Mapping Colonial Regions
Name ________________________________
pg._____
Directions: By 1750, there were 13 thriving English colonies on the eastern Atlantic
Coast. The 13 colonies were grouped together in 3 regions based on similarities in
geography, economics and social characteristics. Complete the following mapping
activity in order to become familiar with the three regions and their similarities.
o Title the map appropriately and put your name on it.
o Draw in mountain symbols and label the Appalachian Mountains
o Label everything west of the Appalachians as “French Territory”
o Label Florida as Spain
o Label the Ohio River and trace it in blue
The New England Region was made up Massachusetts (MA), Rhode Island (RI), New
Hampshire (NH) and Connecticut (CT).
o Label each New England colony carefully with its postal abbreviation. Make a key for
the abbreviations. Be very careful.
Background: The geography of the New England region includes thin, stony soil, short
growing season, relatively level land and long winters. There were also navigable rivers
filled with cod and excellent harbors as well as dense forests for lumber. Whales were
sighted often off the coast and could be used for oils and candles. Many of these colonies
were set up for religious reasons and the typical settler was white, English, extremely
religious with large families of 6-10 children.
To symbolize the background of this region, place the following on the map - make
symbols when needed:
Crosses for the extremely religious settlers
o Rocks for stony, thin soil that was only good for small farms
o Ships and fish and whales near water
o Trees for forests
o Finally, lightly shade the entire region in one color and fill in the key.
Look back at your map of the New England region to THINK and respond:
___1. Based on the map, what is the likelihood that the New England settlers made
their living through farming? Support your answer with evidence.
___2. Based on the geography, think like a historian and predict ways these settlers
prospered economically. Support with evidence from the reading.
Target: Compare and Contrast the three colonial regions of the English colonies.
___3. ***Many New Englanders lived close together in small towns and many cities
grew quickly. In fact, one of the biggest cities in all the colonies was Boston in
Massachusetts. What does that make you think about Massachusetts?
The Southern Colonies including the colonies of Virginia (VA), Maryland (MD), North
Carolina (NC), South Carolina (SC) and Georgia (GA).
o Label each of those colonies with the postal abbreviations starting with GA.
Background: The climate and geography of the Southern colonies includes broad rivers
and vast wetlands along with long growing season, rich soil, and miles of flat land that
were ideal for growing cash crops such as tobacco and rice. Most people lived on large
tracts of land far apart from others. The settlers in the Southern region came to the New
World for a variety a reasons including finding gold, staring a new life, escaping debt and
religious freedom. In the south, there were mostly three types of people: the white planter,
the immigrant worker and the slave.
To symbolize the background of this region, place the following on the map - make
symbols when needed:
Rich soil and long growing season – any symbols you create
o T and R to symbolize the cash crops of tobacco and rice
o Now, lightly shade the entire region one color.
Use the Southern Regions section of your map to THINK and respond:
___4. Based on the map, what is the likelihood that the Southern settlers made their
living through farming? Support your answer with evidence.
___5. Which of the Southern colonies has the most land area?_________
___6. Which has the least? _____________
___7. Unlike the New England region, big cities did not develop in the South very
quickly. Why do you think that would be so? TLAH. Use evidence.
___8. Who do you think will have more need for African slaves between New England
and the South? Support with evidence.
Target: Compare and Contrast the three colonial regions of the English colonies.
In between the New England colonies and the Southern colonies lay the Middle
Region that included the colonies of New York (NY), New Jersey (NJ),
Pennsylvania(PA) and Delaware (DE).
o Label each of these the four Middle Colonies with postal abbreviations – make
sure you label NY carefully.
Background: In the Middle Colonies, the landscape ranged from the rich soil of coastal
New Jersey and Delaware to the valleys and wooded mountains of western New York and
Pennsylvania. Compared to New England, there is more rich farmland and a moderate
climate that made farming easier. Additionally, there was a enough land to raise livestock
and for growing grain. In fact, there was so much grain grown in this region, it was
nicknamed the “Breadbasket Region.”
Don’t forget the people who first came to the Middle Colonies were the Dutch. And then
more settlers representing many cultures and countries settled in the Middle Colonies even
after the English took control. One important group, the Quakers were the first to settle in
Pennsylvania. Quakers came to escape persecution in England. In their English colonies,
they welcomed all religious and diversity. Swedes, Fins, Danes, Germans, Scots,
Portugese and more settled in this region. Quakers were extremely tolerant of diversity
and they were also pacifists who did not believe in war.
To symbolize the background of this region, place the following on the map - make
symbols when needed:
o Woods and mountains in western New York and Pennsylvania
o Livestock including cattle and pigs
o Grains throughout the region
o Q’s for Quakers in Pennsylvania
o Lightly shade the entire region so you can still read the names and symbols
o To show the diversity, lightly pencil in the word DIVERSE over the region
Now, look at you Middle Region map and answer the following questions:
___9. Based on the map, what is the likelihood that the Middle settlers made their
living through farming? Support your answer with evidence.
___10. If you weren’t a farmer of grain in the Middle Region, what do you think would be
at least three other ways you might earn a living? Support your three answers with
evidence.
___11. In what Middle Colony did the Quakers first settle? __________________
___12. What Middle Colony is the largest in terms of land? ____________
Target: Compare and Contrast the three colonial regions of the English colonies.
___13. What Middle Colony is the smallest in land? ________________
___14. What can you infer about the Quakers if you know they welcomed many cultures
and religions into Pennsylvania
___15. The Middle Colonies were often called the Breadbasket Region, but what do you
think could be two other nicknames for the Middle?
___16. Which region do you think will have more need for slave labor between New
England and the Middle Colonies? Support with evidence.
Final Summary Reflections
___17. Which region has the most land? _______________
___18. Which region has the most economic and social diversity? _______________
___19. Which region do you think will be most religious? _______________
Look back at the finished map and write a summary of each region. When
summarizing, include geography, economics and social characteristics that you
know of the region.
___20. New England Colonies….
___21. Middle Colonies…
___22. Southern Colonies….
Target: Compare and Contrast the three colonial regions of the English colonies.
Symbols:
Place the abbreviation key here under the appropriate region:
New England Colonies:
Middle Colonies:
Southern Colonies:
Target: Compare and Contrast the three colonial regions of the English colonies.