bakers, butchers, flour millers, and soap makers. - Dressmakers and tailors used wool, linen, and cotton to make clothing. - Tanners turned animal skins into leather, which cobblers used to make shoes. ### Learning a Trade - A few colonists from rich families went to college to become lawyers, bankers, or ministers. - However, the skills needed by artisans, such as carpenters and tanners, were not taught in schools. - Instead, young people learned their skills by becoming apprentices. - An apprentice lived and worked with an artisan and his family for several years to learn a skill. - He could then go on to earn a living as a journeyman and later a master. - These professions were practiced by men. ### Benjamin Franklin - Hundreds of colonial boys became apprentices. - Benjamin Franklin was one of them. - By the age of 10, he was working for his father as a soap maker in Boston. - When Franklin's father noticed that he liked to read books more than make soap, he arranged for young Benjamin to work in his brother's print shop. - Franklin helped write pamphlets, set type, and even sell newspapers on the street. - When he was 17 years old, Franklin left the shop and moved to Philadelphia to open his own printing business. ### What kind of job would you want if you were an apprentice? - This is an open-ended question and there is no right or wrong answer. - The text suggests that apprenticeships were common and that they provided a pathway to learning a skilled trade.