Middle Colonies The Middle Colonies p p p

Middle Colonies

The Middle Colonies p p p Short winters, fertile soil; settlers from all over Europe Middle colonies—New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware Religious freedom attracts many groups

New Netherland Become New York Dutch settle New Netherland (1624) p Each patroon brings 50 settlers; receives land grant p Many different settlers arrive p n n n 23 Jews (1654) Africans come as slaves and indentured servants Puritans

p English king wants to drive Dutch out of New Netherland. n n Dutch colonies threaten England’s trade Dutch colonies geographically divide the English colonies New Netherland surrenders to English (1664) p Becomes proprietary colony—Duke of York is proprietor, or owner p

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware p p p Duke of York gives part of claim, province of New Jersey, to friends Promise settlers religious freedom, land grants, representative assembly To repay debts, English king gives large piece of land to William Penn (1681) William Penn uses land to create colony of Pennsylvania for Quakers: n n n p welcomes different religious, ethnic groups treats Native Americans fairly becomes wealthy colony Southern counties of Pennsylvania form own colony of Delaware

A Wealth of Resources p p p Immigrants from all over Europe come to Middle Colonies Dutch and German farmers bring advanced agricultural methods Long growing season, rich soil; grow cash crops—crops sold for money

The Importance of Mills p p Take corn, wheat, rye to gristmill—crush grain to make flour, meal Use product to bake bread; gives colonists a lot of grain in their diet

The Cities Prosper p p Excellent harbors along coast ideal for cities Merchants in cities export cash crops, import manufactured goods In Philadelphia trade thrives; wealth brings public improvement Trade also causes rapid growth in New York City

A Diverse Region Middle Colonies have remarkable diversity, or variety, of people p Diversity causes tolerance among people p Many Germans arrive (1710– 1740); good farmers, craftspeople p German artisans, or craftspeople, are ironworkers; make glass, furniture p Build Conestoga wagons—good for rough terrain; use to settle West p

A Climate of Tolerance p p p Dutch and Quakers practice religious tolerance Quakers believe men and women are equal, have women preachers Quakers protest slavery

African Americans in the Middle Colonies 7 percent of Middle Colonies’ population are enslaved p In New York City, enslaved Africans do manual labor, assist artisans p City’s free African-Americans work as laborers, servants, sailors p Tensions lead to violence; in 1712, 24 slaves rebel; punished horribly p