3 regions of colonies

Review the regions of the 13 colonies before you take the test :)

1. Geography, Economy, Social Life, Political/Civic
Life
The 13 English Colonies
by Region

2. Learning Targets:
1.I can describe the characteristics of the New England,
Middle, and Southern colonies.
2.I can differentiate the economic systems of the New
England, Middle, and Southern colonies including
indentured servants and slaves as labor sources.
Describe means to explain something.
Differentiate means to tell the difference between two or
more things.

3. Essential Questions:
Questions you should be able to answer at the
end of this presentation:
1.What were the 3 colonial regions of the
English colonies?
2.What are the geographical (land) features of
each region of colonies?
3.How did the geography affect the economy
(money system) and ways of life in each colonial
region?

4. Background Information
Last unit, we learned about 4 European countries who came
to North America to colonize, or settle, the land. Now, we will
begin to focus on the lands that were settled by the English,
because those are the lands that eventually became our
country today!
When English settlers first came to North America, they
settled into various areas of North America, split into 13
colonies. Eventually, the colonies took on unique
characteristics that were reflective of the people who lived
there and what the land had to offer them. Based on their
characteristics, the original 13 colonies can be combined into
3 regions (groups connected by their location): the New
England, Middle, and Southern regions.

5. •Boston Harbor - a large ship port in
Massachusetts.
•Hilly terrain, rocky soil – agriculture (farming)
was difficult
•Harsh climate: Moderate (warm but not hot)
summers, very cold winters
New England Colonies
Geography and Climate

6. •Fishing
•Shipbuilding
•Trade
•Skilled craftsmen
New England Colonies
Economy

7. •The village and church were the centers of life
for New England colonists.
•Religious reformers were people who wanted
to change the way people practiced religion.
•Separatists were pilgrims who came to North
America to separate from the Church of
England
New England Colonies
Social Life

8. •Town Meetings – New England colonists
believed in the importance of working together.
They frequently held meetings where all
members of a town came together to make
decisions about what was best for the town.
New England Colonies
Political and Civic Life

9. •Rich Farmlands
•Wide rivers
•Moderate Climate – seasons, but not extreme
cold winters or hot summers
Middle Colonies
Geography and Climate

10. •Livestock and Grain (trade)
•Staple crops were the types of crops grown in
the Middle Colonies
•Unskilled/skilled workers and fisherman
Middle Colonies
Economy

11. •Villages and Cities
•Many diverse (different) lifestyles were
represented in the Middle colonies
•Diverse Religions
Middle Colonies
Social Life

12. Middle Colonies
Political and Civic Life
•Just like New York City today, the Middle
Colonies had diverse cities and towns where
people interacted with other groups of people
who were different from them

13. •Good Harbors (areas for ships to come in from
the sea)
•Fertile soil ideal for farming
•Warm, humid climate
Southern Colonies
Geography and Climate

14. •Large Farms (plantations) were spread
throughout the Southern colonies
•Cash Crops were the types of crops grown in
the Southern Colonies
•Slavery – Southern colonists used slaves as a
source of free labor
Southern Colonies
Economy

15. •Slavery played a large role in the society of
the southern colonies
•Large farms called plantations with mansions
were prevalent (common)
•Indentured servants – people who worked to
pay off debt of coming to North America
•Few cities
•Few schools
Southern Colonies
Social Life

16. •Counties were pieces of land scattered
throughout the territories
•People were more isolated because they
farmed large areas of land – neighbors were
further apart
Southern Colonies
Political and Civic Life