Chapter 4 Middle Colonies

1. Chapter 4
Middle
Colonies
New York, New
Jersey,
Pennsylvania,
and Delaware
Mrs. Barnette 2012

2. Basic Differences from New England
The Middle Colonies offered more
diversity than the New England
Colonies:
They came from many places in addition
to England, such as Germany, Ireland,
Scotland, and The Netherlands
They were not as confined to one religion
as New England Puritans and a few
other Protestant religions. There were
Quakers, Jews, Catholics,
Presbyterians, and others allowed in
the Middle Colonies.

3. Basic Differences from New England
Economically, most
of the products
that came out of
New England were
related to the sea
and the forest.
Shipbuilding and
fishing are
examples.

4. Basic Differences from New England
The middle colonies
had better soil and
a little longer
growing season.
They grew cash
crops that could
be easily sold for
food. They grew
grains (wheat, rye,
oats) so much they
were called
“Breadbasket
colonies.”

5. Basic Differences from New England
They had iron ore as
a natural resource
and skilled
artisans to make
several products
such as nails,
flints, guns, tools,
and furniture
hardware. Artisans
also made clocks,
watches, and
glassware.

6. Basic Differences from New England
Whereas NE’s population
was concentrated in
towns and villages, the
Middle Colonies had small
farms.
Families were self-sufficient.
Nearly everything they
needed could be
produced on the farm.
They were more spread out
and had fewer town
meetings, but more
legislative assemblies.

7. New York
King Charles II wanted to have the Atlantic
Coast shored up for England. New
Amsterdam (today NYC) was already a busy
trading center for furs and items produced in
the other colonies, but it was under control
of the Dutch, and named New Netherland.

8. The Dutch Governor,
Peter Stuyvesant,
was extremely
unpopular. Even
though he kept
peace, order, and
prosperity in a city
that had
quadrupled in
population, the
townspeople took
no pity on their
peg-legged veteran
leader.

9. Leaders are not usually all bad or all good-
Stuyvesant is a good example of this:
He allowed an elected council, but did not want the
advice of the people.
He demanded that all should worship on Sunday,
but did not allow Lutherans to congregate.
He wanted to regulate the sale of alcohol, because
he believed there was too much drunkenness.
He wanted farm animals out of the streets.
He insisted that Indians be treated fairly.
He increased taxes on imports.

10. The English Takeover of New Netherland
When King Charles II
sent warships to the
harbor, Stuyvesant
wanted to fight them
off, but he had
neither the
ammunition nor the
support of his
people.
The English came in
New Netherland
Colony and renamed
it New York. New
Amsterdam became
New York City.

11. New Jersey
New York had become too large to
govern. King Charles broke off
New Jersey and turned it over to
Lord Berkeley and Sir George
Carteret.
NJ turned out to be good farmland,
but as a proprietary colony, it
was not succeeding. It was made
a royal colony, under direct
control of the king, but the
people still had voting rights and
individual freedoms. King Charles II

12. Pennsylvania
William Penn left his Anglican
roots to become a Quaker in
England. This might have
meant his death or
imprisonment, but King
Charles owed his father
money (well over $1 million in
today’s money). When
William’s father died, Charles
allowed Penn some land for
him to set up a colony. Penn
set up Pennsylvania with a
goal of religious freedom,
equality, and peaceful,
Christian living.

13. In an unusual move, he insisted on buying land from
natives, rather than taking it. He won their respect.
His views on religious tolerance drew people from all over
Western Europe, including the “Pennsylvania Dutch.”
(German-speaking)
He seemed at odds with his views on equality, as slavery
was allowed in PA.

14. Some of the Views of Penn and Quakers (Society of
Friends)
All are equal-gender, ethnicity, etc.
Conscientious objectors to war
Each person has an inherit Light and inner worth.
Not ritualistic
Do not take
formal oaths

15. Other Ideas of Penn
City of Philadelphia-
means brotherly
love-the City Hall w/
his statue is world’s
2nd tallest stone
masonry bldg.
Creation of a
representative
government for the
colony
Separation of powers
in government is a
concept we still use

16. Officially, the Quaker Oatmeal man isn’t
William Penn, just a man in Quaker garb
who symbolizes good, honest value.

17. Delaware
Delaware was formed from
the lower eastern
counties of
Pennsylvania. Delegates
to the representative
assembly found the
travel too difficult, and
were allowed to break
away.
Named for the local
Delaware Indians and a
Virginia governor
named Lord de la Warr.
Had been under control of
Swedes and Dutch
before it came under
control of English.