The Middle and
Southern Colonies
The Middle Colonies
New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware
Founders:
The Dutch 1624
Duke of York-brother to the king
William Penn-Friend to the
Duke of York
The cities of the Middle Colonies prospered like, New York and
Philadelphia. These cities grew and became centers of commerce,
as well as agricultural centers. These cities would also become
important later during the days of the Revolution.
Economy
The Middle colonies had a wealth of
resources. The climate was warm and had
longer growing seasons. Therefore
farmers could grow plenty of cash crops.
The Middle colonies were soon known as
the “bread basket” colonies.
Cash crops: crops raised to be sold for
money.
What type of
resources did the
Middle Colonies
have?
Middle colonies are
called the bread basket
of colonial America
Prominent social groups
The Middle colonies were diverse.
Unlike the New England colonies
that were dominantly Puritan, the
Middle colonies had a variety of
people. Germans, English, Dutch,
Irish, and many more lived in this
region.
Unfortunately, slavery was still
present in the middle colonies.
Quakers were the first people in
the colonies to object to slavery in
any form.
Slavery
Even though there was tolerance in the
middle colonies, slavery did exist.
7% of the population was enslaved.
Slaves were used as servants, laborers,
craftsmen assistants.
Slaves rebellions did occur and where
meet with harsh consequences.
Did slavery exist in the Middle colonies?
The Southern Colonies
Southern colonies: Maryland,
North Carolina, South
Carolina, and Georgia
Founders:
Lord Baltimore-Maryland :
refuge for Catholics
James Ogelthorpe-Georgia:
refuge for debtors
Economy
Unlike the Middle colonies that were diverse in
both economy and ethnicity, the Southern colonies
thrived solely on agriculture and the use of slave
labor.
The Southern Climate allowed for year round
growth. Large southern farms were known as
plantations. Large plantations were completely
self-sufficient and were more like small cities.
How did the south make money?
Affects on slavery
As the plantations grew so did the need for workers.
So plantation owners turned to African slaves.
Southerners saw slavery as way of life.
40% of the South’s population was slave.
Overseerwatched
over slaves
as they
worked.
Overseer: A worker hired by a planter to watch over the
direct work of slaves.
Social Groups
Because the labor was free, these Southern farmers
became very wealthy and created the Planter class in
the South.
The Planter class took control of political and economic
power in the south. The south’s success was based on
slave labor and if it was to be taken away the south’s
way of life would end.