The Middle Colonies

Peter Stuyvesant

Alexander Hamilton noted many differences between Philadelphia and the colony of Maryland

in his travels.• The biggest change was in the variety of people living in

one place. By the mid-1700’s, England had four colonies in the region of New England.

• Why were they called the Middle Colonies - Because of their location between New England and the Southern Colonies.

New Netherland• The Dutch set up a colony of New Netherlands along the

Hudson River. The colonists traveled with the Indians and built the settlement of New Amsterdam. Settlers mainly traded in furs.

• To encourage farming, Dutch officials granted huge estates to a few rich families. Owners of these huge lands or manors were called patroons. In return for the grant, each patroon promised to settle 50 European families on the land.

Problems in New Netherland• Farmers did not want to work for patroons, charging whatever

they wanted for rent.• In 1664, England and the Netherlands fought in a war over

trade in Europe and in August English warships entered New Amsterdam’s harbor.

The governor of New Netherland, Peter Stuyvesant, swore to defend his colony.

Pete’s Problems• Peter Stuyvesant had few weapons• Was unpopular with citizens• Colonists refused to help

Peter Stuyvesant surrendered to England without firing a shotKing Charles II gave New Netherland to his brother, the Duke of York who renamed the colony -- New York.

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Colonists Begging Stuyvesant to Surrender to the British

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New York City Today

Founding New Jersey• New York was too big for the Duke of York to govern

so he decided to give some of the land to his friends Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. who set up a proprietary colony in 1664.

A Proprietary colony is when the King gives land to one or more people in return for yearly payments.

New Jersey• The proprietors were free to divide up their land to others.

They were also free to make up the laws. • Many people were attracted to New Jersey because of the

fertile farmland and wealth of natural resources.• In 1702, New Jersey became a royal colony under control of

the English crown.

Royal Colony - a colony under the direct control of the English crown. Religious freedom and rights of assembly were protected by colony’s charter.

Pennsylvania is Founded• William Penn, an Englishman, founded the

colony of Pennsylvania. In England at the age of 22 he joined a despised group that believed that all people were equal in God’s sight. called the Quakers.

• Quakers were arrested, fined, or even hanged for their ideas.

• Penn believed the Quakers must leave England. He turned to the king for help.

A Quaker waits for the inspiration of

theHoly Spirit

The king issued a royal charter

• The King Charles issued a royal charter naming Penn proprietor of a new colony, later called Pennsylvania.

• Penn wanted equal treatment for all people and religions. People went to Pennsylvania to escape religious persecution.

Delaware - Originally included in Pennsylvania

• Known as Pennsylvania’s Lower Counties• Settlers in the lower countries did not want to send

delegates to a far away assembly in Philadelphia. • In 1701 William Penn allowed the people in the lower

countries to elect their own assembly. Later the lower countries broke away to form the colony of Delaware.

Geography and HistoryA Land of Plenty

• Farmers found better growing conditions in the Middle Colonies than in England. The land of the Hudson and Delaware was great for planting crops.

• Farmers produced surpluses of wheat, barley, and rye. These were cash crops - crops that were sold for money in the world market.

Geography and HistoryA Land of Plenty

• The Middle colonies exported so much grain that they were called the Breadbasket Colonies

• Farmers in the middle colonies also raised cattle and pigs. They sent tons of beef, pork, and butter to ports in New York.

• In time Pennsylvania became the center of manufacturing and crafts. They made hardware, clocks, watches locks, glass, stoneware, nails and paper.

Everyone had jobs; households were self-sufficient - everything needed for survival made at home

Town and Country• The different groups that settled in the Middle Colonies had

their own favorite way of building homes. – Swedish settlers built log cabins. – The Dutch used red bricks to build their homes.– German settlers developed a wood burning stove that

heated a home better. • In the 1700’s, thousands of German and Scottish-Irish

settlers arrived in Philadelphia’s they headed west into the backcountry,

The Backcountry• The Backcountry, the area of land along

the eastern slopes of the Appalachian Mountains.

Settlers followed the old Iroquois trail. This trail became known as the Great Wagon Road.

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Town and Country• To farm settlers had to clear thick forests. • From Indians, settlers learned how to make candles from pine

trees to light their homes.• They made dishes from wooden logs and hunted wild animals for

food. • Indians became alarmed at number of settlers moving onto Indian

land; disputes often resulted in violence

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