Characteristics of the Colonies New England Colonies Puritan

Characteristics of the Colonies

New England Colonies • Puritan leaders in the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colony were intolerant of those who questioned their religious ideals; as a result, Rhode Island Connecticut were founded to allow religious freedom. • Each colony employed various forms of democratic rule. Unlike Rhode Island Connecticut, however, the Puritan colonies were hostile to the idea of separation of church and state. • Emphasis was placed on growing towns and cities. Economic growth depended on shipbuilding, lumber, and fishing.

Middle Colonies • The Middle Colonies were inhabited by diverse groups of settlers: – Pennsylvania – Quakers – New Jersey – Presbyterians – New York – Huguenots and Jewish inhabitants • These colonies were known for political freedom and religious toleration. Democratic ideals were adopted that incorporated basic human rights. • The shipbuilding industry flourished, and commercialized ports were established in Philadelphia and New York City.

Southern Colonies • The economy relied on agriculture, particularly the growth of tobacco, indigo, and rice. • Life in the mountains and valleys was characterized by subsistence farming and hunting. • The wealthiest landowners had the most power in government, creating a divide between rich and poor. • Large plantations relied on slave labor.

The Southern Need for Labor • Headright system – an immigrant could receive 50 acres of land by paying for his passage across the ocean. • Indentured servitude – servants would work for a master for a specific period (generally seven years) and then gain freedom at the end of the period. • Slavery – Africans were brought to the colonies to work on plantations. They were bonded to their masters for life.