Middle Colonies
Mr. Mullins
Virginia & U.S. History
Settlement
• The Middle Atlantic region was settled chiefly by English,
Dutch, and German speaking immigrants
• Many of these settlers were seeking religious freedom
and economic opportunity
Economy
• Consisted of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and
Delaware
• Involved in shipbuilding, small-scale farming (subsistence
farming), and trading
• Cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore
began to grow as seaports and commercial centers
Religion & Social Characteristics
• The middle colonies were home to multiple religious groups,
including Quakers in Pennsylvania.
• These colonies had more flexible social structures & began to
develop a middle class of skilled artisans, business owners, and
small farmers
• The middle colonies are also known for their great diversity of
people
Quakers
• Pennsylvania was settled by a large number of Quakers
• Quakers were Protestants who had suffered religious
persecution in England
• Quakers believed firmly that people should be treated as
equals, both in church & in society and government
• Eventually, Pennsylvania would become a haven for people
of multiple faiths