The Middle colonies were settled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachian Mountains. They included the colonies of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, & Delaware.
Reason for Colonizing
Americans have often prided themselves on their rich diversity and during the colonial period, there was nowhere that the diversity was the most obvious than in the Middle Colonies. The Middle Colonies represented exactly that — a middle ground between the North and South. In the Middle colonies you found influences from both New England and the Southern colonies.
Several of the Middle Colonies were founded by those who did not fit into the very strict religious lives of the New England colonies ~ either they were unhappy, banished or felt like the church was too controlling. People from many European nations & many religious groups settled in the area. Others settled in the Middle colonies for farming because there was a pleasant climate and fertile soil.
Americans have often prided themselves on their rich diversity and during the colonial period, there was nowhere that the diversity was the most obvious than in the Middle Colonies. The Middle Colonies represented exactly that — a middle ground between the North and South. In the Middle colonies you found influences from both New England and the Southern colonies.
Several of the Middle Colonies were founded by those who did not fit into the very strict religious lives of the New England colonies ~ either they were unhappy, banished or felt like the church was too controlling. People from many European nations & many religious groups settled in the area. Others settled in the Middle colonies for farming because there was a pleasant climate and fertile soil.
Climate
Climate was temperate. Winters were cold, but more mild & shorter than the north & the summers were warm & pleasant. Growing season was long so it was possible to grow crops easily & livestock were able to manage the temperatures well.
Average Temperature in July = 76
Average Temperature in January = 31
Average Snowfall per year = 21 inches
Natural Resources
Fertile soil, grazing land, forests, animal furs, fish, iron ore & coal
Climate was temperate. Winters were cold, but more mild & shorter than the north & the summers were warm & pleasant. Growing season was long so it was possible to grow crops easily & livestock were able to manage the temperatures well.
Average Temperature in July = 76
Average Temperature in January = 31
Average Snowfall per year = 21 inches
Natural Resources
Fertile soil, grazing land, forests, animal furs, fish, iron ore & coal
Use of Slaves
Slavery was used on a small scale in the New England colonies, but it never became the way of life on Middle colony farms.
Religion
Religion in the Middle Colonies was varied & no single religion seemed to dominate the entire region. This area was much more accepting of religious groups since many of them fled the strict Puritan lifestyle in New England. The Quakers, Catholics, Jewish, Lutheran & Presbyterians were some of the larger groups that settled the area, but they were tolerant of other religions as well. Religion was important to this area, but because there were so many different groups, it did not dominate everything in the town.
Slavery was used on a small scale in the New England colonies, but it never became the way of life on Middle colony farms.
Religion
Religion in the Middle Colonies was varied & no single religion seemed to dominate the entire region. This area was much more accepting of religious groups since many of them fled the strict Puritan lifestyle in New England. The Quakers, Catholics, Jewish, Lutheran & Presbyterians were some of the larger groups that settled the area, but they were tolerant of other religions as well. Religion was important to this area, but because there were so many different groups, it did not dominate everything in the town.
Economy
There were considerable differences between the New England, Middle and Southern regions. Economic activities and trade were dependent of the geography & environment in which the Colonists lived. The geography and climate impacted the trade and economic activities of Middle Colonies.
The Middle Colonies enjoyed a successful & diverse economy. Many people in the region were farmers who either grew grains or raised farm animals and livestock. The long growing season and fertile soil of the Middle colonies were perfect for growing grain and farmers had a lot of success growing more than they could possibly eat, so they began to sell to others. These grains became cash crops for the region and helped feed the colonies. Farmers in this region grew wheat, barley, rye, oats, & corn. These crops are grains and could be ground down into flour to be made into bread which lead to the Middle Colonies being nicknamed the “Breadbasket Colonies”. Large mills were built to grind the grains down into flour and the flour could then be either used locally or sold & shipped along the Triangular Trade Route.
Another area of agriculture that was especially successful in the Middle colonies was the raising of farm animals & livestock. The climate suited the farm animals and their herds grew quickly. Herds of cows, pigs, & sheep were raised and then slaughtered for their hide and meat. Again, some of the meat was sold locally while other meat was salted & made into jerky to be sold around the world. The cow hide and sheep’s wool was sold for leather and to make wool clothing.
Another great industry in the Middle colonies was shipbuilding, trade & fishing. Since the harbors were easy to sail in and out of, sailors took advantage and the Middle colonies became a central location for traders to distribute & sell their goods. New York City, although much smaller than today, became a central hub of trade. The trade in many of the Middle colony cities also attracted artisans and craftsmen such as blacksmiths, silversmiths, wigmakers, & cobblers who would eagerly sell to the people passing through the cities.
Other industries included the production of iron ore, lumber, and furs.
There were considerable differences between the New England, Middle and Southern regions. Economic activities and trade were dependent of the geography & environment in which the Colonists lived. The geography and climate impacted the trade and economic activities of Middle Colonies.
The Middle Colonies enjoyed a successful & diverse economy. Many people in the region were farmers who either grew grains or raised farm animals and livestock. The long growing season and fertile soil of the Middle colonies were perfect for growing grain and farmers had a lot of success growing more than they could possibly eat, so they began to sell to others. These grains became cash crops for the region and helped feed the colonies. Farmers in this region grew wheat, barley, rye, oats, & corn. These crops are grains and could be ground down into flour to be made into bread which lead to the Middle Colonies being nicknamed the “Breadbasket Colonies”. Large mills were built to grind the grains down into flour and the flour could then be either used locally or sold & shipped along the Triangular Trade Route.
Another area of agriculture that was especially successful in the Middle colonies was the raising of farm animals & livestock. The climate suited the farm animals and their herds grew quickly. Herds of cows, pigs, & sheep were raised and then slaughtered for their hide and meat. Again, some of the meat was sold locally while other meat was salted & made into jerky to be sold around the world. The cow hide and sheep’s wool was sold for leather and to make wool clothing.
Another great industry in the Middle colonies was shipbuilding, trade & fishing. Since the harbors were easy to sail in and out of, sailors took advantage and the Middle colonies became a central location for traders to distribute & sell their goods. New York City, although much smaller than today, became a central hub of trade. The trade in many of the Middle colony cities also attracted artisans and craftsmen such as blacksmiths, silversmiths, wigmakers, & cobblers who would eagerly sell to the people passing through the cities.
Other industries included the production of iron ore, lumber, and furs.
Daily Life
The middle colonies were enriched by the culture of people from all over Europe, including Quakers, Scots, Irish, Dutch, French, Danes, Norwegians, Swedes, and more. The people either settled in towns or farms both of which became very successful.
A typical farm was 50 to 150 acres consisting of a house, barn, yard and fields. The farms remained small and the people worked the land tirelessly with the help of their families. Their houses were usually simple small wooden or brick homes with steep roofs and small windows. The houses were spread out only as much as necessary for the farm. The farmers lived close enough to one another to still meet one another for important gatherings & church on Sunday. Although the church was not the center of their life as it was in New England, most Middle Colony settlers were very religious people. Often the sole purpose of teaching a child to read was so that he/she could read & study the Bible.
Those people who were not farmers, usually lived in one of the cities along the coast. They either made their money from the ocean or from working in one of the many cottage industries that sold to the people who lived, visited and worked in the towns and cities. Obviously, in the city, people lived much closer to one another because they were dependent on one another to provide the basic needs. The market and the dock would become important centers for trade as people would buy & sell with others for the things they needed. Again, church played a central role in the towns, but there was a variety of religions to choose from.
The middle colonies were enriched by the culture of people from all over Europe, including Quakers, Scots, Irish, Dutch, French, Danes, Norwegians, Swedes, and more. The people either settled in towns or farms both of which became very successful.
A typical farm was 50 to 150 acres consisting of a house, barn, yard and fields. The farms remained small and the people worked the land tirelessly with the help of their families. Their houses were usually simple small wooden or brick homes with steep roofs and small windows. The houses were spread out only as much as necessary for the farm. The farmers lived close enough to one another to still meet one another for important gatherings & church on Sunday. Although the church was not the center of their life as it was in New England, most Middle Colony settlers were very religious people. Often the sole purpose of teaching a child to read was so that he/she could read & study the Bible.
Those people who were not farmers, usually lived in one of the cities along the coast. They either made their money from the ocean or from working in one of the many cottage industries that sold to the people who lived, visited and worked in the towns and cities. Obviously, in the city, people lived much closer to one another because they were dependent on one another to provide the basic needs. The market and the dock would become important centers for trade as people would buy & sell with others for the things they needed. Again, church played a central role in the towns, but there was a variety of religions to choose from.