Middle Colonies

Colonies- New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware

Climate/Geography – The Middle colonies spanned the Mid-Atlantic region of America and were moderate in climate with warm summers and cold winters. Geography ranged from coastal plains along the coastline, rolling hills in the middle, and mountains farther inland. This area had good coastal harbors for shipping, and it was also convenient to be centrally located. Climate and land were ideal for agriculture. These colonies were known as the “breadbasket” because of the large amounts of barley, wheat, oats, and rye that were grown here.

Religion – Religion in the Middle Colonies was varied as no single religion seemed to dominate the entire region largely due to Quaker beliefs of equality. Religious tolerance attracted immigrants from a wide-range of foreign countries who practiced many different religions. Quakers, Catholics, Jews, Lutherans and Presbyterians were among those religious groups that had significant numbers in the Middle Colonies.

Economy – The Middle Colonies enjoyed a successful and diverse economy. Largely agricultural, farms in this region grew numerous kinds of crops, most notably grains and oats. Logging, shipbuilding, textiles production, and paper-making were also important in the Middle Colonies. Big cities such as Philadelphia and New York were major shipping hubs, and craftsmen such as blacksmiths, silversmiths, cobblers, wheelwrights, wigmakers, milliners, and others contributed to the economies of such cities.

Important Founders:

William Penn (Pennsylvania) William Penn was born in London, England. He was educated in theology and the law. In his twenties he converted to the Quaker religion and was jailed several times for his resistance to the Church of England. In 1681, he received a royal charter to form a new colony in America, to be named Pennsylvania; he envisioned this territory as a peaceful refuge for members of all religious beliefs (religious tolerance).

Above information from: http://mrstolentinohistory.weebly.com/middle-colonies.html